CRANBURY: First Aid Squad and FD need volunteers

[Michael]

http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/11/28/cranbury_press/news/doc492da1dc762b6520177198.txt

CRANBURY — Representatives from the Cranbury Fire Department and First Aid Squad were on hand at Monday’s Township Committee meeting, making a request that highlighted the organizations’ need for more daytime volunteers.

Charlie Smith, First Aid Squad captain and Fire Department president, asked members of the committee to emphasize the importance of responding to possible emergencies among specific municipal employees, who receive extra pay for volunteering with the two agencies.

”It’s hard when we can’t count on these extra couple of people,” Capt. Smith said at the meeting. “Maybe the grass gets cut tomorrow rather than today.”

Township officials agreed to discuss the matter over with all parties involved but responded by saying that there are instances where leaving the work site is not an option for these municipal employees.

[Guest]

Does anyone know where is the fire fighting class held, how often and how many hours? Thanks.

[Guest]

I have noticed recently that I see Monroe First Aid in town a lot. I appreciate our volunteers and wish more people would join these great organizations.
I just worry how long it will take for an ambulance or fire truck to respond from Monroe in an emergency. This is scary !

[Michael]

Classes fore Fire Fighter 1 are held at local area fire schools. There is one in Mercer County near Quakerbridge Mall (dftc.org), one in MIddlesex county in Sayerville (http://co.middlesex.nj.us/fireacademy/index.asp), one in Monmouth County outside of Freehold (http://www.monmouthcountyfireacademy.org/), and some others that area little further away. All meet NJ standards for qualifications. The Fire 1 class is approx 150 hrs and depending on what class you choose, it can be a combination of nights and weekends, all weeknights, or all weekends. Some also offer a daytime class, 40 hrs a week.
EMT training is also held at the facilities above, and some local squads offer it at their locations as well.

[Tax payer]

What is wrong with our Town Administrator and TC? I am not a volunteer on either Squad, but recognize that not only are these people tax payers, but they take time from their family and jobs to volunteer. That means potential lost wages for our volunteers. Our Town seems to be too concerned about protecting employees than being accountable and it comes from the TC down to the employees. We have TC members saying they are treated unfairly, we have a rec committee saying they want absolution on the ball field and an staff at town hall that protects people who are not doing their job.

If we tax payers are paying for these individuals to go on calls and they are not, then the Town Administrator needs to find out why they haven't made the calls. Instead she's claiming it's hard. Well if the town is not holding them accountable then stop paying them.

[Cranbury Press]

CRANBURY: First Aid Squad and FD need volunteers
Thursday, November 27, 2008 4:09 PM EST
By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer

CRANBURY — Representatives from the Cranbury Fire Department and First Aid Squad were on hand at Monday’s Township Committee meeting, making a request that highlighted the organizations’ need for more daytime volunteers.

Charlie Smith, First Aid Squad captain and Fire Department president, asked members of the committee to emphasize the importance of responding to possible emergencies among specific municipal employees, who receive extra pay for volunteering with the two agencies.

”It’s hard when we can’t count on these extra couple of people,” Capt. Smith said at the meeting. “Maybe the grass gets cut tomorrow rather than today.”

Township officials agreed to discuss the matter over with all parties involved but responded by saying that there are instances where leaving the work site is not an option for these municipal employees.

Township Administrator Christine Smeltzer said of the three public works employees who are paid an additional $1 an hour to respond to emergencies when able, at least one is certified to work with the First Aid Squad.
”They are not required to respond,” Ms. Smeltzer said of those employees. “We ask them to respond. Sometimes, by the time they get there it’s over, or a false alarm. Sometimes they are in the middle of something and that can impact whether or not they respond.”

Although the number of Fire Department and First Aid Squad members is about average, Mr. Smith said finding volunteers that can respond to daytime emergencies has been a recent challenge for both organizations.

Both organizations currently have about 25 members, numbers that Capt. Smith said he would like to see doubled.

”All around everyone is shorthanded,” Mr. Smith said. “We want active people who really want to participate and help out their community.”

To join the First Aid Squad, members initially need 130 hours of EMT certification, training that is paid for by the organization and that must be completed through other agencies.

Some in-house training required also includes CPR certification and familiarization with the ambulance and township procedures.

For potential members of the Fire Department, within the first year of joining volunteers must complete a Firefighter I class, a course usually offered by area fire academies and paid for by the department.

In-house training for the department includes CPR training, vehicle extraction, ice rescue, water rescue and high angle rescue. Members are also encouraged, but not required, to receive their EMT certification, Capt. Smith said.

”It’s small town volunteerism and we’d like to keep that alive,” he said. “People should get involved, it might be your neighbor or friend that needs the help. We need to be able to answer the call you could make all the difference.”

For more information, on the Fire Department, 2 N. Main St., contact officials at 609-395-0633. For more information on the First Aid Squad, 68 Maplewood Ave., contact officials at 609-395-1707.

http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/11/27/cranbury_press/news/doc492da1dc762b6520177198.txt

[Guest]

[Guest]

From what I understand the employees want to respond but depending on what job assignment they are involved in at the time of an emergency they cannot drop what they are doing.

[Jay T.]

I spoke with a member of the Fire Dept. My understanding is that there are 2, not 3 employees so there was a mistake in the quote or Ms. Smeltzer was just off in memory. The employees have been through training that was paid for by the town and update the training at town expense (just as any volunteer). There were 4 calls in October during the time when they could have responded and neither employee showed. I do know this is a history for a longer period of time.

We have self employed people who do leave jobs to respond which means they are responding and losing money. Our volunteers do not just lose time like the town employees do. If we have a less than full squad responding we are putting the safety of the volunteers and of the people they are responding to in a dangerous situation. To me that is simply unacceptable. I also do not want the town to have a paid fire department because of this situation.

The employees are compensated and should be required to respond or not compensated if they fail to do so. The wages count on toward their benefits so it is not simply just a one dollar additional payment. If the grass is not mowed, parks ignored or leaves not collected for an hour or two than so be it.

Most employees have certain requirements they are measured upon. I myself have 5 criteria I am measured on twice a year. I don't see this as any different. If they are not responding and not forced to respond, then they won't.

I do not blame the employees because I do not know if they are discouraged from responding. I am simply asking the town to encourage these paid individuals to go on the calls.

[Guest]

What could the First Aid Squad and Fire Department do to attract more volunteers? They already have a Length Of Service Award Program, and offer free training and equipment. Is there anything more they could do?

[Cranbury Conservative]

[Guest]

It takes a special person to be a volunteer and respond at all hours of the night. People are busy with their lives and just don't have the time to devote to the community.
I wonder how long until there is a paid first aid squad and fire dept?

[Guest]

You better hope that is not something the TC or TA are considering. We need to stay volunteer. You are talking millions in benefits, pay and insurance. You are talking hiring unmotivated employees because the ones who are dedicated to these services will look at towns where there is more to keep them busy.

My fear is that the town administrator is pushing to go this way.

[Jay T.]

I honestly looked at volunteering for the Fire Dept. I had no issue with the personal time or effort involved. My only issue was that the class times and hours of initial training did not match with my work load.

I personally believe a big effort on the recruitment side could occur if we residents and the Town officals demonstrated more support for these organizations. Requiring paid employees to respond, attending their Christmas functions, looking to help in acquiring the necessary equipment.

I might even be willing to discuss an award to new volunteers or to volunteers who recruit new volunteers like a company that pays referral bonuses. Say upon completion of the training and one year of service with x percent of calls made then the person gets a cash bonus maybe $200.00. That money is cheap compared to paid squad.

[Guest]

I don't think the town employee's do not want to respond to the first aid or fire squad calls when they are working, rather they are not allowed to. That's how I am understanding the artical in the press.

[Jay T.]

That may be no one on this board is privy to what is occurring, unless a rep. from the fire dept or TC member are aware. If the employees are not allowed to respond then their manager is accountable. That person has to be told that the employees are required to respond. That's why the Fire Department made the plea with the TC who is in charge of the town and employees. Otherwise, we tax payers are losing money, our volunteers are in jeopardy and the people being helped are at risk. It's a pretty simple process.