Carmine Fiore is a retired FDNY Emergency Medical Technician, U.S. Army veteran, and first-responder mental health and recovery advocate.
For nearly two decades, Carmine served on the front lines of emergency response and military service, responding to countless traumatic incidents and serving New York City through major events including Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
But behind the uniform, years of accumulated trauma were taking their toll. Carmine developed PTSD and addiction, beginning a battle that would lead to 15 overdoses, multiple ICU admissions, more than 30 treatment centers, and countless attempts at recovery before he was ultimately able to break the cycle and rebuild his life.
Today, Carmine has transformed those experiences into a mission to advocate for the men and women of EMS and the broader first-responder community. Through speaking, education, and candid conversations about trauma, addiction, and recovery, he works to help first responders recognize the warning signs he missed for so many years.
His message is built not only around survival, but prevention: helping first responders recognize the crisis within themselves and each other before it reaches the point of no return.
“I spent my career answering emergencies—until I became one.”