Crime & Safety

Community Invited To Celebrate State EMS Provider of the Year

Karen L. Haab, a Springs Fire Department member, will be honored in a ceremony Saturday at the firehouse.

The public is invited to a ceremony at the Springs Fire Department on Saturday to recognize Karen L. Haab, who was named the EMS Service Provider of the Year award by the Firemen's Association of the State of New York this summer.

Though FASNY presented her with the award during its annual convention in Albany in August, representatives from the organization will travel to Springs to honor her in front of the community. 

Haab, an advanced emergency medical technician, helped save a 77-year-old man's life after he broke his neck in the surf and he stopped breathing at Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett in 2012. She was enjoying a day at the beach during the Sandcastle Contest when she jumped into action, stabilizing his neck and initiating CPR before the Amagansett Fire Department arrived.

"It's a really big honor for her and it's great to have her as a member of the department," Chief Ben Miller said on Tuesday. "I think it's important for the public to come out and give recognition to an outstanding emergency medical technician and congratulate her on a job well done." 

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FASNY will also present the department with an award for having Haab as one of it's members, Miller said.

The ceremony starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday

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The second lieutenant of the ambulance squad, Haab served for many years as the first lieutenant. She's been a member for over 12 years, first joining as an EMT, and then later gaining the higher certification. She is also a firefighter.

The county also recently recognized Haab. Legis. Jay Schneiderman, I-Montauk, presented Haab with a proclamation calling her “one of the South Fork’s most dedicated volunteers


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