Village honors lifesavers, crime stoppers

Village officials praised the “unpaid professionals” of the Rockville Centre Fire Department and the hard work of the Rockville Centre Police Department in three presentations at the Feb. 4 board of trustees meeting.

The first honors were for the team of firefighters, police and EMTs who saved a 71-year-old man in cardiac arrest on the afternoon of Jan. 20. Firefighter EMT Jesse Keane and a Rockville Centre police officer performed CPR on the man. Firefighter paramedic Chris Bossart put an IV into the man and reestablished ventilation with the help of a Northwell paramedic and ex-captain EMT John Lamonica. After the man started to breathe again and had a pulse, ex-chief paramedic John Busching then administered the necessary medications. The man was then taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital.

“It was through the team efforts of all involved — Northwell EMS personnel, the Rockville Centre Police Department and the Rockville Centre Fire Department — that the positive outcome of this person came to,” said Fire Department Chief Robert Seaman.

Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard started to tear up when honoring the second group, a set of firefighters, a policeman and a bystander who saved a man who went into cardiac arrest at Function Fitness on North Park Avenue. “This save came close to home,” she said. “And I speak on behalf of the family… to say that your service to this community is so appreciated and so valued. It literally saved a life.”

On Jan. 26, a man passed out at Function Fitness. The owner of the gym, Angelo Debourg, did chest compressions and CPR on the man. Village trustee and paramedic Ed Oppenheimer confirmed that the man was in cardiac arrest and took over CPR. Police officer Pete Rogan and RVCFD first assistant chief Brian Cook arrived and set up the defibrillator on the man. Oppenheimer administered the shock, and the men continued CPR.

More firefighters came to help. Bossart set up an IV for the man, and Michael Ambort and Daniel Navarino took over chest compressions. Stefan Kharoufa set up oxygen as Timothy Brenner took over CPR from Cook. The man started to breathe again, his pulse was found and an ambulance took him to South Nassau Communities Hospital.