One very grateful Hauppauge resident surprised members of the Smithtown fire Department on Monday, February 9th, 2016. Jeff Press, along with his family and several friends attended the Smithtown Fire Department monthly meeting to pay special tribute to those responsible for saving his life, after suffering from cardiac arrest at Gold’s Gym, earlier in December. The Press Family presented tokens of appreciation and a special cake for the Department.
Smithtown Fire Department Captain Joe Palazzo and Lieutenant Andrew Kelly had been working out at Gold’s Gym on December 9th, 2015 when a fellow patron collapsed in the weight area. Upon running to his aid, Palazzo and Kelly determined the man, Hauppauge resident Jeff Press, was suffering a cardiac arrest. Captain Palazzo quickly transmitted an alarm to Smithtown Department for EMS and fire response. Captain Palazzo and Lieutenant Kelly were joined by Gold’s Gym Patrons, Kings Park firefighters Michael Byrne and Robert Becker, as well as a North Shore LIJ Hospital Paramedic Gary Ritter, all whom assisted in CPR while waiting for EMS.
Captain Palazzo attempted to use the Gold’s Gym automated external defibrillator (AED) unit. However, the AED malfunctioned and the team was forced to continue CPR. When Suffolk County Police Officer Keith Weinberg arrived on scene, the Captain and Officer raced to the sector car to retrieve his Police AED unit, swiftly putting it to work on Mr. Press.
The Smithtown Fire District and Department EMS personnel quickly arrived on the scene to administer Advanced Life Support, while they prepared Press for an ambulance ride to St. Catherine of Siena Hospital. Jeff Press survived and was released from St. Catherine on December 17, 2015
Thanks to quick thinking, perseverance and response time, those first responders who saved Jeff Press’ life were recommended for either Life Saving Awards or Unit EMS Citations. Presented with Life Saving Awards were Captain Joseph Palazzo, SFD, Lieutenant Andrew Kelly, SFD, Paramedic Joseph Lesnick, SFD, Paramedic Sean Brewer, Smithtown Fire District, EMT, Michael Byrne, KPFD, Firefighter Robert Becker, KPFD, Paramedic Gary Ritter, NSLIJ, and Police Officer Keith Weinberg.
Unit Citations were awarded to additional Smithtown Fire Department responding personnel, Assistant Chief Pat Diecidue, Lieutenant Mathew Creamer, Lieutenant Matthew Raia, Lieutenant Christopher Harford, Lieutenant Dave Lewis, and firefighter and EMS personnel Rick Asker, Michael Douglas, Kiefer Kleister, Joseph Larocco, Ryan Burke, Tim Murphy, Samantha Siegel, Amanda Tamburro, Ted Caputo and Brian Bilicki.
Smithtown Fire Fighters and EMS personnel are members of the community and prepared to render assistance to those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In this instance, Department members of both the Smithtown and Kings Park Fire Departments were ready, out of uniform, to assist a fellow member of the community.