By: Michael Arges
EAST WINDSOR – "Serving as a volunteer rescue squad member is the most rewarding thing anybody could possibly do," said Rita Teubner, the president of East Windsor Rescue Squad II. "It makes you feel good about yourself – that’s the reason we’re all still doing it. The situation for volunteers is critical, as it always is. We always need volunteers; we need all the help we can get."
Ms. Teubner noted that the ongoing problem attracting volunteers for emergency squads affects East Windsor, also.
"There’s a crisis throughout the state; this is not something that’s new. In certain areas it’s just getting much worse," Ms. Teubner said.
In part, this is because of changing patterns of working and living, she suggested.
"Years ago, people lived and worked in the same town. Now people are very often commuters," she said.
And, she added, many feel they’re too tired when they get home to get involved.
As a volunteer member of a rescue squad, a lot of training is required, but new volunteers can get involved immediately riding with the squad on their life-saving missions.
"Most of the time they start riding right away," Ms. Teubner said.
Through a state training grant, the two East Windsor squads pay for new volunteers to complete the courses they need to become full-fledged EMT’s, and some basic training is provided by the squads.
"We train you as you go. Driving is very important to us; driving the ambulance is not quite exactly the same as driving a car."
Even before they start formal classes, new volunteers can begin learning basic tasks such as checking pulses and doing blood pressure.
The basic requirement is that volunteers must be physically able help with the lifting, but you don’t have to be a "he-man" – or "he-woman," for that matter – Ms. Teubner noted, "We lift as teams."
Volunteers are on call one night a week, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. On the day volunteers are on call they come down to squad headquarters from about 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to check the equipment and receive drilling and training in life-saving skills.
The need is so urgent that Ms. Teubner earnestly recruited the reporter who interviewed her.
"You want to join? Go ahead, let’s hear your excuse!"
