As reported by FDNY, the 28th annual Second Chance Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 23, at 10 a.m. at Liberty Warehouse, located at 260 Conover Street, Brooklyn.
This event celebrates National EMS Week 2024 by reuniting eight cardiac arrest survivors with the paramedics, emergency medical technicians, FDNY EMS officers, firefighters, dispatchers, bystanders, and other first responders who played a crucial role in saving their lives.
Among the eight survivors are 12-year-old Dylan Garcia, who experienced cardiac arrest during gym class at school, 77-year-old marathon runner Yi-Joo Kwon, who collapsed on the Verrazano Bridge during the 2023 NYC Marathon, and 58-year-old Wilfredo Ruiz, whose ordeal inspired his daughter to join the FDNY Youth High School Program.
Several of this year’s survivors received CPR from bystanders before on-duty FDNY EMS officers arrived.
The prompt actions of these bystanders, combined with the efficient care provided by FDNY crews, were instrumental in saving the lives of the eight individuals.
The FDNY CPR Training Unit offers free compressions-only CPR training throughout the city, having trained over 200,000 New Yorkers, including more than 80,000 high school students.
This initiative underscores the importance of bystander CPR in emergency situations.
The ceremony will feature notable attendees, including Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, Chief of Department John Hodgens, Chief of EMS Michael Fields, and Chief Medical Director Dr. Glenn Asaeda.
The event not only honors the survivors and their rescuers but also raises awareness about the critical role of emergency responders and CPR training in saving lives.
The Liberty Warehouse event is set to bring together survivors, their families, and the first responders who were instrumental in their rescues.
