SMITHTOWN — Our members working in the Smithtown Fire District Unit are showing that the fire district workforce is not just for firefighters.
CSEA members serve in an integral capacity as dispatchers, emergency medical services (EMS) and maintenance staff.
The maintenance staff cares for six buildings by changing bulbs, painting and cleaning, ensuring the all properties are in pristine condition.
“It’s really rewarding when you see the results of a task that you have overseen from start to completion,” said Maintenance Worker Jonathan Garrison.
As for dispatchers, they field emergency calls from Smithtown, Kings Park and Hauppauge.
Last year, Smithtown Fire District Unit dispatchers answered 8,000 emergency calls; there were about 27,000 total calls in 2019.
Although our dispatchers are not physically responding to the phone calls, they are the first line of defense for the public.
“We give people medical advice over the phone like how to control bleeding and what to do if someone is having a cardiac arrest,” said Smithtown Fire District Unit President Keith Tromblee.
Depending on the circumstances, the emergency calls can take an emotional toll.“We have to handle a lot of serious calls that involve children in the midst of a medical emergency, which can be tough” said Tromblee.
“Being in a workplace where there is a lot of camaraderie helps on those hard days.”
Also playing a role in keeping the community safe are the unit’s EMS workers, who keep themselves busy by conducting routine checks of all ambulances, helping with building maintenance and responding to 911 and non-emergency calls.
To help with workflow, our members have begun cross-training.
Unit members’ dedication to their jobs comes from wanting to be positive contributors to the community.
“It feels really good to know that people feel comfortable calling us,” said EMS Worker Joseph Bauberger. “Some calls aren’t emergencies. Some people live alone, get scared and want someone to come over to check their property out. If we can offer people a little comfort, we’re happy to do it.”
— Wendi Bowie
