On the afternoon of Aug. 23, at 4:29 p.m., Floral Park Police and Fire Department members responded to an emergency "cardiac" call, with a "forthwith" response requested, outside of CVS on Jericho Turnpike.

Upon the arrival of Chief Kelleher and the Floral Park ambulance, the crew was notified that this "cardiac" call was actually a cardiac arrest. Floral Park Police Officers Mark Weigand and Tom McCarthy, and Floral Park Rescue Lieutenant Patricia Luger, were already on scene providing CPR.

With Chief Ulmer managing the scene, Chief Kelleher of the Rescue Company intubated the patient, who had no blood pressure, no pulse and was not breathing. By the time Chief Kelleher had an IV secured in the patient's arm, compressions were no longer needed. The CPR provided by members was successful.

Without any medications administered, and with no shocks given from the defibrillator, this patient regained a pulse and blood pressure, and began trying to breathe on his own. While Rescue member Hugo Berta drove the ambulance to Winthrop-University Hospital, Chief Kelleher, FF/EMT-CC Chris Corbett, FF/EMT Patricia Luger, FF/EMT Charles Duffner and EMT Kathy Sangen continued to provide ventilations and care for the patient. The professional teamwork provided by all of the members was extraordinary.

When the ambulance reached the hospital, the cardiac arrest team was pleasantly surprised to see that the patient was responsive. They informed members that there is only a 3 percent chance of reviving someone who is in cardiac arrest, and members of the Floral Park Fire and Police departments were once again successful on that afternoon.