Lynbrook EMT is twice the hero

Lynbrook EMT Lynn Curtis was honored on Oct. 21 by Supervisor Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead at their annual Firematic Awards ceremony for her life saving actions — times two.

“I am compelled to share my gratitude and thanks to this hero and all of the dedicated professionals who serve along side her,” said the daughter of a Lynbrook resident whose life Curtis is accredited with saving.

On Nov. 2, 2009, at about 1:25 p.m., Lynbrook resident and retired FDNY Fire Marshal Tom Schule was involved in a serious auto accident on Atlantic Avenue at Stauderman Avenue when his SUV overturned in front of Lynbrook Hardware. He was thrown through the windshield and onto the roadway. Curtis, a firefighter and advanced emergency medical technician with the Lynbrook Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Company — and also the village’s fire inspector — responded in her village vehicle to the scene, finding Schule seriously injured with severe facial trauma from the windshield glass and roadway. He had lost a lot of facial skin and was losing a lot of blood. Curtis immediately began working to stop the bleeding and was able to keep it under control until firefighters arrived to transport Schule to the hospital. He survived his ordeal and, after a number of surgeries was soon home.

With her father’s life saved by the quick actions of Curtis, Schule’s daughter, Melissa, wrote to the Lynbrook Fire Department. Besides calling Curtis a hero, she also told of Curtis’ compassion and ability to talk to her father during the rescue operation to keep him from going into shock. Melissa said that Curtis kept her father alert by talking about the Yankees and the World Series game that was to be played that evening. She also said that while her father was recovering in the hospital, Curtis came to visit and brought him a New York Yankees 27th World Series Championship T-shirt that she purchased especially for him.

“I believe that Lynn Curtis truly deserves to be congratulated and rewarded for providing such a high level of professionalism and genuine concern,” Melissa wrote in closing.