This page describes real hardship cases, including line-of-duty deaths, assaults and deaths by suicide. If any of it lands close to home, contact the Hardship Help Committee — or call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7 anywhere in the US.
How casework runs
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 hardship help case support, peer-to-peer counseling, self-harm intervention, and general referrals to vetted external resources. We maintain a database of over 200 vetted resources to guide members toward definitive care and support.
EMSPAC extends case support to immediate family and any EMS member of service, and makes no distinction over what agency or sector a professional works in.
Cases generally involve an advocate for fact-finding, a division leader for coordination, relevant EMS partners, family members, and ongoing peer support. We typically manage a case for 30, 60 or 90 days based on an action plan. Cases are categorized green, yellow, orange or red by severity.
Crowdfunds are created either by the affected member or by our Solidarity Committee assisting with the wording, then posted across social media at regular intervals for the duration of the action plan. In the majority of cases 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 hold REMSCO, CSU or NAEMT credentials, or have more than three years of 911 experience.
Case record
The cases
Over 365 cases have been responded to since May 2020. A selection is recorded here by year.
2020
- Following the high-profile deaths by suicide of two FDNY EMS, advocates ran CISM and informal debriefs with grieving Bronx EMS members of service.
- A Bronx EMT in crisis after a domestic argument was reached by an advocate, who arranged leave and guided her into formal counseling.
- A Brooklyn EMT was assaulted by their partner at a private agency base. The supervisor refused to release video or act. Advocates arranged peer support, connected them with local lawyers, and advised on pressing charges.
- A Bronx EMT expressing self-harm thoughts was reached by advocates and connected to a crisis line and a personal chat with close partners and peers, then supported into regular therapy and substance abuse counselling.
- A Bronx paramedic was doxed in local media over a side job, exposing her to harassment. Advocates issued press releases, provided peer support and circulated a crowdfund that raised $104,377.
- A Bronx EMT had his car totalled by a drunk driver while on duty. Advocates raised $500 for immediate logistics support.
- A Brooklyn EMS dispatcher was found dead at home from a condition believed to be COVID-related. Advocates provided peer support at her funeral and raised $21,990.
2021
- A retired paramedic with WTC-related cancer began to deteriorate. Advocates helped raise $15,893.
- A Bronx private EMS unit was in a serious ambulance crash. Advocates helped them document properly to protect their jobs when their union rep could not be found.
- A Brooklyn EMT lost their mother and could not afford the burial. Advocates raised $3,000 toward funeral costs.
- A Brooklyn EMT was bitten on the face by a patient. Advocates provided peer support, issued press releases and shared the crowdfund, raising $18,360.
- A Queens EMT lost their apartment and possessions in a structure fire. Advocates set up the crowdfund, shared it across platforms and arranged daily accessible peer support.
- A Bronx EMT was killed in a motorcycle accident. Advocates organized the memorial and the crowdfund, raising $8,860 for burial expenses.
- A Staten Island EMT was injured on the job; surgery put them out of work for four to six months. Advocates raised $3,825.
- A long-serving EMT developed stage four cancer after WTC exposure. Advocates pushed his crowdfund, raising $18,530.
- A Bronx EMT broke their leg off duty with no health coverage. Advocates set up and circulated the crowdfund, raising $1,172.
- A Bronx medic student was choked and assaulted by a patient. Advocates went to the scene, debriefed the student and referred her to a union rep.
- After the murder of an EMT travelling abroad, advocates provided informal debrief and CISM at the funeral. The crowdfund raised $24,680.
- A long-serving member developed WTC-related cancer. Advocates circulated his crowdfund, raising $13,285.
- A Bronx EMT was threatened with a knife and his ambulance robbed. Advocates ran a CISM debrief, took a report and issued a press release.
- A Bronx EMT's sister went missing. Advocates and the social media team canvassed until she was found days later, with peer support throughout.
- A Queens EMT was struck riding their motorcycle to work. Advocates met them at hospital with a care package and set up a crowdfund, raising $9,695.
- A Brooklyn paramedic died by suicide. Advocates provided bereavement support at the funeral and informal CISM to co-workers.
- A Bronx EMT died of an underlying medical condition. Peer support was provided to his partners and $2,959 was raised for burial costs.
- After two EMTs died by suicide a day apart, advocates provided CISM to their partners and raised $10,350 and $12,918 for the funerals, with many one-to-one peer support sessions.
- A Staten Island EMT died of an underlying medical condition. Advocates provided peer support, set up the crowdfund and ran a charity baseball game between two local hospitals, raising $68,850 in total.
- A Bronx crew was repeatedly asked to lift patients above the weight limit without proper equipment and could not reach a union rep. Advocates provided peer support and identified how to hold the union accountable through the NLRB.
2022
- After a fire MCI in which 19 civilians died, advocates gathered a large quantity of donated clothing and support items for affected families, and provided CISM to responding members.
- A Brooklyn crew was rear-ended in a serious ambulance accident. Advocates helped them document properly and file for workers' compensation.
- A Brooklyn EMT injured on the job went off payroll without medical coverage. Advocates set up a crowdfund raising $2,000.
- A Bronx paramedic slipped in a work parking lot and was denied line-of-duty benefits. Advocates raised attention and $5,158.
- A Bronx EMT died by suicide. Advocates provided peer support at the funeral and raised $5,340.
- A Nassau County EMT was targeted for talking about unionizing his agency. Advocates helped him file an NLRB action to protect his job.
- A Bronx EMT lost their housing after a domestic dispute. Advocates notified the Help Fund and raised $996 for immediate housing assistance.
- A Staten Island EMT was shot at work. Advocates provided CISM and peer support for several months during his recovery.
- An HHC retiree EMT was hospitalized with liver failure. Advocates brought a care package and made regular peer support calls and visits until his death months later.
- A Brooklyn EMT was assaulted by a patient and dislocated his shoulder, off work three to six months. Advocates provided ongoing peer support and raised $570.
- A Staten Island EMT was in crisis on a pier. Advocates drove to the scene to intervene, gave emergency CISM support and accompanied him to the ED for evaluation, with follow-up and therapy assistance for twelve months.
- A Bronx paramedic fractured her leg in multiple places off work. Advocates visited with a care package, provided six months of peer support, raised $2,000, and brought food and essentials during recovery.
- A Bronx EMT facing termination could not reach their union. Advocates advised on filing an NLRB action and where to apply for new work.
- A New Jersey EMT broke their leg off the job. Advocates raised $1,550 in support.
- A Westchester EMT was terminated over social media use. Advocates advised her on finding a lawyer and new employment.
- A Bronx EMT was in crisis at work. Advocates drove to the scene, gave emergency CISM support and accompanied them to the ED, with follow-up and therapy assistance for seven months.
- A Manhattan paramedic died by suicide. Advocates provided CISM to co-workers and raised $22,830 for surviving children.
- A Staten Island paramedic crew was injured in an ambulance rollover. Advocates met them at hospital for peer support and a care package.
- A Brooklyn paramedic lost her home and all family possessions in a fire. Advocates at her hospital helped raise $71,780.
- A Bronx EMT lost his home in a structure fire. Advocates raised funds and helped them find a new apartment.
- After a shooting at a Staten Island school, advocates were invited to a group debrief for affected students.
- A Bronx EMT was found unresponsive at work after drug use. Advocates met them at the ED and provided peer support to get into a rehab program.
- After transporting a pediatric arrest following a stabbing, advocates met the crew at hospital for a debrief and followed up days later.
- A New Jersey paramedic accused of harassment at work contacted advocates, who provided legal and documentation advice.
- A Bronx EMT was arrested. Advocates assisted them in getting legal aid from Bronx Defenders.
- A Staten Island EMT was injured by a patient at work. Advocates provided peer support and set up a crowdfund raising $2,845.
- A Westchester paramedic was run over and killed leaving work. Advocates held CISM and memorial events, a vigil and a car convoy for her burial, and raised $2,095 for expenses.
- A Bronx paramedic unit was assaulted on the job by a patient. Advocates provided a debrief and CISM.
2023
- A private sector EMT supervisor was told to inform on EMSPAC chat groups or face termination. He was given peer support and advised to contact a lawyer; the demand is illegal under labor law.
- A Brooklyn EMT was sexually harassed at her private sector job and supervisors refused to intervene. She was given peer support and helped to find a lawyer.
- A Staten Island EMT, previously injured and depressed, was off the roll and asked for support. Peer support was given and a t-shirt drive raised $1,300.
- A Brooklyn EMT was severely injured in an ambulance rollover. EMSPAC helped set up a crowdfund raising $2,699.
- A Staten Island paramedic died by suicide. Advocates organized vigils in Staten Island and the Bronx, provided peer support, helped organize the funeral and raised $12,940 for surviving children.
- A Westchester EMT needed a procedure not covered by her private sector provider. Advocates provided peer support and raised $2,135.
- A Brooklyn EMT developed stage four cancer very young. Advocates helped the family raise $14,352.
- A Bronx paramedic died by suicide. Advocates provided bereavement and peer support for co-workers, organized a vigil at the hospital and raised $1,395 for burial costs.
- After the main base of a private Long Island ambulance company burned down, advocates provided CISM to affected members and documented the incident.
- A Long Island EMT died by suicide. Advocates attended the burial to provide bereavement support and helped the family fundraise.
- A Bronx EMT was injured and subsequently lost her housing. Advocates raised $1,225 for the transition.
- A Bronx EMT was involved in a high-visibility ambulance crash. Advocates brought in their union, advised on documentation and helped protect their job.
- A Brooklyn EMT died when his motorcycle was struck. Advocates provided CISM and bereavement support to co-workers, attended the funeral, and the crowdfund raised $25,330.
- A New Jersey EMT was involved in a high-visibility ambulance flip. Advocates provided documentation and legal aid referrals and support on reinstatement.
- A Bronx paramedic went missing. Advocates and the social media team found him two days later through canvassing.
- A Brooklyn EMT was making self-harm comments after being harassed and bullied by co-workers. Advocates brought in 1199 and REMSCO peer support and set up a personalized channel of peers to guide the member into therapy.
- A Westchester paramedic's home flooded, ruining most of their possessions. Advocates raised $7,257.
- A Manhattan EMT was stabbed repeatedly by a patient. Advocates provided debrief support to co-workers, made press releases and organized rallies at the hospital, courthouse and city hall. Coordinating with family and union reps, the crowdfund raised $46,801.
- A Brooklyn unit had their ambulance windows smashed at work. Advocates provided documentation, peer support with supervisors and a press release.
- A Bronx EMT believed they had killed a patient already in cardiac arrest. Advocates provided peer support and referred them to the medical education committee to review the call with a CIC.
- A Brooklyn MVO driver had an off-work medical event and spent days in the ICU. Advocates provided peer support at hospital and raised $1,530.
- A Bronx EMT was expressing suicidal ideation. Advocates met them for CISM support and arranged professional evaluation at the ED without admission, then placed them in a follow-up chat group with partners and helped them into long-term therapy, with peer monitoring for six months until the crisis stabilized.
- A Queens paramedic was threatened by a civilian after a complicated call. CISM support was given and the member was advised on station transfer by their union.
- A Bronx paramedic supervisor was in a serious off-work motor vehicle accident. CISM support was given and a crowdfund raised $20,725.
- A Brooklyn EMT was sexually harassed at a training academy. Advocates brought in their union, provided peer support, and the union had the culprit expelled. The member received ongoing therapy support.
- A Manhattan EMT was diagnosed with cancer. Advocates helped raise $23,821 for support and treatment.
- A Bronx EMT died of an unknown medical condition. Advocates raised $5,650 to support the family with burial costs.
- A New Jersey EMT retiree was experiencing PTSD and major depression years after serving at the World Trade Center response. Advocates provided ongoing peer support until a social worker placed him in long-term therapy.
- After the death of a Staten Island paramedic in a motorcycle accident, advocates provided peer support to partners, family and friends at the funeral and collected $8,131 in burial support.
- A Bronx EMT died by suicide. Advocates provided peer support to friends and partners and ran public awareness events and press releases about EMS access to mental health support.
2024
- A Brooklyn EMT had a major stroke event at work. Advocates pushed a crowdfund that raised $6,795.
- After a double pediatric cardiac arrest call in Queens, advocates provided debriefing support to the members involved.
- A Brooklyn EMT's car flipped. Advocates provided peer support and raised $500 in emergency aid.
- A Bronx EMT requested help raising money to bury their brother. EMSPAC supported the effort and spread the crowdfund, raising $5,900.
- After the apparent suicide of a Bronx EMT, advocates provided peer support to members affected by the loss of their partner.
- A Brooklyn EMT was in a serious motorcycle accident with extensive injuries. Advocates provided peer support and raised $18,748.
- A Brooklyn EMT died of cancer very young. Advocates provided partners and family with peer support, having previously raised $14,352 for her care.
- A Manhattan EMT flipped their car and was hospitalized. Advocates provided peer support, a legal consult referral and $400 in immediate aid.
- A Manhattan EMT was doxed on social media after a complicated call at a Times Square protest. Many witnesses reported the accusations were unfounded, but her face and name were posted widely. Advocates provided ongoing peer support.
- A Bronx EMT lost her home and possessions in a fire. Advocates provided ongoing peer support, leads on new housing and raised $3,125.
- A Brooklyn EMT tragically lost their newborn child. Advocates provided peer support and shared a meal train link to support the family.
- A Brooklyn EMT developed several serious medical conditions and passed within a few months. Advocates supported fundraising for the family.
- A Bronx EMT was terminated while on authorized family leave. Advocates provided peer support and assisted them in getting a labor lawyer.
- A Queens EMT was harassed and then terminated after calling for a union. Advocates connected her with the NLRB and labor lawyers and assisted her in finding a new employer.
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