In Memory of and Tribute to Karen A. Hand, EMT-CC

It is with profound sadness and regret that the Broome Volunteer Emergency Squad and the Broome County Office of Emergency Services announce the line-of-duty death of Karen A. Hand, EMT-CC.

 Karen was Chief of the Broome Volunteer Emergency Squad, and lost her life to sudden cardiac arrest on the morning of October 5, 2010 while caring for a patient being transported by that agency.

 In addition to her 17 years of service with BVES, Karen was Captain of the Lisle Fire Company EMS First Response Team. She served as a Deputy EMS Coordinator with the Broome County Office of Emergency Services for the past 20 years. Karen also was a member of the Southern Tier CISM Team, she was an EMS Advisory Board member representing the Lisle Fire Company EMS First Response Team and was a former Broome County 9-1-1 dispatcher.

 "She was a dedicated public servant who always demonstrated professionalism in everything she did.”

-Brett Chellis, OES Director and Broome County Fire Coordinator.