Honorees

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Year Honored
1995
Honoree
Christopher Prescott
Agency
New York City Emergency Medical Service
Agency City
New York
Agency State
NY
Last Call
6/17/94
Cause of Death
Struck at Scene
Biography
Chris, a Specialist EMT-Defibrillator, had been chosen NYC*EMS Station 34's "Rookie of the Year." He was 22 years old, and had been on the job less than one year when he became the first emergency medical technician to die in the line of duty in the New York City system's 25-year history.<br /> <br /> The accident that took Chris' life occurred on June 17, 1994, as he was treating victims of a traffic accident. A drunk driver ignored the emergency flares at the accident scene, crashed into a car, and pushed it into Chris, trapping him between two vehicles. He died four hours later at Kings County Hospital after two cardiac arrests.<br /> <br /> The show of respect for Chris began with the New York City Fire Department sending a crew and ladder truck to drape the front of Station 34 in mourning bunting. It continued with ambulances from all over the East Coast and as far away as Los Angeles bringing emergency medical services providers for the burial mass. Chris was taken to Holy Child Church in a new ambulance draped with black and accompanied by vehicles from 47 emergency medical service organizations. Over 2,000 people attended the mass. Afterward a pipe and drum corps played Coming Home, a lone bugler blew Taps, and the New York City Police Department Aviation Unit flew over in the "missing man" formation.<br /> <br /> New York City had lost an outstanding young emergency medical technician.<br /> <br /> On Monday, June 23, 1997, the Little Hugenot Playground was renamed the EMT Christopher J. Prescott Playground by the City of New York. The playground is located at the intersection of Edith Avenue and Irvington Street, adjacent to I.S. 7, where EMT Prescott attended school as a child.<br /> <br /> Honored 1995