29th Second Chance Ceremony
21, 2025
a.m.
Master of Ceremonies: Captain Randy Li
EMS Station 32
National Anthem: Captain Antonio Quinones
Invocation: Monsignor Marc Filacchione
FDNY Chaplain
Remarks: Robert S. Tucker Fire Commissioner
John M. Esposito Chief of Department
Michael J. Fields Chief of EMS Operations
Introduction of Survivors: Glenn Asaeda
Chief Medical Director
Office of Medical Affairs
Benediction: Monsignor Marc Filacchione
FDNY Chaplain
Eleven-year-old Chance Young was at school on Monday, September 30, 2024, when he began to feel unwell and went to the nurse’s office. While the school nurse was taking his vitals, Chance collapsed to the ground. The nurse immediately began CPR.
FDNY Engine 59 was the first to arrive and determined Chance was in cardiac arrest. They took over CPR and used the school’s defibrillator to deliver four shocks.
Paramedics from Station 14 and Northwell Lenox Hill, along with EMTs and a Lieutenant from Station 10, arrived on scene. The paramedics placed a breathing tube in Chance, administered medications, and delivered three additional shocks.
When Chance arrived at the hospital, his circulation had returned. He’s now a healthy and happy young boy!
On Thursday, August 1, 2024, around 9 AM, FDNY Bureau of Fire Prevention Inspector Kingsley Eze parked in the garage at FDNY HQ. He walked to the garage attendant’s desk and found Jean Serafin, in the room behind the desk, bowed over in a kneeling position.
Chief Eze attempted to get Jean’s attention but found he was not responsive. He immediately called 911 for medical assistance. ARD EMT Gabriel Awad instructed Chief Eze to lay Jean on his back and reminded the Chief how to do CPR, which he learned at an FDNY Mobile CPR unit.
Throughout the call ARD EMT Gabriel Awad was encouraging and helped count while Chief Eze performed compressions and checked for responsiveness. EMTs, Paramedics, and a Lieutenant from Station 31, the Code 10 Team from FDNY Headquarters FDOC, and members of FDNY Engine 207 found Jean in cardiac arrest and administered one shock.
After approximately two minutes, Jean’s pulses returned, and he was transported to The Brooklyn Hospital Center. Jean was discharged home just two weeks later, on August 14, 2024.
On Friday August 9th, 2024, Lori Traore was home and not feeling well. While taking a shower, Lori felt the urge to push and delivered a baby girl, named Ellen.
Lori had been told she was unable to conceive and did not know she was pregnant. Ellen was delivered unresponsive, and FDNY Engine Company 306 was the first to arrive on scene and cut the umbilical cord. They quickly assessed the baby and determined she was in pediatric cardiac arrest.
EMTs from the Queens Tactical Response Group and a Station 39 Lieutenant arrived and took Baby Ellen to the ambulance and began CPR. Upon arrival of Paramedics from New York Presbyterian Hospital – Queens, Baby Ellen regained her pulse but needed help breathing. Upon arrival at the hospital, Baby Ellen was crying vigorously.
Baby Ellen was discharged from the hospital on December 24th, 2024. She is now starting to sit up and is doing well.
On January 27, 2024, Michael DiFrancesco was at home in Brooklyn with his wife Ellen. He had been experiencing flulike symptoms for several days.
Ellen noticed something was not right when Michael became unresponsive. Around 9pm that evening, Michael went into cardiac arrest, and she immediately called 911 and began chest compressions. Ellen, who is CPR certified, continued compressions until FDNY Engine 309 arrived. They took over CPR and delivered one shock.
FDNY Paramedics, EMTs, and a Lieutenant from Station 43 arrived on scene next. The paramedics performed an intubation, administered ALS medications, and placed Michael on a LUCAS device. They took him by ambulance to Mount Sinai Brooklyn, administering an additional four shocks before circulation returned.
Michael was discharged, and he and Ellen are grateful to the FDNY members who helped save his life.
On Thursday, April 14, FDNY EMT Ashley DeJesus arrived home from work and found her mother, Cynthia, feeling ill and nauseous. She thought it was something her mother ate and helped her to bed.
A short while later, EMT DeJesus went to check how her mother was feeling and found that she had collapsed.
She started CPR and immediately called 911.
NYPD ESU units were first to arrive and applied their AED and continued CPR until EMS arrival. FDNY Paramedics from Station 14 and EMTs and a Lieutenant from Station 18 arrived on scene to assist.
The paramedics determined Cynthia was in cardiac arrest, inserted a breathing tube, and provided multiple medications. After approximately 15 minutes of CPR, Cynthias pulse returned, and she was rapidly transported to St. Barnabas Hospital.
Cynthia remained in the ICU for approximately three weeks. During her stay, a pacemaker was placed, and she was discharged. She has made a full recovery!
Angela Francis-Lester was home eating dinner with her family on the evening of Friday, January 26, 2024, when she collapsed to the floor. Her family believed she was having a seizure and her daughter called 911.
FDNY Engine 234 was first on scene and determined Ms. Lester was in cardiac arrest. They began CPR and administered one shock from their defibrillator. EMTs from Station 57 arrived and delivered two additional shocks.
Paramedics from Station 57 and a Lieutenant from Station 38 arrived next and began ALS interventions and administered an additional shock. A pulse returned and Angela was placed on a monitor to regulate her pulse.
She was taken to Interfaith Hospital for treatment and remained in the hospital for four weeks.
Angela has made a great recovery and is very thankful to her rescuers!
On Monday, August 19, 2024, Navin Jaijairam had just returned from Paris. He was complaining of chest pain radiating down his left arm. His family found him unresponsive on his bathroom floor. His sister called 911, and ARD Laytoya Stephenson immediately directed his mother, Annie, to begin CPR. Station 14 EMTs arrived and moved Navin out of the bathroom so they could continue CPR.
Paramedics from Station 3 were next on scene, delivered one shock, and inserted a breaking tube. FDNY Engine 64 and a Lieutenant from Station 18 helped to transport the patient to the ambulance.
Navin received a return of spontaneous circulation, and the paramedics discovered he was having a heart attack. Navin was sedated and taken to Montefiore Einstein Hospital. He had surgery to insert one stent and only spent a week in the hospital.
Navin has returned to work and is excited to meet the first responders who saved his life!
On Friday, November 29th, 2023, Michael Gordon came home from work late. He was on the phone when his wife saw the phone fall from his hand, and he fell off the bed.
Michael’s son called 911 and ARD Gregory Miller determined Michael might be in cardiac arrest. EMT Miller instructed Michael’s wife, Natashamit, to begin CPR.
When FDNY Engine 302 arrived on scene, they continued CPR delivering one shock prior to EMS arrival.
Paramedics and a Lieutenant from Station 54, along with EMTs from Queens Tactical Response group and EMTs from Long Island Jewish Medical Center arrived and assumed patient care, continuing CPR and administering an additional shock.
Mr. Gordon’s pulses returned, and he began to breathe shallow breaths. While enroute to Jamaica Hospital, Michael began to move his arms and legs, and his breathing increased. During his treatment at Jamaica Hospital, a cardiac defibrillator was implanted.
Michael was discharged eight days following his cardiac arrest and he is back at work!
The Pintchik Family’s devotion to FDNY EMS dates back to 1980 when New York City Paramedics
The Pintchik Family’s devotion to FDNY EMS dates back to 1982 when New York City Paramedics
Ken Honig and Carl Tramontana performed advanced life support techniques and revived then-58-year-old Jack Pintchik after suffering a cardiac arrest. Since then, the Pintchik family has been proud to honor EMS members annually for their hard work, dedication and ability to profoundly touch the lives of so many fellow New Yorkers and visitors.
Ken Honig and Carl Tramontana performed advanced life support techniques and revived then-58-year-old Jack Pintchik after suffering cardiac arrest. Since then, the Pintchik family has been proud to honor EMS members annually for their hard work, dedication and ability to profoundly touch the lives of so many fellow New Yorkers and visitors. -19-
The Fire Department would like to thank the Pintchik Family for their generous support in making this annual event possible.
May 15-21, 2022
May 18-24, 2025
National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week is designed to bring public attention to the life-saving work that more than 750,000 men and women provide to millions of Americans each year.
The Department honors all FDNY EMS members and salutes them for their commitment and dedication.
EMS Week also features special events and forums that seek to educate the public.
Honorable Eric Adams
Honorable Eric Adams
Mayor Laura Kavanagh Acting Fire Commissioner
Mayor Robert S. Tucker Fire Commissioner
