
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on January 05, 2016 at 2:22 PM
CLINTON — A rising number of local calls for emergency assistance and shortage of volunteer first responders has prompted Clinton First Aid and Rescue Squad to launch a recruitment and awareness campaign.
"The Power to Save Others is In Your Hands. Share it." This is the tagline of the campaign, and in December the organization sent brochures about their services to Clinton residents, and created the website joinclintonems.com which hosts an online application for volunteers, according to a press release from Clinton First Aid and Rescue Squad.
Responding to more than 3,000 calls in 2015 and 2,600 calls in 2014, Clinton First Aid and Rescue serves Clinton Township, the Town of Clinton, Lebanon Borough and portions of Union and Franklin townships, according to the release. Call volume increase is more than 25 percent since 2012.
The campaign is meant to educate residents about the work of volunteer first responders such as treating patients before and during transport to the hospital and rescuing residents from water, vehicles and other dangerous circumstances.
Additionally, only a few emergency medical technicians are employed by the organization to cover hours when most volunteers are at work, the release states.
"People often assume our entire staff is paid, and that the cost is covered by our municipalities. But it's actually Clinton First Aid & Rescue volunteers performing the vast majority of the services we provide our community," Setnicky stated in the release. "I believe more people will volunteer once they know how much volunteers are needed."
Volunteer applicants are not required to have medical or rescue skills, and training is provided at no cost.
Volunteers needed include emergency medical technicians, rescue and water rescue associates, and youth cadets.
For more information about Clinton First Aid & Rescue Squad and its new recruitment and awareness effort, visit joinclintonems.com.
Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook.