Page 13 - Work Force March 2022

‘I just did for these individuals what I would do for my own family’
Members’ quick thinking, actions save individuals’ lives
ALDEN — CSEA Western New York DDSO Local members are being honored for their quick actions
in saving individuals’ lives after
a fire broke out at an state Office For People With Developmental Disabilities residential facility in Alden.
Davison smelled a chemical burning odor and ran up the stairs, racing past an individual at the top of the stairs to find that fire had broken out in one of the rooms.
“When it started, I just wanted to get the [individuals] out of the house and get the fire out, so it didn’t escalate,” said Davison. “It’s scary, especially when fire is one of your worst fears, but you don’t want to see anyone get hurt and lose their belongings that mean so much to them.”
Yarington was able to quickly evacuate the residents and call 911 while Davison ran back up the stairs with a fire extinguisher to try to slow down the fire. Davison was able to slow down the fire, but the smoke started affecting her. After making sure everyone was safely out of the home, she evacuated. Meanwhile, Yarington got the individuals into
a facility van for warmth while
emergency crews arrived. Keyshawn Crawford, also a direct
support assistant at the home, had just finished his shift when he got a call from Davison asking him to return.
He immediately returned to the scene to help his co-workers ensure the individuals were safe, including placing one individual into his own vehicle to keep him warm.
He also helped Davision, who suffered from smoke inhalation, by lending her his coat while she was being treated and spoke with emergency responders.
“I was just being a team player,” said Crawford.
Davison said she was told it could be up to a year or longer before the home is remodeled and reopened.
In the meantime, the individuals and the workers who care for
them have been placed in other facilities. Davison praised Yarington
and Crawford for their actions and assistance in protecting the individuals who were at the home.
CSEA local and region officers also praised Davison, Yarington and Crawford.
“I would like to thank Liz, Tammy and Keyshawn for putting their own lives in jeopardy to save others. They are truly heroes!” said CSEA Western New York DDSO Local President Colleen Hosie. “Their actions are representative of the self- sacrificing CSEA members we have working here in our facilities.”
“Liz, Tammy and Keyshawn
went above and beyond, placing themselves at risk to protect those they are responsible to care for,” said Western Region President Steve Healy. “They deserve our praise and respect for their quick thinking and actions.”
— Mathew L. Cantore
“I just did for these [individuals] what I would
do for my own family,” said Elizabeth Davison, a direct support assistant at the Westcott facility, where the fire occurred.
Davison
Davison and
Tammy Yarington, also a direct support assistant, were on duty on January 22 when a fire broke out around 11:15 pm on the upper floor of the facility.
Help keep our union democracy strong:
Resolutions and Amendments webinar scheduled
McDonough scholarship recipients announced
CSEA recently awarded $1,000 Thomas H. McDonough Continuing Studies Scholarships to
a child of a union member in each region.
The scholarship is open
to previous CSEA statewide scholarship recipients. We congratulate the recipients on their awards and wish them continued success in their studies. Receiving the 2022 awards are:
Long Island Region: Thomas Moran, whose parent, James Moran, is a chief stationary engineer at Nassau County.
Metropolitan Region: Carlos Rosario, whose parent, Rebecca Rosario, is a consumer fraud reception supervisor at New
York State Office of the Attorney General.
Southern Region: Marcello Cappello, whose parent, Leonarda Cappello, is a teacher assistant
at the White Plains City School District.
Capital Region: Bridey Nolan, whose parent, Monica Nolan, is a teacher aide at Cambridge Central School.
Central Region: Jennifer Klix, whose parent, Jeannie Klix, is employed as a data entry operator at Onondaga County.
Western Region: Alison McIntosh, whose parent, Katie McIntosh, is a principal clerk typist at Cleveland Hill Union Free School District.
CSEA members run our union, and one important way to keep our union strong is to have a voice
in how our union is governed. Participating in our union democracy includes proposing amendments to CSEA’s governing documents and proposing resolutions to be voted on by our delegate body.
To help explain the importance of making amendments and resolutions and how to write effective proposals for them, Statewide Secretary Richard Bebo will lead an online webinar on Resolutions and Amendments on Monday, March 21, at 6 p.m.
“As CSEA members, an important part of our union governance process is the ability to submit proposed amendments to our Constitution & By-laws documents, as well as to submit proposed resolutions to be voted on by delegates at our Regular
Delegates Meeting,” Bebo said. “Your participation in our union democracy keeps our union strong.”
To register, call your CSEA Region Office no later than March 16.
March 2022
The Work Force 13
In this 2016 file photo, Region IV Judiciary Local President Scott Gartland speaks on the floor at the Annual Delegates Meeting.