Volunteer squad members stand by at Weehawken site on July 4 display
By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Manville First Aid and Rescue Squad was one of the 18 state emergency management service agencies that helped at the Macy’s July 4th fireworks.
Members were stationed with the Weehawken EMS along the Hudson River waterfront to provide medical support for about 8,000 spectators.
”I was very thankful to the members of our organization who gave up their holiday to help support this event and represent our agency,” Chief David Kohler Jr. said. “I am proud of our agency, of our members and their commitment to our organization.”
This was the second consecutive year the Manville First Aid & Rescue Squad attended the event. According to Chief Kohler, Manville got involved again when the Hudson County Office of Emergency Management asked each county for a basic life support strike team to assist them with covering the event.
”Manville sent one ambulance with four members, three of which were EMTs,” Chief Kohler said.
The BLS team from Somerset County’s BLS team, a group of three ambulances with EMTs on board, arrived shortly after 4 p.m. The team met with 17 other ambulance crews from throughout the state and was briefed on its assignment. An incident action plan was presented by Hudson County OEM. The ambulance was screened for explosives and deployed to an area on the waterfront.
Other units from Somerset County on standby included Somerville and Green Knoll/Martinsville Rescue Squad. The strike team left Somerset County at about 3 p.m. July 4 and returned back at 12:40 a.m. July 5.
Chief Kohler said Manville Rescue went to assist because a half a million spectators were expected to attend in the summer heat. In such situations, the need for emergency medical care is likely, and local resources easily could become inundated with calls. Strategically placing ambulances reduced response times.
Manville has been helped many times in the past, and the squad likes to reciprocate.
”Every now and then, the Manville First Aid & Rescue Squad relies upon mutual aid from our neighboring communities,” he said. “We were able to help out EMS in Hudson County in their time of need, and, maybe, one day, units from Hudson County will be helping us in our time of need.”
While members of the squad were in Weehawken, a crew remained in Manville and responded to several emergency calls on the shift. Manville was not left unattended.
Chief Kohler said the slogan for EMS Week in May was “EMS: One mission, one team.”
”That could not be truer as units from all over the state worked seamlessly together to provide the best care for their patients during this event,” he said.