Published: June 16, 2009 12:21 am      

CITY OF TONAWANDA: Firefighter honored for quick response

Seconds counted when a 3-month-old infant was mauled by his family’s dog Nov. 30.

Off-duty City of Tonawanda Firefighter Capt. Rob Hassett was there in less than a minute.

In seconds he helped isolate the two dogs in the Gath Terrace home — one of which, a Staffordshire terrier covered in blood, was later euthanized. After controlling the animals he used specialized equipment from his take-home vehicle to administer an I.V. and warm the infant’s exposed abdomen with water heated in the family’s microwave oven.

“If you know Rob, he wasn’t willing to take any congratulations,” Mayor Ron Pilozzi, who called Hassett to thank him personally, commented the next day.

Investigator Tim Toth later credited the 44-year-old veteran firefighter with the boy’s survival.

Though Hassett at the time said he merely fell back on years of critical care training including some specifically for infants — and also passed credit to dispatchers for clearly relaying the call he happened to catch over his radio at home — his quick thinking reflected uncommon vigilance.

When the American Legion Department of New York and a similar county group each set out this year looking for the best example of such service in eight Western New York counties, their search ended with Hassett.

The 8th District 2009 Convention was held in Niagara Falls on June 13.

Hassett was presented the “2009 American Legion Fireman of The Year for Niagara County and the 8th district.” District Commander Randy Printup and Tonawanda Fire Chief Charles Stuart presented the award.

“He was almost in tears when he got the award,” American Legion Post 264 Secretary Dennis Smilinich said. “(The post) recommended him, we’re a Niagara County post, so he got firefighter of the year and then he was recommended for the eighth district. He beat out some great candidates.”

Present at the award ceremony was Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, Past National Commander Michael Kogutek and State Vice Commander Charles Eberhardt. The 8th District represents over 20,000 veterans. 

An official letter recommending Hassett for the award reads:

“... The Fire Department was dispatched to Gath Terrace for a reported child being injured by a dog attack. Hearing the call over the pager from his home, off-duty Captain Hassett responded immediately in his department-assigned emergency vehicle arriving just one minute later. Once inside the residence, Captain Hassett encountered a 3-month infant suffering from very serious, life threatening wounds to the abdomen. Hampering his access to the baby were two dogs. He immediately took control, removing the more aggressive dog and then forced his way past the other. Captain Hassett gave radio report to the other responding members explaining the severity of the situation and began immediate medical treatment that included bleeding control and care for an evisceration. He remained on scene and continued to provide care to infant along with other emergency responders and then rode along in the ambulance assisting the Twin City Ambulance Paramedic while enroute to Women and Children’s Hospital. For his quick and professional actions in the face of an extreme medical emergency involving a very young patient we would like to recommend Captain Hassett for Niagara County, 8th District and Department of New York Fireman of the Year.”

Hassett has been employed as a Career Firefighter with the City of Tonawanda Fire Department for the past 18 years and is currently assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau.

He Is a 1982 graduate of Tonawanda High School, appointed to the department April 16, 1990. He resides in Tonawanda with his wife Sharon. They have two daughters.

Contact reporter Neale Gulley at 693-1000, ext. 114.