GUILDERLAND — Many firefighters and rescue workers sacrifice their time, and their own safety, to serve our community — often without recognition.

The St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation will honor both the Western Turnpike Rescue Squad and the Guilderland Fire Department at next month’s annual benefit.
Following what administrators deemed a "professional and organized emergency call" during last winter’s carbon monoxide leak at the Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, as well as previous years of service, the foundation decided to honor the two organizations.

In January, during one of the coldest nights of the year, a boiler malfunctioned and leaked carbon monoxide into the nursing home’s basement, threatening the safety of 160 mostly immobile residents. The Western Turnpike Rescue Squad was on the scene in minutes and helped to quickly organize nearly 50 mutual-aid ambulances from five counties in preparation for a possible mass-evacuation.

The Guilderland Fire Department responded to the incident as well and ventilated the building once the leak was stopped and a major evacuation was avoided. The fire department also had handicap-accessible buses on hand to keep people warm and help with the transport if necessary.
"They have really been critical for our patients," said Shannon Haughney, association director of development for the St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation. "They are just so great with the patients, always very personable and professional"and that’s very important."

The event will take place Wednesday, May 23, at the Our Lady of Life Center Nursing Home in Guilderland, on Mercycare Lane off of Western Avenue. Each year, St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation honors the dedication and services of individuals or groups that makes a difference in the community.
"We plan to take a couple of hours that evening to honor these two incredible groups," Haughney told The Enterprise.

This will be the foundation’s eighth annual benefit; a variety of restaurants will provide food for the event. It will be open to the public free of charge.
"They are always just willing and waiting to work with us," Haughney said about the Western Turnpike Rescue Squad and the Guilderland Fire Department. "There has been a very good connection between us."

In years past, the rescue squad, the fire department, and several other area emergency crews, have all responded to calls and have been on standby for potential emergencies or evacuations at the Our Lady of Life Center.
"They are honoring us for our volunteer role in the community and we are certainly honored for that recognition," said Guilderland Fire Department chief, Curtis Cox. "We really do appreciate this recognition for all of the efforts of our volunteers who work so hard at what they do."

The rescue squad was just as flattered.
"As an agency that prides ourselves on community involvement and ‘neighbors helping neighbors,’ we are honored to be recognized by Our Lady of Mercy Life Center in this fashion," said chief of operations for the Western Turnpike Rescue Squad, Howard Huth. "We have shared a wonderful relationship since their inception and we look forward to continuing to provide stellar patient care to our community in the years ahead."