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Special squads help volunteers do jobs

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   The Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad’s (LNHARS) programs for young people have multiple benefits.
   The Cadet Squad, for boys and girls, 11 through 13, and the Youth Squad, for young people, 16-18, provide first aid training for the members of those squads.
   This not only provides them with valuable skills, but also brings young people into the LNHARs, thus increasing the chances the units will have enough members to answer calls in the years ahead.
   ”Our Cadet Squad program is for members in sixth to eighth grade,” said LNHARS member Jen Fernandez, director of the Cadet and Youth Squad programs. Caitlyn Stanton is the assistant director.
   ”The Cadet Squad’s curriculum includes classroom instruction and hands-on drills, but also provides a fun, fast-paced environment that can be rearranged to teach all aspects of emergency medical response,” Ms. Fernandez said.
   ”The Youth Squad’s members are allowed to ride on the ambulance at the age of 16, once they are CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) certified and approved by the Youth Squad Director,” she said.
   LNHARS president Jason Strauss said the Cadet Squad and Youth Squad programs are important for the future.
   ”Teaching these youngsters will help ensure that our rescue squad will have enough members in future years,” he said.
   ”Some of our current members are getting older. Some have two jobs and families. These youth programs will help us keep our membership roster full enough in the years ahead,” he noted.
   The LNHARS is a busy one.
   ”In Pennsylvania, we cover New Hope and Solebury,” Mr. Strauss said. “In New Jersey, we cover Lambertville, Stockton, West Amwell, Delaware Township and portions of East Amwell. It’s all about patient care. We want to be professional and well-organized.”
   Nineteen-year old Casey McChesney, a Lambertville resident and a graduate of South Hunterdon Regional High School, has been involved in the LNHARS programs for youth since he was in sixth grade.
   ”I wanted to help people, so when a friend talked to me about it, I got involved,” he said. “I started riding the ambulance when I was 18, when I had my CPR certification. I’m planning to take the course to become a certified EMT (emergency medical technician). If you like to help people and want to make a difference, this is a real good thing to do,” he said.
   Fifteen-year-old Mitchell Haug, who lives in West Amwell and attends South Hunterdon Regional High School, has been on board since last April. “I’ve learned a lot here,” he said.
   ”I’ve enjoyed it and it’s meant a lot to me. I feel like it’s made me a more well-rounded person, and it gives me more confidence in life. We take classes in anatomy and physiology and how to deal with emergency medical situations. We do a lot of drills —- on first-aid scenarios, including motor vehicle extrication of accident victims. We worked on that with firefighters,” he said.
   Mitchell is also planning to pursue EMT certification.
   Sixteen-year-old Richard Roy, a West Amwell resident and also a South Hunterdon Regional student, has followed a long family tradition by joining the youth programs. His father and grandfather — both also named Richard Roy —- have been volunteer EMTs and firefighters in this area.
   ”I joined here last March,” Richard said. “I’m CPR certified and will take the EMT class. This has been a great experience. It’s challenging and interesting. It’s really helped me understand what a community is and what’s involved in helping your neighbors.”