EMS World Expo: FDNY leaders to share insights, lessons from Ground Zero on 9/11

By Joshua Hartman

Senior Vice President, Cardiovascular/Emergency & Mobile Medicine, HMP Global

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September 11, 2001 was a defining moment for our world — and for the world of emergency medical services (EMS).

While multiple sites were impacted that day (in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania), the World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan was Ground Zero for the coordinated attacks.

EMS World has invited EMS leaders from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) to share lessons learned on that day through keynote remarks at the 2024 EMS World Expo. This year’s Expo will be held September 9-13 in Las Vegas, where more than 6,000 emergency medical professionals and industry supporters will gather for exceptional education and training.

The keynote, “9/11: The Impact on EMS & Beyond — A Conversation with FDNY EMS Leaders from Ground Zero,” will take place on the morning of September 11 as part of EMS World Expo’s opening ceremonies. It will be led by FDNY’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Glenn Asaeda ; EMS Operations Assistant Chief Cesar A. Escobar; and Retired Chief of EMS John Peruggia.

FDNY had overall responsibility for the New York City operations — both the fire/rescue and the EMS responses. The address will focus on two key lessons: the importance of a unified command and a well-established communications infrastructure. Hearing from FDNY leaders directly, on the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, will be impactful for all in attendance.

Remembering 9/11

September 11 has deep resonance for me personally. I responded to the World Trade Center attacks, arriving shortly after the second plane had struck the towers as both buildings were engulfed in smoke and flames.

Upon my arrival, I reported to the FDNY incident commander who assigned me and another paramedic to one of the Major Emergency Response Vehicles (MERVs). Here we were stationed to triage and treat patients exiting the buildings.

Unfortunately, there were very few patients to treat. Those who could do so ran as fast and as far as they could, and those who could not perished.

When the towers fell a few minutes later, the MERV was significantly damaged. I was fortunate enough to get out of the MERV in time and seek refuge outside the World Financial Center near the Hudson River. Once the initial wave of debris from the tower collapses subsided, I was assigned to Chelsea Piers where a mobile emergency department had been set up.

Once again, no one came for care.

After the initial stages of the event, I went back to the “pile” at Ground Zero and spent most of my time irrigating the eyes of firefighters and police officers and identifying bodies among the debris.

I will never forget that day and the weeks and months that followed, and I will be forever grateful for my EMS and other public safety colleagues who served heroically in the wake of the attacks. Many lives were lost that day — including so many first responders — and many lessons were learned.

It is important to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their service as well as to recall the events and the lessons that were learned, in order to optimize responses to disasters in the future to the best of our abilities.

I hope you will join me at the 2024 EMS World Expo’s opening ceremonies and participate in the full educational program.

For more information or to register, visit emsworldexpo.com .

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