The 911 call came from Joan Kiley’s Greenlawn home after her husband, Army veteran Robert Kiley, collapsed in sudden cardiac arrest.
On the other end, a calm, confident voice walked Joan through CPR as she fought to keep her husband alive. Within four minutes, EMS volunteers from the Greenlawn Fire Department arrived on the scene, having been nearby on another call.
“It was a perfect scenario to save a life,” said Assistant Chief Matthew Paulsen. “Everyone did their job perfectly. Joan’s CPR bought the time we needed. The crew arrived fast, resuscitated him four times, and now Robert is recovered with no lasting effects.”
EMT Mark Allen was part of that crew. In the ambulance, Robert Kiley flatlined four times. Each time, Allen brought him back using a defibrillator, a life-saving electrical shock used to restore a normal heartbeat that is standard equipment on a modern ambulance.
Kiley, now fully recovered, spoke at a ceremony kicking off EMS Appreciation Week in Suffolk, held during the third week of May to honor the selfless work of the county’s Emergency Medical Services volunteers. “I know I’m alive because of every single person who acted quickly and with incredible skill—from my wife, to the 911 dispatcher, to the EMTs. You gave me my life back, Kiley said.
The event also featured powerful words from Suffolk Legislator Dominick Thorne, chairman of the county’s Fire, Rescue and Emergency Medical Services Preparedness Committee, and a longtime volunteer himself.
“These stories happen 600 times a day in Suffolk,” said Thorne. “From scraped knees to heart attacks—any emergency—our EMS volunteers show unmatched skill and dedication. Their workload is massive, their training rigorous. They are ever ready to respond with great care and skill.”
Legislator Leslie Kennedy shared her own experience: “Seven years ago, I had a heart attack at my office. Hauppauge EMS was there in minutes. They got me to St. Catherine’s eight minutes after I called 911. I’m standing here today because of them,” she said. “I owe them my life.”
County Executive Ed Romaine praised the County’s emergency network, built largely on volunteerism.
“When people call 911, it’s during their darkest hour,” Romaine said. “What Mrs. Kiley experienced—a calm, guiding voice and a fast response—saved a life. And it happens every day. We rely on a network of trained volunteers who respond to every emergency imaginable. You can’t put a price on that.”
Romaine also encouraged residents to get involved. “If you’ve ever thought about volunteering, now is the time. Your training could be the reason someone sees another day.”
In 2023, Suffolk EMS workers responded to an estimated 172,000 requests for ambulance service, covered by 93 EMS agencies, noted Rudy Sunderman, commissioner of the county’s Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services. In 2024, that number rose to over 205,000 EMS runs out of nearly 300,000 emergency calls. Already in 2025, over 100,000 calls have come in, with 112 providers recognized for CPR saves as of May.
Sunderman, also a longtime volunteer, emphasized the theme for this year’s appreciation week: We Care For Everyone. “We support 109 fire agencies and 28 independent EMS agencies,” Sunderman pointed out. “With over 6,900 EMS providers—1,171 Advanced Life Support and 5,731 Basic Life Support—we’re a lifeline to our communities.”
The celebration also highlighted Emma Tennaro, a standout EMT with the Middle Island Fire Department, who responded to over 300 alarms in 2024 alone. Joining the department in 2018 after completing the Explorers program, Tennaro has since become a CPR instructor, certified EVOC driver, and mentor to recruits. “Emma is a true asset to her department and the community,” said Sunderman.
In recognition of the dedication of Suffolk’s EMS providers, the Legislature passed Resolution No. 406-2024, officially designating the third week of May as EMS Appreciation Week every year, beginning in 2024, marking the 50th anniversary of the national observance.
“From life-saving heroics in an ambulance to the steady hand guiding a panicked caller, Suffolk County’s EMS volunteers are the beating heart of the community—always ready, always skilled, and always there,” concluded Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, a Medford fire commissioner and fire and ambulance volunteer for over 40 years.