Huntington's Jeffrey Brenner Honored for 'Lifesaving Actions'

Submitted by the Huntington Community First Aid Squad

Huntington resident Jeff Brenner, a 27-year-old volunteer with the Huntington Community First Aid Squad, received the American Heart Association’s prestigious Louis J. Acampora Heart Saver Award on Sept. 23 at a dinner at the Crest Hollow Country Club.

Jeffrey was recognized for his quick, lifesaving actions during a December 2013 presentation of the show “White Christmas” at the Engeman Theater At Northport, when a theater-goer experienced cardiac arrest.

Mr. Brenner is one of a multi-generational family of HCFAS volunteers, who combined, have contributed approximately 150 years of EMS service as members of Long Island volunteer fire rescue and emergency services!

Jeff joined HCFAS in 2005 just after turning 18. He was a member from age 14 to 18 of Explorer Post 215, a youth organization aligned with HCFAS in promoting education and training in emergency medical services. During that time he rose to the position of chief in his last year as he approached the age where he could join HCFAS. Once joining the department, he took the NYS EMT course and began to ride every moment he could, “falling in love with EMS.” During the summers of those early years he also worked for the Huntington YMCA Summer Camp in the First Aid office, and as an EMT with the NYS Parks Department.

Jeff is now employed as a Hyperbaric Technician by the Life Support Technologies group and works at Winthrop University Hospital.

Jeff’s mother, Martha, joined HCFAS in 1971 and became an EMT, and was Chief of the Department in 2013. His father, Mark, joined HCFAS in 1977, and was Chief of the Department in 1996/1997 EMT-CC and regional Faculty member of Suffolk County EMS education for many years.

Jeff’s brother, Kevin, who joined HCFAS in 2001 and became an EMT, went on to serve as Chief of Seat Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department and Paramedic Lieutenant of the Queen Annes County Department of EMS in Maryland. Sister Pamela joined in 2006, became an EMT and was made Captain in 2010.

Grandmother Mary Brenner, who joined HCFAS in 1977 and became an EMT, has also held multiple committee positions and attained the rank of Captain; today she is still an active member and dispatcher for the department.

Jeff’s grandfather, the late Walter Brenner, joined the Huntington Manor Fire Department in the 1950’s, was their Chief of the Department in 1982-1983 and remained a member the rest of his life. He was made an Honorary Member of HCFAS before his passing in 2001.

Jeff’s forebears were immigrants from Germany to Long Island in the 1800s. Since that time 11 members of his family have been members of the Long Island Volunteer Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, where his family has provided about 150 years of EMS service and a total of more than 300 years of Emergency Services for the town of Huntington, Long Island and Northeastern USA.

Jeff has justifiable pride for his family and what they have contributed in service to their communities. Having assisted countless lives and providing help to family, friends and neighbors is something he finds truly humbling, and he wishes to continue the legacy set forth by his family.

“I hope that I have made a real difference in my town and the world around me to help prevent death and improve the quality of people’s lives,” said Jeff.

The American Heart Association’s Louis J. Acampora Heart Saver Award, which was presented to Jeffrey, is named for a Long Island teenager who succumbed to a sporting injury that is understood to have been preventable if a cardiac medical device had been immediately on-scene and applied.

The Suffolk County Regional EMS Council has also designated Jeffrey as the recipient of the 2013 Basic Life Support Provider of the Year. That award will be presented at the Centereach Fire Department Nov. 6, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. 

Jeffrey feels humbled by these honors and has expressed his wish that the acknowledgements will help recognize HCFAS as a premier agency with truly amazing Pre-hospital Care Providers, encouraging new recruits to consider volunteering.