Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
When our emergency tones sound on our pagers, it is never scheduled or expected. As the emergency medical technician (EMT) often says, “You never plan for an emergency.” It might be dinner time or late at night, but instinctively we respond, listening for that one message calling out to us, the EMTs.
Our Millstone FirstAid Squad currently consists of about 20 members. These members are either a N.J. State-certified EMT or preparing for certification. Each year, the volunteers respond to over 700 emergency calls from the approximately 10,000 Millstone residents. This squad continues to provide exemplary service using up-to-date medical techniques because of their ongoing education and training. Why do we maintain this high standard of service? We enjoy what we do and want to be the best at it for you — our community.
To paraphrase comedian Dick Gregory, the secret of being happy is doing things for other people.
We work together as a closeknit family, always welcoming new members to our group. It is always unfortunate when a member must leave. Just this year, we had members leave for several reasons — job relocations, moved out of town, and family obligations. How can you become a volunteer for our first aid squad? The requirements for becoming a member are not that difficult.
The member has an initial meeting where we learn about each other and fill out an application. After the application is reviewed, the applicant is voted into the squad. Then, a three-hour class called “CPR for Healthcare Providers,” which is given for free, must be taken. It is here that an emergency pager is issued and worn. After these procedures are completed, the probationary volunteer rides the ambulance, observing routines and procedures. At this time, the new volunteer may discuss becoming an EMT and then schedule future training sessions.
Yes, there is a cadet program. It is designed for adolescents 16- 18 years of age. These young adults may, at times, ride the ambulance and are trained by members in charge to assist on emergency calls.
For more information about the Millstone Township First Aid Squad, call 732-446-3080 and leave a message.
Bob Trifiro
EMT
Millstone