Brave Actions at FDNY High School Graduation

A graduate from an FDNY-focused high school in Brooklyn shared an inspiring story of how a friend’s quick response saved her father’s life using CPR. Decily Lewis, 17, recounted the moment her dad, Wilfred, unexpectedly collapsed due to cardiac arrest while a friend was at their home.

Her friend, a senior at the FDNY High School for Fire and Life Safety, quickly moved to perform chest compressions. “He saw my dad on the floor and just went into action,” she explained. “It definitely saved my father’s life. If the brain lacks oxygen for about ten minutes, that’s it. His intervention was perfectly timed,” Lewis added, reflecting on how impactful that experience was for her.

Witnessing that event firsthand has motivated her to strive for a similar influence in her community. “I’ve seen the difference it can make, so I want to have that kind of impact too,” she noted.

Lewis was among 87 seniors who celebrated their graduation at a ceremony held at the FDNY Academy on Randall Island. Following her father’s health scare, she earned the esteemed EMS Scholarship and the American School Management Federation Leadership Award.

Looking forward, she plans to begin her training as an EMT, eventually aiming to become a certified paramedic.

Mia Luna, also 17, described her senior class as a tightly-knit group of future FDNY heroes. “Since we’re a smaller school, we’re really close. We’re always there for each other, making sure no one gets left behind,” she said, emphasizing the community spirit at their school.

Officially known as Captain Vernon A. Richard High School, the institution honors the memory of the Brooklyn-born firefighter who lost his life on September 11.