Suzanne Duque testifies on FDNY EMS community work
Suzanne Duque of FDNY EMS Be Heard office describes EMS workers' role in supporting vulnerable New Yorkers, their exposure to hazards, and the challenges of choosing between overtime and family needs on low wages.
Good afternoon, my name is Suzanne Duque.
I work for the FDNY EMS Be Heard office.
My views today do not necessarily reflect what the views of FDNY are.
Thank you for allowing me to testify today about the outreach work New York City EMS
are doing.
Day by day, night by night, New York City EMS practice our part in supporting the caring, vibrant, resilient, inclusive city of New York.
We help safeguard the universal right for health care.
New York City EMS, their work is not necessarily seen as a social expenditure, but much more as an effort to reach the residents with the U.S.
humanitarian goal of medicine.
New York City EMS step into dirt through roaches, through heat, through cold, through snow to reach the patients.
They are exposed to blood-borne pathogens and
They connect and ease the hopelessness sometimes.
They use their excellent skills in medical care and their people skills.
And the community...
The community participation is celebrating diversity.
But yet, we very often have to make the choice between going home and doing overtime, between help our own children go through school and making the money to pay for rent.
Please continue.
If you didn't finish, you can continue.
I'm finished.
Thank you so much.
Okay, thank you.
Thank you for your work.