
Chief Setnicky, who volunteers with CFARS and is also the paid Director of the Princeton First and Rescue Squad, “has been in the field for over 30 years. He has dedicated his life to serving and educating his community and those around him and has spent countless hours improving the services that his agencies offer to the communities he serves,” said Dr. Stephen Vetrano, state chairmen of the Basic Life Support subcommittee on the States EMS Advisory Council, when he recently presented the award. “He has spent countless hours training others in EMS and rescue operations and has personally sacrificed so much so that his communities are safer. He is the epitome of what a New Jersey EMT represents.”
One of Chief Setnicky’s biggest undertakings this year was leading the squad’s volunteer recruitment campaign, a step taken in response to an ever-growing number of emergency calls.
In less than a year, more than 30 men and women from all walks of life have signed up to provide emergency medical, rescue and transport services to their Town of Clinton, Clinton Township, Lebanon Borough, Union Township and Franklin Township neighbors. Most of these new members have already taken the CPR class that allows them to assist on ambulance runs, and many have taken the EMT course or will begin the new session in January.
“We learned that many talented people were looking for a way to give back to this community,” Chief Setnicky said. “When they heard we needed EMTs and Rescue Associates, they found an incredibly meaningful way.”
This does not mean the need for volunteers has been met. The number of emergency calls the squad receives continues to climb annually, and grew nearly 26 percent from 2012 to 2015, when it reached 3,009 calls. This year is on pace to be another record breaker.
In addition, the more volunteers CFARS has, the lesser the time commitment required of each individual. “Of course, when an organization feels as much like a big family as ours does, many of our volunteers choose to spend as much time as they can at the squad,” Chief Setnicky said.
Anyone aged 16 and up can volunteer, and can become a full EMT after reaching age 18 and successfully completing the EMT course and state exam. The cost is covered for CFARS members. CFARS especially needs people who can volunteer for weekday, daytime shifts.
The Power to Save Others is In Your Hands. Share it! Visit www.joinclintonems.com or call 1-844-4CLINTON to learn more.