Atlantic Highlands First Aid – Do You Have What it Takes?
Councilman James Murphy highlighted some of the reasons why Mayor Lori Hohenleitner and council, together with borough residents, are so high on praise for the volunteer efforts of the Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad.
Murphy also encouraged and invited residents to show their pride and support of the volunteer unit, through donations, membership, or support in any way possible.
The Atlantic Highlands PBA Local 242, in holding their 35th annual ball on Friday, May 24, is sponsoring the First Aid Squad this year in its annual fundraising activity for local groups and also inviting residents to purchase tickets or offer items for their annual Charity Auction also included in the event at the Shore Casino. Persons can contact the police at pba242tickets@gmail.com for tickets to the gala, which includes dinner, open bar, music by DJ Greg Nice and more.
So what does it take to be an EMT on any first aid squad in the state of New Jersey? Although it is a volunteer unit, as is the fire department in this and many other communities, the certification to participate in the lifesaving measures means many more hours than the volunteer hours every volunteer for the squad puts in to help others.
First Aid Squad Chief Lance Hubeny, Captain Ann Schoeller, Lt Tim Farkas and Lt. Brian Boms head up the local squad in offering ways everyone can help the squad, regardless of serving as an EMT or several other capacities. For further information on all these ways, contact members at info@ahfirstaid.org.
Because of the efforts of the leadership and the generosity of residents, the squad now has approximately 20 members responding to calls, a significant increase in participation over the past. By comparison, prior to July, 2022, when Hubeny and the team took over leadership, only eight members were responding to calls on a regular basis. Since July, 2022, these 20 volunteers have responded to 743 calls.
Currently, five volunteers are attending EMT schooling, due to graduate in six weeks. Another two members have also joined the squad, both already certified as EMTs. Another two volunteers are taking the exam for recertification this month.
In his report to the governing body as liaison to the first aid squad, Murphy pointed out this totals nine new EMTs on the volunteer squad in the first three months of this year, an impressive statistic on its own.
Murphy also pointed out the statistic is even more astonishing and admirable because of the regulations that mandate so much more education in order to be certified.
To be certified as an EMT, a volunteer must undergo 253 hours of course work, and have it completed in five months. The commitment requires attendance at three and a half hour sessions every Monday and Wednesday, as well as every other Saturday during that time. That is in addition to another 100 hours of homework and clinical study.
Atlantic Highlands is grateful and appreciative of its residents who support and enable these EMTs, First Aid members, and every volunteer who gives so much to the community.
