Wayne’s All-Volunteer First Aid Squad Honored for EMS Week

WAYNE, NJ – There’s Wayne’s Finest (police), Wayne’s Bravest (firefighters) and no nickname for the all-volunteer Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad*, who were honored during this past town council meeting for EMS Week, which is May 19 through May 25, 2024.

*We’ll take suggestions.

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Mayor Chris Vergano came to the podium in the council chambers at town hall, accompanied by First Aid & Safety Commissioner Keith Heyman and Chief of the Memorial First Aid Squad, John Redfern. With these two gentlemen behind him, and about 25 First Aid Squad volunteers in the audience, the mayor read off a proclamation about Emergency Medical Services (EMS) week.

“Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen of the council, ladies and gentlemen in the township, it's our pleasure to recognize and proclaim Emergency Medical Services Week as May 19th through May 25th of 2024,” said Vergano. “So I will try to read this…”

• Whereas emergency medical services are a vital public service, and
• Whereas the members of the emergency medical service teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those who need it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and
• Whereas emergency medical services have grown to fill a gap by providing important out of hospital care, including preventive medicine, follow-up care and access to telemedicine, and
• Whereas the emergency medical service system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, administrators, pre-hospital nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, trained members of the public and other out of hospital medical care providers, and
• Whereas the members of the emergency medical service teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours and specialized training and continue education to enhance their life-saving skills, and
• Whereas it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of the emergency medical service providers by designating emergency medical services week.
• Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that we, the municipal council, and the mayor of the Township of Wayne proclaim May 19th, 2024 through the 25th, 2024 as Emergency Medical Service Week.

“And I couldn't be more proud of having members of the first aid squad here tonight,” added Vergano. “So, let's give them a big round of applause.”

Smiles touched all these volunteers’ faces as the sound of applause washed over them.

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Chief Redfern spoke on behalf of the squad, saying how grateful they are for the township’s support, and that "We’re doing our best to serve the town."

TAPinto reached out to Commissioner Heyman and asked for a comment. He brought up the rebound from the COVID pandemic, when "EMTs retired and schools were closed, causing a huge gap in the ranks."

"However, since we have returned to normal, training has resumed and citizens eager to help their neighbors have answered the call to help," he said. "I am proud to say that there is not another volunteer squad in the state and probably the country that can handle the call volume that we do. In fact, some paid agencies do not handle our call volume. What Wayne continues to be able to accomplish is truly remarkable, and it is because of the dedication of our volunteers."

A small host of those volunteers were called up to the front of the council chambers during the meeting and posed for pictures with the mayor and their new proclamation.

Later in the meeting, Heyman gave his first aid & safety report and brought up a couple of squad members, including one of the newest volunteers, Rachel Puglia Levy and two young veterans, Jairo Rosa and Chiara Zambon.

They were asked how many calls they go out on, and the two vets said, “around 400 so far this year.” This averages out to 80 calls per month, or nearly three calls per day on average over the last five months.

In 2023, the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad went out on 4,438 calls. This averages out to more than 12 calls per day, every day for 365 days. And each time these selfless people answer a call, their entire goal is to help Wayne residents in their times of need and times of desperation and despair.

Which is truly noble, and worthy of celebration and recognition.

Heyman added: "We are always looking for new members. If you are interested please go to our website and fill out the application or contact me directly at heyman@waynetownship.com

Number of Annual Calls - From the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad's Website :

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