CLINTON, NJ (HUNTERDON) - The Clinton First Aid & Rescue Squad, Inc is pleased to announce the arrival of our newest vehicle, BLS 45-56.  This new ambulance is an addition to our fleet, bringing our total number of ambulances to six, as we continue to see double digit increases to our requests for service this year.  

"We would like to thank the Mayor, Council and Residents of the Town of Clinton who made this vehicle possible" stated Frank Setnicky, Chief of the Squad.  He continued saying, "the support we continue to receive for our volunteer run department is second to none, and we greatly appreciate it".

CLINTON, N.J.

Stephen Vetrano, D.O., Medical Director with the Clinton First Aid & Rescue Squad, Inc is pleased to announce the roll out of an expanded patient care device to the ambulances at the Squad.  Providing Basic Life Support care to the communities the Squad serves, the squad is always looking at ways to improve the care it delivers to patients in need. 

"Clinton First Aid & Rescue Squad now carries an oxygen delivery system proven to decrease Intensive Care Unit admissions as well as hospital lengths of stay" says Dr. Vetrano.  He continues, "this can be better for the patient care overall". 

The enhancement involves the use of continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, for patients who are experiencing breathing problems and pulse oximeters to help guide the care being provided by Emergency Medical Technicians on our ambulances.   These interventions were previously only provided in the field setting by Mobile Intensive Care Units who cover larger territories, and often arrive after the local EMTs.  "With the addition of the units, it increases the level of care delivered by our providers on every emergency call" according to Chief Frank Setnicky.  "We are one of the first agencies in the region to offer this newly approved scope of practice announced earlier this year by the New Jersey Department of Health for rescue squad's like ours".  

"Through the roll out of CPAP as an additional skill for our professional rescuers to provide, our department continues to strive for the highest level of care available to our communities" stated Deputy Chief of EMS H. Bucky Buchanan.  "Earlier this year we rolled out additional tools to assist patients experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, adding to other recent expansions such as the use of Naloxone (NARCAN) to help reverse the effects of certain overdoses".  All of this was made possible by the expanded State protocols, of those skills allowed to be delivered by the Squad's members.

Training for members will continue through the end of the year.  Chief Setnicky is close saying that "through the continued training and advancements being completed by our Emergency Medical Technicians, our agency continues to offer the highest level of professional care available to our patients, something we will continue to strive for into the New Year".  

The Clinton First Aid & Rescue Squad provides Basic Life Support (BLS) and Rescue services (vehicle extrication, water rescue, collapse, trench, rope and confined-space rescue) to the Town of Clinton, a majority of Clinton Twp., all of Lebanon Borough, and portions of the Township of Franklin and the Township of Union.  With a coverage area of approximately 52 square miles and a call volume that exceeds 2,600 calls per year, the squad utilizes a combination of volunteer and supplemental paid personnel to insure in-house staffing around the clock.  The squad operates 5 ambulances, a rescue truck, a special services vehicle, off-road ambulance, 3 boats, two command vehicles and trailers for staging/support services as well as technical rescue services.  The Squad relies heavily on donations, which can be made on the Squad's website at http://www.clintonems.org.  Community members interested in volunteering with the Squad can complete an application on the same website.