Veteran EMT mom-of-four, 58, becomes the 12th FDNY COVID fatality on the day her colleagues begin getting vaccinated
A veteran New York City Emergency Medical Technician and mother-of-four succumbed to COVID-19 overnight, becoming the FDNY's 12th casualty of the pandemic.
The agency announced the death of Evelyn Ford, 58, on Wednesday morning, just as vaccinations began for FDNY EMTs across the city.
Ford was a 27-year veteran of Emergency Medical Services, As a member assigned to Emergency Medical Dispatch , Ford served as citywide dispatcher, coordinating medical response to large-scale emergencies including major fires and mass-casualty incidents.
Tragic: EMT Evelyn Ford, a 27-year veteran of FDNY's Emergency Medical Services, died of COVID-19 late Tuesday evening
'On the day we begin to vaccinate our EMS members from this deadly virus, it has once again taken one of our own. EMT Evelyn Ford is the twelfth member of the Department to die due to COVID-19,' said FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro. 'For nearly three decades, EMT Ford was a member of the busiest and best Emergency Medical Service in the world.
'She was a professional medical provider who responded to help those in need on countless calls, and she was a calm voice during major emergencies ensuring New Yorkers received the urgent care they needed. Our entire Department mourns her loss.'
A resident of Long Island, Ford was said to be a mentor to hundreds of EMTs. She is survived by her four children and three grandchildren.
According to a friend's social media post, Ford had only recently lost her husband.
Ford served as a citywide dispatcher, coordinating medical response to large-scale emergencies
Evelyn lost her husband, Donnell Ford , in late November
An obituary indicates that Donnell Ford passed away on November 21 at age 64. It is unclear if he, too, died of COVID.
'It’s very, very sad that just now, as we finally get to turn the corner, the vaccine has finally arrived, we lose a good woman who served us so well and for so long,' said Mayor Bill de Blasio during a press conference on Wednesday. 'Our hearts go out to her family and children.'
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, at least 5,800 members of the FDNY have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The vast majority have recovered and returned to work.
At 11am on Wednesday, vaccinations of FDNY's EMTs got underway at three locations, FDNY Headquarters in Brooklyn, Randall’s Island Training Academy and EMS Academy in Fort Totten, Queens.
Vaccinations began for FDNY's emergency medical services personnel on Wednesday
A worker of the New York City Fire Department Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (FDNY EMS) receives a COVID-19 Moderna vaccine in Manhattan
A member of FDNY EMS looks at his bandage after receiving the coronavirus. The department has the capacity to inoculate 450 members per day
All recipients are injected with the newly approved Moderna vaccine. The department has the capacity to inoculate 450 members per day.
Vaccinations are not mandatory, but are 'strongly encouraged,' even for those who had COVID-19 and recovered.
'This is a great day for the FDNY. Science has answered the call for help from our Department and all essential frontline healthcare workers and produced a vaccine to combat this deadly illness,' said Commissioner Nigro. 'I strongly encourage all of our members to take the COVID-19 vaccine offered through the Department to protect themselves, their colleagues, and their loved ones.'
Vaccinations for firefighters are scheduled to begin next Tuesday.