From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the FDNY deploys beach Gator units at area beaches, which are staffed by EMTs trained to respond to emergencies on the beach. These units work in partnership with the FDNY Drone Unit, FDNY Fire Companies, the NYPD and New York City Parks Department lifeguards and can more easily navigate the beach and through crowds in their small, specialized vehicle. New York City’s beaches are especially crowded during the warm summer months, and Independence Day weekend 2024 was no exception. Just after 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 7, Station 47’s beach gator unit sprang into action when five swimmers in a closed section of the beach were caught in large swells and a rip current, slamming them into the Beach 91 jetty as they struggled to say afloat. In this episode, EMT Saverio Bosco and EMT Andrew Ochtera join us to discuss this rescue operation and what a “day at the beach” is like for members working at one the busiest beaches in the city. Captain Randy Li hosts.

Over the past several years, lithium-ion batteries have become increasingly common. Most people are now familiar with the fire risks associated with the batteries used in e-bikes and scooters, devices that have tragically contributed to 34 fire related deaths in New York City since 2021, as of the date of publication. But, the presence of lithium-ion batteries goes far beyond micromobility. They're found in everything from electric vehicles to large grid-scale energy storage systems, some of which are being installed in urban environments within the five boroughs. In this episode, Battalion Chief Jason Cascone hosts a comprehensive discussion with FDNY Chief of Safety James Canty, and Hazmat Battalion Chiefs Ray Coyle and Matt Quinn about why lithium-ion batteries can be volatile, how to safely operate at fires involving them, and mitigating them on the fireground.

FDNY Deputy Chief Inspector Kingsley Eze, a civilian manager in the Bureau of Fire Prevention found a civilian employee in cardiac arrest in the basement parking garage of the Department's headquarters on August 1, 2024. After calling 9-1-1 he was directed to begin compressions-only CPR, activating the first two steps in the chain of survival. Once first responders arrived on scene, paramedics Alexis Gonzalez and Youssef Al Hammami of Station 31 treated, stabilized and transported the patient to the hospital. In this episode of the FDNY Pro Podcast, Captain Randy Li invites all three members to the studio to discuss how providing advanced care quickly and efficiently helped save a life.