In addition to being a first responder, you can often spot Lieutenant Krystal Hayes lending a helping hand in our Recruitment and Retention, Youth Workforce Development and Ceremonial units. As a 13-year veteran in the FDNY, she has become well-known for helping to reinforce the Department’s mission and values through her exceptional work.
“Every day in this career is different and that’s what I love about it,” she said. “We can see every day how our work is important because we’re saving lives and that’s why I love working here.”
From an early age, she has had a passion for helping others, which includes learning about public service from her father, FDNY Supervising Fire Marshal Donald Hayes.
“When I was young, I was always seen as the nurse in my family because if anyone was hurt, I was the one getting a Band-Aid or doing what I can to help. That’s always been my personality,” she explained. “I grew up around the firehouse also because of my dad and I learned a lot about helping the community from him, but working in EMS is a career choice that I made later on in my life because I love to help people.”
She joined the FDNY as an EMS Trainee in 2007 and advanced through the ranks to become a Lieutenant in 2015. Just recently, she was also named as an EMS Peer Support Coordinator in the FDNY Counseling Service Unit (CSU). In this new role, she will oversee efforts to provide peer mental health services to our EMS members.
“I’m happy to be helping with our CSU because investing in our members mental health is important to me and everyone who works here,” she added. “We want our members to know that we’re here to support them.”
Like Lieutenant Hayes, you can become an EMS Trainee first to jump-start a rewarding career in our Department. The deadline for our latest EMS filing period is just one week away. Submit your application today here.
Lieutenant Krystal Hayes recently joined the FDNY Counseling Service Unit (CSU) as an EMS Peer Support Coordinator. Standing with her, from left, are Director of CSU Dr. David Shmerler, Deputy Director of CSU Captain Frank Leto and Program Director of CSU Lieutenant Andrew Kane.
