‘Somebody’s hurt. What can I do?’ ROME — Therese Boncella was driving back to work at Delta Lake State Park with several co-workers after a day working at a nearby state park when she saw a car on its roof off the side of the road. That’s when her training kicked in. “I just instinctively pulled over and ran to see what I could do,” she said. Putting training to work Because Boncella, a parks and recreation aide 3, is often required to operate a chainsaw as part of her job duties, she has received state-provided training in first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) operation. Certified more than 10 years ago, she regularly attends refresher courses as required by her job. At the accident scene, Boncella and a man who had also stopped to help worked together to help the victims, including a young mother who was the driver, two young children and another man. While the man who had stopped had already removed one child from the car, he and Boncella worked together to help the others. Together, they went through the broken back window and removed the other child and the mother, neither of whom were seriously injured. But the remaining male passenger, who was not wearing a seatbeat, was found unconscious and having difficulty breathing. Boncella did not try to move him, afraid of causing further injuries. After several minutes, paramedics arrived and took over the rescue operation. Meanwhile, Boncella helped the mother find her cell phone to allow her to call family members, and held one of the woman’s children during Mark Labor Day with CSEA Sept. 7 is Labor Day, and CSEA will again stand strong and show union pride by participating in Labor Day events across the state throughout September. Here is a list of some Labor Day events. Visit CSEA’s website at cseany.org or contact your region office for more information or additional events. Long Island, Metropolitan and Southern regions: Manhattan: Sept. 12: Labor Day Parade and March. The CSEA contingent is scheduled to march at 11 a.m. Meet at East 45th Street, between 5th and Vanderbilt avenues by 9:30 a.m. sharp. T-shirts, continental breakfast and door prizes will be provided. A Labor Mass will be held at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Fifth Ave. and 51st St. at 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact your region office. (See page 4.) Capital Region: Colonie: Sept. 7: Solidarity Committee of the Capital District Picnic/Celebration, Cook Park, Colonie, noon – 5 p.m. This free event is open to the public and includes awards, speeches, a silent auction and music, including the Solidarity Singers. Please bring a dish to share. Albany: Sept. 11: Labor Parade, sponsored by the Capital District Labor Committee. Parade begins at 5 p.m. at Academy Park on Washington Ave. (near the state Capitol), followed by food, fireworks and live music at Jennings Landing in the Corning Preserve at 6 p.m. Central Region: Syracuse: Sept. 7: Labor Solidarity March at the New York State Fairgrounds, sponsored by the Greater Syracuse Labor Council. Free admission and parking tickets to the fair (valid that day only) will be available in mid-August on a first-come, first-serve basis for those CSEA member Therese Boncella was recently honored for helping victims of a one-car accident. that phone call. The mother and two children were taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation, treated and released, and the more seriously injured passenger was eventually airlifted to a Syracuse hospital for treatment. Honored for quick actions Boncella was commended by state Parks Central Region Safety Manager Bonnie Ward for her “bravery, quick thinking and willingness to help others.” But Boncella said she just wanted to do her part to help. “My reaction was, ‘oh my gosh, somebody’s hurt. What can I do?’” she said. “I just reacted. I like to help people.” And thanks to her training, she was ready and able to do just that. — Mark M. Kotzin members and their family members who join in the march, through the Central Region Office at (800) 559- 7975. Assemble at 10 a.m. between fair gates 4 and 5, and the march will begin at 10:30 a.m. Massena: Sept. 7: Solidarity Day Parade and Picnic, sponsored by the Jefferson, Lewis & St. Lawrence Counties Central Trades and Labor Council. Line up at Willow Street in Massena, by Coach’s Corner Restaurant at 10 a.m. The parade starts at 11 a.m. and will end at Springs Park with a free picnic lunch, other events and drawings to follow. All CSEA members and their family members are invited to march. For more information, contact Amy Simmons at (315) 783-7555. Ithaca: Sept. 7: Annual Labor- Community Picnic, Stewart Park, Large Pavilion – 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., sponsored by the Midstate Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO and the Tompkins County Workers' Center. All are welcome for this free event, which will include free food and music. Volunteers are needed. Contact Field Coordinator Bonnie Wilson at bonnie@cnylabor.org or (607) 372-3153. Western Region: Buffalo: Sept. 7: Buffalo AFL-CIO Council Labor Day Parade and Picnic. Lineup at 11 a.m. at the corner of Abbott Road and Stevenson Street. Parade begins at noon. Picnic to follow at Cazenovia Park. For more information, contact Bill Daniels at (716) 440-1531. Rochester: Sept. 7: Rochester Labor Day Parade, 11 a.m. This year’s parade theme, “Solidarity: Together We Can,” emphasizes a focus on job creation in the community. Lineup information is still being finalized. For more information, contact Bess Watts at (585) 426-0862. 6 The Work Force September 2015
Work_Force_September_2015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above