Commack Fire Department Steps Up to Grill at the Inaugural Barbecue for U.C.P.
Blue Grass was playing and the residents of United Cerebral Palsy UCP of Suffolk were on the lawn with friends, relatives, caretakers and firemen. Yes, firemen. Members of the Commack Fire Department were on hand to throw an inaugural barbecue for the residents.
There was food, balloons and face-painting for the festive affair. The food was donated and cooked by the firemen. Some of the staff joked that the firemen came to start a fire. Residents of UCP were adorned in plastic fire hats donated by the half dozen firemen who ran the event.
Sarah Fitzpatrick is a recreational therapist and has been with UCP for five years. “Today is a great day, it make the residents so happy to be outside, to get all the families together,” she explained.
Michellle Saez is her co-worker and also a recreational therapist for five years at the facility. “I love that we get to meet some of the family members we have yet to meet, we work so closely with the residents so that’s great; I also think the Fire Department is amazing by throwing the barbecue,” said Saez.
Mike Breslin has been with the Fire Department for five years and was one of the guys who conceptualized the barbecue this past winter. He is the Life and Fire Safety Educator. “We want the residents to get comfortable with us, to know our faces in case there is ever an emergency and we need to come and evacuate them; essentially that’s why we frequent the facility.” – Mike Breslin
Breslin said UCP is the only such facility of its type under in the geographical area covered by the Commack department. He says evacuations are often difficult and the more they visit UCP, the more the residents get to feel comfortable with them.
The Commack Fire Department serves East Northport, Elwood, Hauppauge, parts of Smithtown and Dix Hills. Commack Fire Department has 100 active members and they have done fundraisers in the past for UCP. The patients range from 18-83 years old. In addition, UCP has about eighteen houses around Suffolk that Cerebral Palsy patients also call home.
Conditions found commonly with Cerebral Palsy include cognitive impairment, feeding difficulties, seizure activity, vision impairment, and hearing impairment. According to My Child at Cerebral Palsy.org. It is a one-time injury to the brain, it does not progress. People with Cerebral Palsy vary from being able to work and independently function to being bed ridden; they tend to live long lives. These facts were apparent as the residents’ conditions ranged greatly. Some were conversing with relatives, others were in beds and were non-verbal.
Firefighter Keith Stark was on hand with a few other brothers besides Breslin for the barbecue. “If I ever need to come here in an emergency I want to be able to keep the residents as calm as possible, know their name and comfort them as I help get them out of the building,” he explained. Stark thought the event was a big success. There were many smiles on the breezy hot August Day, smiles from staff, residents and their relatives.
The next project the Commack Fire Department will be embarking on for UCP is they will be volunteering their services and materials to build a new ramp for the facility; a ramp that leads to the grassy recreation area where Saturday’s festivities took place.