Presiding Officer Norma L. Gonsalves recently attended the East Meadow Fire Department’s EMS Week Brunch and Award Ceremony at EMFD Headquarters in East Meadow. The four awards presented during the brunch were the Appreciation Award, Above and Beyond Award, First Responder Award and the Pre Hospital Save Award.
The Presiding Officer was honored with the Appreciation Award for consistently demonstrating loyalty and support to the community and the advancement of EMS. The Above and Beyond Award was presented to department member Dr. John Zaso for demonstrating an exceptional commitment to pre-hospital care excellence and the advancement of EMS in the EMFD. The First Responder Award which is presented to bystanders who responded by intelligently providing life-saving on-scene assistance prior to the arrival of professional rescuers, and/or initiating the EMS system response resulting in a pre-hospital save was awarded to David Rothman, Ex-Chief Don Reilly, Ex-Captain Vinny Nocella and Scott Dipino. The Pre Hospital Save Award was given to forty-two members of the EMFD who successfully resuscitated a patient that was clinically dead.
“I’m truly grateful to receive this award today,” said Presiding Officer Gonsalves. “More importantly, I’m honored to recognize these men and women for their above and beyond efforts to save countless lives in our community.”
Pictured (l-r): Ross Schiller, David Rothman, Presiding Officer Gonsalves and Kevin Kamper.