Henderson firefighters work to make a difference in their community

Henderson Professional Fire Fighters are trying to do more than put out fires and respond to emergencies by giving back to the community with service projects and awareness campaigns such as Drowning Prevention Month.

“Child drownings are horrific,” said Dan Pentkowski, president of Henderson Professional Fire Fighters, which is composed of firefighters and paramedics who work in conjunction with the city to make sure fire safety and staffing needs are addressed. “They are probably the worst calls you could get as a paramedic. It is one of the calls that almost made me quit.

“One summer, about 10 years back when I was working in Scottsdale, there were multiple drownings. Usually when you come in (for your shift), you grab a cup of coffee and start your day. I went and sat in the back of the fire engine for about an hour. My captain asked me what was wrong. We had six drownings in the last few weeks, and I couldn’t be there anymore.”

But Pentkowski did go back, and now he wants to make sure paramedics don’t have to receive the horrifying call of a child drowning in a backyard swimming pool.

“I didn’t have kids back then,” said Pentkowski , who now has a 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter.

The Henderson Professional Fire Fighters’ campaign to prevent children from drowning includes a public service announcement and a door-to-door campaign in which they plan to distribute 23,000 door hangers in Henderson.

While distributing the door hangers, the firefighters plan to talk face-to-face to people about drowning prevention.

“We’ve got to put the message out there,” Pentkowski said. “We need to take steps to stop these things.”

Pentkowski encourages people to put a fence or barrier around their pools to deter unaccompanied children from going near it.

Additionally, Pentkowski said, people should learn CPR in case a child is found submersed in water.

“Administering CPR before (paramedics) get there can help reduce mortality,” Pentkowski said.

But Pentkowski also tries to make people aware of the basics, which include constant supervision.

Henderson Professional Fire Fighters isn’t just raising awareness about drowning prevention.

In April, the organization had several community service activities including a “Fill-the-Boot” campaign to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Throughout April, firefighters stood in various locations across the city, including the Galleria at Sunset mall, 1300 W. Sunset Road, and held out their boots to collect donations . The campaign, which is seen nationwide , has raised millions for associations such as the MDA.

“We had a lot of foot traffic in the mall and a good response from the community,” said T.J. Smith, a firefighter and paramedic who helped at the event.

Smith said the event helps to raise money for the MDA and families associated with it.

Kristi Camperi’s 13-year-old son Josh was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at 7.

“He was able to walk until he was 12,” Camperi said. “His chair cost $44,000. Who could afford that?”

But through the MDA, she was able to get money to afford the chair.

“It’s his legs,” Camperi said.

Pentkowski said that since 2007, the association has raised more than $500,000 for muscular dystrophy.

“In the past, we would stand out in the streets getting people to fill the boots,” Pentkowski said. “Now, we stand by storefronts , which is nice because we get to talk to people.”

The organization hopes to exceed its 2010 collection of $160,000.

“As long as we raise $1 more than we did last year,” Smith said.

In addition to raising money, firefighters are able to interact with the community.

“Usually when people see us, we are in an emergency situation,” Smith said. “It’s nice to talk to the community without having the stress of an emergency.”

Camperi said it helps the cause to have firefighters collect the money.

“They are everyone’s heroes,” Camperi said.

On April 23, firefighters and paramedics also had a health fair that offered free CPR classes and blood pressure tests.

On April 1, the group also helped renovate a home in the Pittman area in partnership with Rebuild Together, a national nonprofit that helps restore homes and communities for low-income people.

Pentkowski and about 30 volunteers helped restore a run-down home, fixing a broken wooden fence, landscaping and cleaning the lot.

The organization continued to help throughout April to make sure that the homeowner, a Henderson resident of 40 years, had her home fixed.

“We gave the home a face-lift,” Pentkowski said. “It was primarily things like landscape and fencing needs. Things had fallen apart because of financial needs, which is very common right now. Seeing the residents’ reaction is why we do these things. It is our neighbor, and we need to help each other out.”

For more information about the association and its upcoming events, visit hendersonfirefighters.com.

Contact Henderson and Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.