Brewster Fire Capt. is ‘EMS Provider of the Year’

Brewster Fire Department Capt. Kevin Durmer was honored last week for his heroic efforts to save a drowning victim last year. Contributed photos.

Brewster Fire Department Capt. Kevin Durmer was recognized as the EMS Provider of the Year during a ceremony last week at the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firefighters’ Association’s annual convention in Lake George.

Durmer was recommended for the award by the Brewster fire chief after his heroic actions saved the life of a drowning victim last July.

Dermer was in the neighborhood of a reported pool d

rowning and “exhibited exceptional situational awareness and a profound sense of duty by arriving on scene within 1 minute of that initial dispatch,” recounted the event emcee at the recent ceremony.

She said the patient was still in the pool, pulse-less, and family was struggling to keep him above the water.

With Durmer’s help, the victim was pulled from the pool and he immediately began CPR. Additional firefighters arrived and with their assistance – along with help from Durmer’s wife – the patient came to.

“After 5 minutes of high-quality CPR, the patient regained a pulse and began breathing,” said the emcee. “Capt. Durmer’s immediate and decisive actions were pivotal in this patient’s survival, especially with EMS resources being delayed and traveling from farther than normal. His ability to rapidly assess the situation, initiate lifesaving measures, and maintain high-quality CPR under extreme pressure exemplifies the very essence of emergency response.”

While the entire team’s contributions were invaluable, she attributed the patient’s positive outcome to Durmer’s response.

“His actions not only saved a life, but also upheld the highest standards of the Brewster Fire Department and the emergency medicals services profession, she said.