NOTABLE CASES

EMSPAC NOTABLE CASES

Since May 2020, EMSPAC has been assisting our fellow EMS in all four sectors with a wide range of support services related to hardship help. We have responded so far to over 291 specific cases.

This help is usually provided by active-duty EMS Advocates coordinating with a Solidarity Committee of more specialized resources following our standard operating procedures on hardship triage and assistance.

Our methods are (1) Hardship Help case support, (2) Peer to Peer Counseling, (3) Self-Harm Intervention, and (4) General Referrals to a wide range of vetted external resources We maintain a database of over 200 vetted resources to guide the members to getting definitive care and support.

Generally, EMSPAC extends case support to the immediate family and any EMS MOS and makes no distinction over what agency or sector an EMS professional works in.

Generally, all cases involve an Advocate for fact-finding, a Division leader for coordination, relevant EMS partners, family members, and some ongoing Peer Support. Typically we manage the case for 30, 60, or 90 days based on an action plan. Cases are categorized as Green, Yellow, Orange, or Red based on severity.

Crowdfunds are either created by the affected member or by our Solidarity Committee assisting in the wording of them. These crowd funds are then posted over several types of social media at regular intervals for the duration of the action plan.

Once GoFunds/ CrowdFunds are set up they are posted regularly to IG, FB, X, WhatsApp, discord, a wordless website, and a link tree. In the majority of the cases so far EMSPAC is not the capital intermediary with funds going directly to the beneficiary.

All FDNY EMS-related hardship is referred first to the EMS FDNY HELP FUND. All Peer support staff have REMSCO, CSU, and NAEMT credentials or more than 3 911 years of experience.

2020

  1. 6/20/2020- Following the high-profile suicides of two FDNY EMS, EMSPAC Advocates engaged in CISM debriefs and informal debriefs with numerous grieving Bronx EMS MOS.
  2. 7/7/2020-A Bronx EMT got into a fight with their spouse and was threatening suicide. An EMSPAC Advocate quickly got her on the phone, arranged for a few days of leave, and guided her to get formal counseling. 
  3. 7/10/2020- A Brooklyn EMT was assaulted by their partner at the Brooklyn Base of a private agency. Their supervisor refused to provide any video documentation from the incident or remand the member who hit their partner. EMSPAC Advocates got them peer support, linked them with several local lawyers, and advised them on how to press charges.
  4. 8/17/2020-A Bronx EMT was making self-harm comments to their partner. EMSPAC Advocates rapidly got them on the phone and connected them to a crisis hotline and a personalized chat with their closest partners and peers. Over the next few months, the member was assisted in engaging in regular professional therapy and substance abuse counseling. 
  5. 12/12/2020- After a Bronx Paramedic was doxed in local media for her side job on Only Fans, exposing her to controversy and harassment. EMSPAC Advocates made press releases, provided peer support, and circulated a GoFund that eventually raised $104,377.00. 
  6. 12/15/2020-A Bronx EMT had his car totaled by a drunk driver while he was on duty. EMSPAC Advocates raised $500.00 for immediate logistics support.
  7. 12/24/2020- A Brooklyn EMS dispatcher was found dead in her home from an underlying medical condition believed to be COVID-related. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support at her funeral and raised $21,990.00 in a crowdfund. 

2021

  1. 1/4/2021- A retired paramedic developed WTC-related cancer and began to deteriorate medically. EMSPAC Advocates helped raise $15,893.00 in a gofund to support.
  2. 1/16/2021- A Bronx Private EMS unit was in a serious ambulance crash. EMSPAC Advocates helped them document appropriately to protect their jobs and gave them remote support on how to manage the incident when their union rep could not be found.
  3. 1/25/2021-A Brooklyn EMT lost their mother to a medical condition and could not afford the burial. EMSPAC Advocates helped raise $3,000.00 to assist in funeral costs.
  4. 3/5/2021- A Brooklyn EMT was bitten on the face by their patient. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support, made press releases to local papers, and helped share the GoFund on our social media raising $18,360.00 
  5. 4/7/2021-A Queens EMT lost their apartment and all their possessions in a structure fire. EMSPAC Advocates aided them in setting up a gofund, sharing it regularly across our platforms, and setting them up with daily accessible peer support.
  6. 4/10/2021-A Bronx EMT was killed in a motorcycle accident. EMSPAC Advocates helped organize the memorial and write/ spread the go fund which raised $8,860.00 to help with burial expenses.  
  7. 5/5/2021-A Staten Island EMT was injured on the job. Subsequent surgery put them out of work for 4-6 months. EMSPAC Advocates helped raise $3,825.00 to support. 
  8. 6/4/2021- A long-serving EMT developed stage four cancer after their prior exposure at the World Trade Center. EMSPAC Advocates helped regularly push out his crowdfund, raising $18,530.00
  9. 6/22/2021-A Bronx EMT broke their leg off duty and had no health coverage. EMSPAC set up her GoFund and helped push it out across social media for a month which raised $1,172.00.
  10. 7/20/2021- A Bronx Medic student was choked and assaulted by her patient. EMSPAC Advocates rushed to the scene to intervene. Post-incident the student was debriefed by Advocates and referred to a union rep for further counseling. 
  11. 7/25/2021- After the murder of an EMT while traveling abroad EMSPAC Advocates provided an informal debrief and CISM at the Funeral. GoFund was heavily circulated and raised $24,680.00.
  12. 8/2/2021- A long-serving EMS member developed cancer-related to World Trade Center exposure. EMSPAC helped regularly post his crowd fun raising $13,285.00  
  13. 8/9/2021-A Bronx EMT was threatened with a knife and his ambulance was robbed. EMSPAC Advocates did a CISM debriefing, took a report, and made a press release to get the issue in the local papers.
  14. 8/20/2021– A Bronx EMT’s sister went missing. EMSPAC Advocates and the social media team continuously helped canvas until she was found several days later. Peer support was provided to the distraught member during this period.
  15. 9/3/2021-A Queens EMT was struck while riding their motorcycle to work. EMSPAC Advocates met them at the hospital with a care package and helped them set up their go fund. EMSPAC Advocates raised $9,695.00 via a Go fund.
  16. 9/9/2021- A Brooklyn Paramedic took their own life. EMSPAC Advocates provided bereavement support at the funeral and informal CISM to co-workers.
  17. 11/23/2021- A Bronx EMT died of an underlying medical condition. Peer support was provided for his partners and $2,959.00 was raised for burial costs.
  18. 11/24/2021- immediately after 2 EMTs took their lives a day apart, EMSPAC Advocates provided CISM support to their partners and helped raise money to cover their funerals via pushing out crowd funds; $10,350.00 was raised for one, and  $12,918.00 was raised for another. Numerous 1-to-1 peer support sessions were conducted based on the shocking nature of the incident.
  19. 12/10/2021- A Staten Island EMT died of an underlying medical condition. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support, helped set up the GoFund, and put on a charity baseball game between two local hospitals which in total raised $68,850.00 
  20. 12/15/2021– A Bronx EMS Crew is frequently being asked to lift obese patients above the weight limit without proper equipment. They cannot reach a union rep to file a grievance. EMSPAC Advocates provide peer support and identify how to hold the union accountable using the NRLB.

2022

  1. 1/10/2022- After a serious Fire MCI where 19 civilians perished EMSPAC Advocates helped gather a large quantity of donated clothing and support items for the affected families.  Our Advocates also provided CISM to numerous EMS MOS that responded to the terrible fire that killed multiple pediatric patients. 
  2. 1/29/2022- A Brooklyn EMS crew is rear-ended in a serious ambulance accident. EMSPAC Advocates help them document properly and file for worker’s compensation.
  3. 1/30/2022– A Brooklyn EMT is injured on the job and goes off the payroll. They do not have medical coverage. EMSPAC Advocates help them set up a GoFund which raises $2,000.00
  4. 2/14/2022- A Bronx Paramedic slipped in a work parking lot and was being denied line-of-duty benefits. EMSPAC Advocates helped bring attention to his case, provided crowdfund support, and raised $5,158.00
  5. 2/15/2022- A Bronx EMT takes his own life. EMSPAC Advocates provide peer support at the funeral and help set up a Gofund which raises $5,340.00
  6. 2/18/2022- A Nassau County EMT is being targeted for talking about the unionization of his agency. EMSPAC Advocates help him file an NLRB action to help protect his job. 
  7. 2/22/2022-A Bronx EMT lost their housing after a domestic dispute. EMSPAC Advocates notified the Help Fund and helped raise $996.00 for immediate housing assistance. 2/2/2022
  8. 5/19/2022- A Staten Island EMT was shot while at work. EMSPAC Advocates provided CISM and peer support for several months while he recovered.
  9. 5/22/2022-A HHC Retiree EMT was in the hospital for liver failure. EMSPAC Advocates brought him a care package and visited to tell some war stories and hang out. Regular peer support calls and visits were made until his death several months later. 
  10. 6/12/2022-A Brooklyn EMT was assaulted by a patient and dislocated his shoulder, was 3-6 months injury off work. EMSPAC Advocates provided ongoing peer support and raised $570.00 to help. 
  11. 6/25/2022- A Staten Island EMT was on a pier threatening suicide. EMSPAC Advocates drove to the scene to intervene. The member was given emergency CISM support and accompanied to the ED for an evaluation. Follow-up and assistance with therapy continued for the next twelve months.
  12. 7/18/2022- A Bronx Paramedic fell down the stairs off work and fractured their leg in multiple places. EMSPAC Advocates visited her in the ED with a care package, provided regular ongoing peer support for the next six months, and helped her raise $2,000.00 in crowdfunding. Advocates visited multiple times to bring food and essentials while they recovered.
  13.  7/19/2022- A Bronx EMT facing termination could not reach their union. EMSPAC Advocates advised on how to file NLRB action and where to apply for a new job.
  14. 8/16/2022- A New Jersey EMT broke their leg off the job. EMSPAC Advocates helped them raise $1,550.00 in a gofund for supportive assistance.
  15. 8/26/2022- A Westchester EMT was terminated for her social media use violating the company policy. EMSPAC Advocates advised her how to find a lawyer and where to apply for a new job.
  16. 8/30/2022-A Bronx EMT was threatening suicide at work. EMSPAC Advocates drove to the scene to help. The member was given emergency CISM support and accompanied to the ED for an evaluation. Follow-up and assistance with therapy continued for the next seven months.
  17. 8/30/2022- A Manhattan paramedic took his own life. EMSAPC Advocates provided CISM to their co-workers and raised $22,830.00 in a GoFund for surviving children.
  18. 10/14/2022- A Staten Island Paramedic crew was injured in an ambulance rollover. EMSPAC Advocates met them at the hospital for peer support and a care package.
  19. 10/5/2022- A Brooklyn Paramedic lost her home and all family possessions in a fire. EMSPAC Advocates at her hospital aided her in raising $71,780.00
  20. 10/25/2022- A Bronx EMT lost his home in a structure fire. EMSPAC Advocates helped raise $2,4010.00 via a GoFund and helped them find a new apartment.
  21. 10/25/2022- After a shooting at a Staten Island school EMSAPC Advocates were invited to a group debrief for the students affected. 
  22. 10/28/2022- A Bronx EMT was using drugs and found unresponsive at work. EMSPAC Advocates met them at the ED and helped provide peer support to get into a rehab program.
  23. 11/27/2022- After transporting a pediatric arrest post-stabbing, EMSPAC Advocates met the EMT crew at the hospital for a debrief and follow-up a few days later.
  24. 12/8/2022- A New Jersey paramedic contacted EMSPAC Advcoates after they were accused of sexual harassment at work. Advocates provided legal and documentation advice.
  25. 12/16/2022- A Bronx EMT was arrested after breaking their underage girlfriend out of an inpatient psychiatric unit. EMSAPC Advocates assisted them in getting legal aid from Bronx Defenders.
  26. 12/20/2022- A Staten Island EMT was injured by a patient at work. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support and helped her set up a GoFund which raised $2,845.00.
  27. 12/21/2022- A Westchester Paramedic was run over and killed leaving work. EMSPAC Advocates held several CISM and memorial events, a vigil, set up a car convoy for her burial, and raised $2,095.00 to help with her burial expenses.
  28. 12/24/2022- A Bronx paramedic unit was assaulted on the job by a patient. EMSPAC Advocates provided debrief and CISM.

2023

  1. 1/1/2023- A private sector EMT supervisor was asked to inform on the comings and goings of EMSPAC chat groups, or face termination. He was given peer support and advised to contact a lawyer but ultimately opted to inform EMSPAC for the private agency, which is illegal under labor law.
  2. 1/3/2023- A Brooklyn EMT was sexually harassed at her private sector job and her supervisors refused to intervene. She was given peer support and aided in finding a lawyer. 
  3. 1/30/2023- A Staten Island EMT previously injured and currently depressed was off the roll and asked for support. Peer support was given. EMSPAC Advocates made a t-shirt drive which raised $1,300.00
  4. 2/3/2023- A Brooklyn EMT was severely injured after an ambulance rollover accident. EMSPAC aided her in the set up of the Gofund which raised $2,699.00
  5. 2/9/2023- A Staten Island Paramedic took his own life. EMSPAC Advocates organized a vigil in Staten Island and the Bronx, provided peer support, helped organize the funeral, and directly raised $12, 940.00 for surviving children. 
  6. 2/11/2023- A Westchester EMT needed a medical procedure not covered by her private sector provider. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support and helped her raise $2, 135.00 via GoFundMe.
  7. 2/27/2023- A Brooklyn EMT developed stage four cancer at a very young age. EMSPAC Advocates helped the family raise $14,352.00 via crowdfund.
  8. 3/25/2023- A Bronx Paramedic took his own life. EMSPAC Advocates did bereavement, peer support for co-workers, organized a vigil at the hospital and helped raise $1,395.00 for burial costs.
  9. 3/31/2023- After the main base of a private Long Island Ambulance company mysteriously burned to the ground, EMSAPC Advocates provided CISM to affected MOS and documented the incident. 
  10. 4/3/2023- A Long Island EMT took her own life. EMSPAC Advocates attended the burial to provide bereavement support and helped the family raise 
  11. 4/28/2023- A Bronx EMT was injured and subsequently lost her housing and needed help raising funds for transition. EMSPAC Advocates raised $1,225.00
  12. 5/1/2023-A Bronx EMT was involved in a high-visibility ambulance crash. EMSPAC Advocates got their union involved, provided direct support on how to document, and helped protect their jobs.
  13. 5/20/2022- A Brooklyn EMT died when his motorcycle was struck by another driver. EMSPAC Advocates provided CISM and bereavement support to his co-workers and attended the funeral, a crowdfund was drawn up which raised $25,330.00. 
  14.  5/1/2023-A New Jersey EMT was involved in a high-visibility ambulance flip. EMSPAC Advocates provided documentation and legal aid referrals, provided direct support on how to get reinstated once restricted, and helped protect their job.
  15.  6/30/2023- A Bronx Paramedic goes missing. EMSPAC Advocates and the social media team found him 2 days later via canvassing.
  16.  7/1/2023-A Brooklyn EMT was making self-harm comments on social media after being harassed and bullied by their co-workers. Co-workers were calling them telling them to quit their job and kill themselves. EMSPAC Advocates got 1199 and Remsco Peer support involved and set up a personalized channel of peers to guide the member into therapy.
  17.  7/10/2023- A Westchester Paramedic’s home experienced serious flooding. It wiped out their home and ruined most of their possession. EMSPAC Advocates helped raise $7,257.00 to support.
  18. 7/19/2023- A Manhtan EMT was stabbed repeatedly by her patient. EMSPAC Advocates provided debrief support to her co-workers, made press releases, and helped organize rallies at the hospital, courthouse, and city hall. Coordinating with her family and union representatives the crowdfund raised $46, 801.00
  19. 8/2/2023-A Brooklyn EMT unit had their ambulance windows smashed at work. EMSPAC Advocates provided documentation and peer support dealing with their supervisors and made a press release.
  20. 8/19/2023- A Bronx EMT believed they had killed their patient who was already in cardiac arrest. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support and referred them to the medical education committee to go over the call with CIC.
  21. 8/28/2023- A Brooklyn MVO driver for a private company had an off-work medical event and was hospitalized in the ICU for several days. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support at the hospital and raised $1,530.00
  22. 9/1/2023- A Bronx EMT was making self-harm comments and expressing suicidal ideations. EMSPAC Advocates met them to give CISM support and get them professional evaluation at the ED without admission. The member was placed in a chat group for follow-up with partners and aided by EMSPAC Advocates in getting into long-term therapy. Successfully monitoring by peers went on for the next 6 months until the crisis stabilized. 
  23. 9/22/2023- Queens Paramedic was being threatened by a civilian with murder after a complicated call. CISIM Support was given and the patient was advised on matters of station transfer by their union.
  24. 10/8/2023- The Bronx Paramedic supervisor got into a serious off-work motor vehicle accident. The member was given CISM support and a crowdfund was pushed out which raised $20,725.00
  25. 9/24/2023-A Brooklyn EMT was sexually harassed at a training Academy. EMSPAC Advocates got their union involved, provided peer support, and had the union had the culprit expelled. The member was subsequently aided with ongoing therapy support.
  26. 10/6/2023- A Manhattan EMT was diagnosed with cancer. EMSPAC Advocates helped raise money for his support and treatment, $23,821,00 was raised on fund the first.
  27. 11/13/2023- A Bronx EMT passed from an unknown medical condition, EMSPAC Advocates helped raise $5,650.00 to support the family with burial costs.
  28. 11/30/2023- A New Jersey EMT retiree was experiencing PTSD and major depression many years after serving at the World Trade Center response. EMSPAC Advocates provided him with ongoing peer support until our social worker could get him placed in long-term therapy. 
  29. 12/3/2023- After the death of a Staten Island Paramedic in a motorcycle accident  EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support to partners, family, and friends attending the funeral. EMSPAC collected $ 8,131.00 in burial support funds.
  30. 12/13/203- A Bronx EMT took their own life. EMSPAC Advocates helped provide peer support to friends and partners. EMSPAC Conducted several public awareness events and press releases about EMS getting better access to mental health support. 

2024

  1. 1/23/2024– A Brooklyn EMT has a major stroke event at work. EMSPAC Advocates helped push a gofund that raised $6,795.00.
  2. 2/6/2024- After a double pediatric cardiac arrest in Queens call EMSPAC Advocates provided debriefing support to the EMS MOS involved in the call.
  3. 2/24/2024- A Brooklyn EMT car flipped. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support and helped raise $500.00 for emergency aid. 
  4. 2/25/2024- A Bronx EMT requested help in raising money to bury their brother. EMSAPC helped support the fundraising effort and widely spread the crowdfund which raised $5,900.00
  5. 3/21/2024- After the apparent suicide of a Bronx EMT EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support to various EMS affected by the loss of their partner. 
  6. 4/8/2024- A Brooklyn EMT got in a serious motorcycle accident with extensive injuries. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support and raised $18,748.00 via crowdfund.
  7. 4/9/2024– A Brooklyn EMT died of cancer at a very young age. EMSPAC Advocates provided the partners and family with peer support and had previously helped raise $14,352.00 for her care.
  8. 7/5/2024- A Manhattan EMT flipped their car and was hospitalized. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support, and a legal consult referral, and raised $400.00 for immediate aid.
  9. 7/25/2024- A Manhattan EMT was Doxed on social media after a complicated call at a Times Square protest. Protesters accused her of not providing patient care to protesters sprayed with mace. Many witnesses reported accusations unfounded, but protesters posted the EMT’s face and name all over social media. EMSPAC Advocates provided ongoing peer support. 
  10. 8/29/2024- A Bronx EMT lost her home and possession in a fire. EMSPAC Advocates provided ongoing, peer support, aided with leads in new housing, and raised $3,125.00 
  11. 9/1/5/2024– A Brooklyn EMT tragically lost their newborn child. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support and helped share a Meal Train link to support the family.
  12. 9/16/2024- A Brooklyn EMT developed several serious medical conditions and passed within a few months. EMSPAC Advocates helped raise
  13. 10/5/2024- A Bronx EMT was terminated at work while on authorized family leave. EMSPAC Advocates provided peer support and assisted them in getting a labor lawyer.
  14. 10/6/2024- A Queens EMT was harassed, and then terminated by her agency after calling for a union. EMSPAC Advocates got her in touch with NLRB, and labor lawyers, and assisted her in finding a new employer.

Get SUPPORT

Get SUPPOR