East Williston Fire Department Recognized at 2012 EMS Awards

On October 11, the Nassau County Regional EMS Council held its annual awards dinner at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. The dinner recognized the actions of those EMS workers for the entire County of

Nassau, consisting of 71 fire departments, 5 volunteer ambulance corps, the Nassau County Police Department Emergency Ambulance Bureau and numerous hospital based career ambulance providers.

This year, the Williston Park Emergency Relief Squad was recognized as the EMS Agency of the Year, with the East Williston Fire Department receiving honorable mention in this category.

“To have the two top EMS agencies for Nassau County in the same region, working hand-in-hand on a daily basis is impressive,” East Williston Fire Department Captain Tom Devaney said in a statement.

East Williston Fire Department EMT Kevin Cramblitt was recognized as the Basic Life Support Provider of the Year for Nassau County. He was specifically recognized for his quick actions in which he saved the life of a young cardiac arrest victim, who collapsed on the front lawn of his friend’s house in Albertson. On that same incident, firefighter Cramblitt was assisted by Mineola resident Kevin O’Donnell, CFR, also of the East Williston Fire Department, who was recognized in receiving honorable mention in the same category.

“This just goes to show the work of a volunteer firefighter is never off duty,” Devaney said.

The East Williston Fire Department was recognized once again, in that Thomas Devaney, EMT-CC, who has served as their EMS Captain for over 10 years, was given honorable mention in the category of Emergency Medical Services Leadership Award.