FDNY Members Save 4-Week-Old in Cardiac Arrest

FDNY fire and EMS members are credited with giving a 4-week-old, premature infant a fighting chance after he went into cardiac arrest on Dec. 3.

“The [members] are humble, but it feels nice to know we helped,” said Lt. Kevin Smith of Engine 248, speaking of Firefighters Robert Morrison, Richard Mills, Gregory Tracy, Harlan Wank and Stephen Laureno. “All of us have children and you think of your own right away when you see something like this.”

Members were called to a two-story home on 32nd Street in Brooklyn at around 8 p.m.

Firefighters from Engine 248 said that when they arrived, two young girls answered the door and directed them to an upstairs bedroom. Their mother was there with the infant, who was lying on his back, his body stiff and the area around his mouth was blue.

“The mother was frantic, hysterical,” said Firefighter Tracy.

He assisted as Firefighter Mills gave the baby oxygen and Firefighter Morrison began chest compressions.

Firefighter Morrison, a former EMT, picked up the baby and continued chest compressions. After doing six or seven compressions, the baby started moving his stomach and started to breathe again.

Soon after Capt. Micael Vetack; Paramedics Glenroy Griffith and Clifton Pennie; and EMTs Jean Dominique and Arzu Aydogdu arrived and found the baby’s heart rate dropping.

“We know what to do, so we just focused and got it done,” said Paramedic Griffith.

They hooked him to a monitor and suctioned his mouth. Even though he had a heart beat, they continued compressions to increase his heart rate. He was then transported to Downstate Hospital.

“The child definitely improved,” said Paramedic Pennie.

Yet what struck EMS Capt. Michael Vetack was how calm every member remained, “They did a terrific job. Nobody panicked and they delivered the best care possible.”

Everyone said this rescue was meaningful, but it hit close to home for Firefighter Morrison. The firefighter recently welcomed twins, who are still in the hospital after being born prematurely.

“I know everyone in the hospital is doing everything they can for my kids, so it feels good to be able to help someone else’s child,” said Firefighter Morrison. “[This infant] really hasn’t seen anything yet, so I wanted to try everything I could to make sure this kid lived.”