Longboat fire chief, son exemplify why a firefighter is always on call

Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi doesn’t like being in the spotlight often. But at this year’s medal day and pinning ceremony, his crew surprised him with a special recognition. 

The department’s 6th Annual Medal Day and Pinning Ceremony included pinning badges on crew members who joined within the last year and a variety of merit and commendation awards to recognize the hard work of many people in the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department. 

But at the end of Paul Dezzi’s presentation of awards, Asst. Chief Martin Szalbirak called on Dezzi and brought up a surprise guest — Paul Dezzi’s son Ryan, who works as a firefighter with the City of North Port. 

Szalbirak presented Paul and Ryan Dezzi with a Phoenix Award. The Phoenix Award is a symbol of excellence and a reference to the mythical bird that is said to rise from its ashes. This award is given to a crew who responded to a cardiac arrest in which the victim was found without a pulse, revived and then released from the hospital. 

On Thanksgiving Day last year, Paul Dezzi was notified that his neighbor was injured. He walked over and found his neighbor had fallen from a ladder and was unconscious in cardiac arrest. 

Photo by Carter Weinhofer

Dezzi responded quickly, according to Szalbirak, as he grabbed a defibrillator from his department vehicle and got his son Ryan to assist. 

The father-son duo initiated CPR and used the defibrillator and Paul Dezzi advised Sarasota County dispatch of a trauma alert victim to prepare emergency room staff. An ambulance was en route. 

Ryan Dezzi initiated advanced procedures, and the victim’s pulse returned. The patient was still unconscious and not breathing adequately, so he was transported to the emergency room and treated by the trauma team. 

“The life-saving acts provided by Chief Dezzi and his son, along with the continued care of the Sarasota County Fire Department, the ER staff and trauma team are why this patient is alive today,” Szalbirak said. 

For Paul Dezzi, the Phoenix Award that was presented to him alongside his son was invaluable. This was the first time Paul Dezzi saw his son in action and the first time he worked with one of his sons. 

“That was probably my most precious award because I was with him,” Dezzi said. “I saw him in action and he went right into it. I couldn’t believe what he was doing.”