Ambulance squads are looking for volunteers

WEST MILFORD — The residents of West Milford can consider themselves blessed by the amount of dedicated volunteer emergency responders on its rosters. Covering the 80-square mile township, there are six fire companies, two ambulance squads and a Search and Rescue team. All volunteers, all ready to spring into action.

These organizations experience an ebb and flow of available manpower. They must roll with the punches of economic downturns and find a way to continue their crucial services when circumstances change, such as the depletion of daytime volunteers, which is a situation they are currently experiencing.

In order to ensure consistent medical emergency coverage, the first aid squads are currently seeking new members who will be trained and ready to respond.

Upper Greenwood Lake Volunteer Ambulance Corp (UGLVAC)

Responded to approximately 400 calls in 2013

Hewitt resident Ted Hajek has been an UGLVAC member for a total of 33 years. He became involved at 15 years of age.

“My father was one of the starters of the UGLVAC. I had broken my leg and they did a lot of practicing on me, lifting me, applying bandages. I got into first aid early on,” he said.

Hajek, 69, joined the squad in 1961. His wife, Patricia, signed up, became the first Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in UGL and later became a nurse.

He has many memories of his service years; one that stands out concerns a blizzard that had members reaching patients by walking through snow so deep that plows couldn’t move it. The solution was to use toboggans to transport the patients from their homes. They’ve been used many times since, he said.

His service has been a gratifying experience.

“When you help or save somebody, just to see the thanks that are offered, that’s the reward. “

West Milford Township First Aid Squad (WMTFAS)

Responded to approximately 1,800 call in 2013

Ken Cuneo, 49, is WMTFAS’s president and has been a volunteer for 12 years. The attacks of 9/11 propelled him into action.

“I felt like I hadn’t done anything. I started school in January, 2002,” he said.

Currently, WMTFAS has 61 members that cover the Ridge Road and Newfoundland squad buildings. Daytime coverage can be a problem, especially if someone needs time off.

To help ease the daytime dilemma, WMTFAS has instituted a child care program with reimbursement paid on an established hourly rate.

The squad has five members who, since joining, have become nurses and they report that getting a job was easier because of their EMT experience.

The job
Both volunteer squads render basic life support and ambulance transportation. They respond to fires and accidents, assist each other and neighboring communities, stand by at community events and are on-call for emergency disaster work. After Hurricane Sandy hit West Milford, at least 20 members remained for nearly a week at the squad building.

Cuneo stresses the importance of being professional but making sure the patient knows you care about them. Helping people is what it’s all about. The family-like atmosphere and camaraderie on the squad is the side benefit, he said.

“When your pager goes off, you don’t know what you’ll find until you get there," Cuneo said. "You have to be prepared, go through the scenarios with your partner. At the end of a call, you feel like you’ve accomplished something.”

West Milford residents know that by calling 9-1-1 in a medical emergency their local ambulance squad will soon be there. Now the squads are calling you.