State seals
One Monday a month the Cream King, 46 Route 31 N in Pennington, chooses a local non-profit to receive 20% of their sales. PFAS is pleased that we will benefit from this generosity next Monday, Aug 17.
State seals
The Pennington First Aid Squad has operated under the authority of the EMS Council of NJ (formerly known as the NJ State First Aid Council) for nearly seventy years while also meeting the standards of the State of NJ. The PFAS has now also become a State Certified ambulance. The addition of State registration was made to increase interoperabilty of PFAS with other Hopewell Valley and Mercer County Squads. PFAS will continue to meet the high standards of both the State and the EMS Council.
The PFAS is saddened to hear of the passing of William Loveman, dispatcher 49. William joined the Squad in 1972 and was active as a Five-Pointer with the Squad in the 1970s. He was active on the committee that got the Squad out of white lab coats and into orange jump suits.
1975 uniforms and 1971 PN20 Cadillac ambulance
Back, left to right: Mark Washburn, Bernie Maccarillo, Frank Fechter, Jr, William Loveman
Front, left to right: Vince Scannello, Amy Robelard(?), George Vannoy, Edward Antrobus, Ronald Liuzzo, Elizabeth Spitzer, James Johnson",
Back row, left to right: Kirk Schmitt (Treasurer), Neal Blackwell (Trustee), Rob Ross (President), Aaron Bell (Vice President), Art Bogad (Trustee), John Muccioli (Captain), Naomi McCarty (Trustee)
(Front row, left to right): Tara Long (Corresponding Secretary), Joan Schwarzwalder (Recording Secretary), Shelley Pennington (Second Assistant Captain), Heather Varrasse (First Assistant Captain),
The Knights of Columbus Hopewell Council 7103 hosted their 10th annual Shield Awards at Villa Francesco restaurant in Pennington. This event honors local EMS, fire, and police. This year's awards went to Kirk Schmitt (EMS, PFAS), Tom Blackwell (firefighter, Pennington Fire Company), Novin Thomas (Pennington police) and Detective Mark Panzano (Hopewell Township Police). Mark Davis was a guest speaker. He spoke about his book, Through the Water and Fire, recounting his experiences on Swift Boats during the Vietnam war.
Left to right. Kirk Schmitt, Tom Blackwell, Novin Thomas, Mark Panzano
William Goldfeder, well known author, fire safety advocate and Deputy Chief for the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department in Ohio visited PFAS with his family. He began his EMS/fire career in 1973 as a junior member of PFAS. While touring PFAS, he traded stories with Captain Muccioli and Treasurer Kirk Schmitt. He reported that he and Larry Taylor did many of the PFAS daytime calls in 1973 and 1974. Both were 5-points responders. He told us that the biggest controversy he was involved in was attempting to change the knee length white overcoats to something else and can be seen with his waist length version and other pictures under our historic pictures tab.
Left to right. John Muccioli (Captain), William Goldfeder and his son, Kirk Schmitt(Treasurer)
Left to right. Brandywine Executive Director Ellen Moyle presents check to Pennington First Aid Squad Captain, John Muccioli and Treasurer, Kirk Schmitt
A memorial service will be held for Richard Bailey on Saturday October 5th, from 9am-11am at the Pennington First Aid Squad building, 110 Broemel Place, Pennington, NJ 08534. A graveside service will follow at 12:00pm at Trinity-All Saints Cemetery, All Saints Road, Princeton, NJ 08540. Those attending the graveside service are invited to attend lunch afterward at a restaurant to be determined. Any agency seeking additional information can email the . Obituary from family.
Dick joined Pennington First Aid Squad in 1975 and was the second highest responder of all time for PFAS. He served as Vice President for 3 years, Trustee for 9 years and was the Squad's representative to the 9th District of the New Jersey State First Aid Council for 37 years. He was instrumental in establishing the PFAS dedication to education. Together with his late wife and past PFAS Captain, Jessie Bailey, he established the Cardiac Defender Program at PFAS in the 1970's which taught community CPR to hundreds of Pennington and Hopewell Township residents. He and Jessie taught many EMT courses at the Pennington First Aid Squad in a tiny training room. The classes often spilled over into the ambulance bays for lack of space for practicals. He was among the first paramedics in NJ and answered many calls as a paramedic back in the days when volunteer squads like PFAS operated paramedic ambulances as part of the Lifemobile program. He instilled in his daughter, Heather, and son, Richard Jr, his excitement for EMS. From the 70's to 90's there were few calls at PFAS that did not have at least one Bailey on the ambulance. He will be missed and his legacy not forgotten.
1989-9-30 MVA, star-cracked windshield, Kirk Schmitt, Dick Bailey, Jerri Grandi, Andy Kuivenhoven.
We were saddened to learn of the passing today of Dick Bailey. Dick joined PFAS in 1975 and was the second highest responder of all time for the PFAS, answering over 4000 calls for service at a time when our call volume was a third to half what it is today. He served as Vice President for 3 years, Trustee for 9 years and was the Squad's representative to the 9th District of the New Jersey State First Aid Council for 37 years. He was instrumental in establishing the PFAS dedication to education. Together with his wife, Jessie Bailey, he established the Cardiac Defender Program at PFAS in the 1970's which taught community CPR to hundreds of Pennington and Hopewell Township residents. He and Jessie taught many EMT courses at the Pennington First Aid Squad in a tiny training room, with minimal equipment or audio visual aids. The classes often spilled over into the ambulance bays for lack space for practicals. He was an early paramedic and answered many calls as a paramedic back in the days when volunteer squads like PFAS were allowed to have paramedic ambulances. He instilled his daughter, Heather, and son, Richard Jr, with his excitement for EMS. From the 70's to 90's there were few calls that did not have at least one Bailey on the ambulance. PFAS pictures may be found here. He will be missed.
A memorial service will be held at PFAS October 5th. Details to follow.
PFAS joined Hopewell Valley Emergency Services, the Pennington Fire Company, the Hopewell Fire Department and Emergency Medical Unit, and the Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad and for this combination show-and-tell and musical entertainment. The event was sponsored by the Hopewell Township police and held at Stony Brook Elementary School. More pictures by MaryJane can be seen at this link.
The winter EMT class has produced 10 EMT candidates. Most are riding for Hopewell Valley Squads. More pictures from the class are posted here. Click on image for higher resolution version.
Back row, left to right: Heather Varrasse (First Assistant Captain), Kirk Schmitt (Treasurer), John Muccioli (Captain), Neal Blackwell (Trustee), Rob Ross (President), Art Bogad (Trustee), Aaron Bell (Vice President)
(Front row, left to right): Tara Long (Corresponding Secretary), Shelley Pennington (Second Assistant Captain), Joan Schwarzwalder (Recording Secretary)
Missing: Naomi McCarty (Trustee)
The Squad welcomed several new officers and trustees this year but will miss departing, faithful officers and trustee. Notably, Jon and June Guerard elected to retire. Jon and June were a husband and wife team who anchored our Tuesday night crew for over twenty years.
Jon joined the Squad in September of 1989. During his nearly 30 years with the Squad he responded to 2274 calls. He was a Trustee from 1996 to the present and oversaw much of the expansion construction which saw the Squad's building grow from a garage barely capable of holding a box and two Cadillacs to the larger structure we have today which houses offices, sleeping quarters, a kitchen, the large facilities needed by our training site and crew quarters.
June joined the Squad in October of 1990. During her 28 years with the Squad she responded to 1471 calls. She was our Recording Secretary from 1996 to the present. She set a very high bar for the detail and accuracy of the records she kept and much of our historical legacy over this period is due to her record keeping.
The class is underway with 17 students, 10 potential EMT for the Hopewell Valley's volunteer first aid squads
Please click on the Training tab to learn about and enroll in the next EMT class to be taught at PFAS
Officers and members of PFAS and Pennington fire met with residents of Woolsey Court as a public outreach to talk about our fire and EMS services, what we do, how we are financed, how and when to get help. The discussions were well received.
Pennington Day was soggy but many folks still stopped by the PFAS booth for blood pressures, to talk, and for tours of the ambulances
PFAS members in dark outfits without umbrellas or raincoats. Left to right: Shelley Pennington, Tara Long, Rebecca Miller, John Muccioli.
| We were saddened to learn of the passing yesterday of Zay Risinger. Zay came late in life to volunteer EMS. He joined PFAS in February of 1998 at the age of 69 and was one of our main, week-day responders until 2009 when he retired from riding because of his health at age 80. He was vigorous to the end and responded to 1454 calls for service during his 11 years. He served two years from 2009-2010 as a Trustee of the Squad. He will be missed. |
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The fall EMT class has produced 16 EMT candidates. All are riding for Hopewell Valley Squads. More pictures from the class may be seen here.
We were pleased that the Knights of Columbus, Local 7103, gave their Annual Shield Award to PFAS member Heather Varrasse this year. Heather was honored for her 20 years of service to the Hopewell Valley as an EMT with both the Pennington First Aid Squad and the Hopewell Emergency Medical Unit. Heather is currently the Second Assistant Captain at PFAS and an active riding member at the Hopewell EMU. She has responded to over 2500 calls for service at the two organizations.
2017 Shield Award recipients. Left to right: Hopewell Township Police Detective Louis Vastola, PFAS Second Assistant Captain and Hopewell Emergency Medical Unit EMT Heather Varrasse, Hopewell Fire Department Firefighter Chris Jones
Capital Health MSU-179 visited PFAS to show the equipment to interested members.
Head of stretcher and CAT scan unit secured to bulkhead on MSU-179
This unit, MSU-179, brings a CAT scan and the ability to administer TPA for ischemic strokes to the patient. It is expected that the unit will go on line in about a month and be staffed by 4 crew members including a CAT tech, nurse, and paramedic. The MSU will be dispatched along with ALS and BLS when the 911 interview indicates a high likelihood of stroke.
Members may see a longer version of this note, with more pictures, by logging onto the website.
Back row, left to right: Jack Ferrara (Captain), Ben Tredrea (Trustee), Art Bogad (Vice President), Doug Kabay (Trustee), Thomas Tedd (President), Jon Guerard (Trustee, Absent), John Muccioli (Assistant Captain, Absent)
(Front row, left to right): Heather Varrasse (Second Assistant Captain), June Guerard (Recording Secretary), Joan Schwarzwalder (Corresponding Secretary), Kirk Schmitt (Treasurer)
2016 Class
Front Row, left to right: Douglas Pszozolkowski, Lillian Alford, Nagima Alymkulova, John Bonasera III
Back row, left to right: Austin Pinkney, Stephen Nalbach, Stephany Manning, Ryan Finnegan, Donald Buglino, Christopher Sullivan
A ceremony for friends, family, and students was held to recognize the effort of 10 students graduating in this the 17th year of the Pennington First Aid Squad training center.
We are saddened to learn that Dan Boone has announced his retirement from the PFAS effective Jan 1, 2017.
Dan Boone on far side of stretcher with glasses. Scott Sferra to the right of Dan. Many more pictures of Dan may be found here
Dan joined the Squad in 1990 and was soon a top 10 responder and continued as a top responder until today. He has answered over 3350 calls for service in his career, third highest of any PFAS member. But it was as an officer of the Squad that Dan made his greatest contributions. He started as a 9th district representative in his second year, was Vice President by his third year and has served faithfully as President for 20 of the last 22 years. No officer of the Squad has ever served as long or as continuously. During his tenure, our building has grown several times and we have continued the tradition of teaching started by Dick and Jessie Bailey. Dan worked closely with the Trustees on all building projects and has supervised numerous Treasurers to ensure the bills are paid and the books balance. Dan has served as an EMT instructor and as the EMT course coordinator for many years. He made sure the PFAS got paid by the State, a task that requires nearly super-human persistence. He has been a one-man CPR training institution for the Squad keeping many an EMT certified and riding by providing individual courses at the "last minute."
Dan is nearly always around when anything needs to be done at the squad as evidenced by the many pictures we have of him. He has been honored for his volunteer work by being chosen as Grand Marshall of the Pennington Memorial Day Parade and awarded EMT of the year by the New Jersey State Council, Knights of Columbus in 2011. Dan Boone was President of the Pennington First Aid Squad when we were chosen NJ Outstanding Volunteer EMS Agency at the 2011 New Jersey Statewide Conference on EMS.
Through all this, Dan found time to care for two aging parents and to be an active volunteer and lay preacher at the Pennington United Methodist Church. Dan is patient and long suffering. Grudge and anger are not part of his vocabulary. He strictly follows Ephesians 4:26 to "never let the sun go down upon your wrath."
Those of us who remember the time when PFAS did a daily 6 PM pager test will never forget Dan's characteristic sign-off: "KRX-532 off and clear the air, Dispatcher TWO-ZERO-SIX." Best wishes to you, Dispatcher 206.
Kirk Schmitt and Dan Boone at a motor vehicle crash sometime in 1991.
Naomi McCarty receives the Shield Award from First Assistant Captain John Muccioli at the 7th Annual Hopewell Valley Knights Of Columbus Shield Award Ceremony Oct 18, 2016
For more information or to be put on a wait list, contact Daniel Boone, the EMT Course Coordinator, at 609-510-4324.
Click on the "Training" tab for more information and to register.
Back row, left to right: Jon Guerard (Trustee), John Muccioli (Assistant Captain), Neal Blackwell (Trustee), Jack Ferrara (Captain), Daniel Boone (President), Doug Kabay (Trustee), Thomas Tedd (Vice President), Kirk Schmitt (Treasurer)
(Front row, left to right): Joan Schwarzwalder (Corresponding Secretary), June Guerard (Recording Secretary), Heather Varrasse (Second Assistant Captain)
Helen Fritz, Lisa Hulbert, Sarah Hopkins, Donna Murray all agents at Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors Princeton office
Helen Fritz, Lisa Hulbert, Sarah Hopkins, Donna Murray all agents at Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors Princeton office (Sarah is also an EMT with PFAS) spent the morning removing years of dirt and grime from our building as part of the Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors annual Community Service Day. Our windows have rarely been so bright. While they were at it, they cleaned the ambulance windows and all our tables. Our thanks. More pictures.
Click on the "Training" tab for more information and to register.
Driver's side view.
The new 151-3 has arrived. It will take some work to stock and set it up but it should be on the road soon. Thanks go to the Hopewell Township Fire Commissioners for donating an unwanted Horton Box to us. Remounting this box has saved us about $70,000 versus buying a new ambulance. Thanks also to the over 1100 Pennington and Hopewell Township families who faithfully donate to our fund drive and keep us going. The ambulance committee put more than a few hours into this project, too. More pictures.
Decals and interior work.
PFAS new ambulance is progressing. Most of the exterior detail work is complete and patient compartment mostly done. Front electronics in progress. More pictures.
PQM Owner and Manager, Michael Rothwell, presents PFAS President Daniel Boone with a check for funds raised and matched by PQM during the PQM 55th birthday party.
Saturday, June 6, 2015 the Pennington Quality Market celebrated fifty-five years with a party which included free cupcakes, prizes, and a roving band. They also included an opportunity for the PFAS to check customer's blood pressures and distribute free emergency medical information on strokes and other topics. The Market set up collection cans at checkout and in the cafe and the community donated $600 which the Market matched and presented to President Daniel Boone today. This continues a long tradition of support for the Squad by the Market including many years of hot dog sales. The PFAS thanks this long-time supporter.
Horton box painted and mounted on chassis
PFAS new ambulance is progressing. Exterior of Horton box has been refurbished and painted. External lighting is being installed. More pictures.
Assistant Captain John Muccioli shows ambulance and equipment.
One of hundreds of tours given through our ambulances on Pennington Day. More pictures.
Check back here to see if cancellations open up a slot.
Sign up for any or all of the three sessions under the training tab. Class is limited to 12 so sign up soon.
Refurbished Horton box in paint shop
PFAS new ambulance is progressing. Exterior of Horton box has been refurbished and is being re-painted. The new chassis is waiting for the remount. More pictures.
Graduating students (left to right)
Back row: Daniel Arena, Craig Olander, Rebecca Clayton, Steven Dambeck, Robert Ross, Gavin Rapport, Daniel Stathopolos, Sandra Hill
Middle row: Alexandra Mullane, Sushmith Ramesh, Nicole Fasano, William Stevenson
Front row: Veena Prakriya, Erin Kelly, Danielle Neidich, Daniel Kolano
The PFAS was pleased to have many family and friends attend the graduation on Saturday April 18. We were particularly pleased to have PFAS EMT Douglas Kabay give the keynote address and to have Pennington Mayor Anthony Persichilli, Pennington Director of Public Safety Bill Meytrott, Hopewell Township Police Department Lt. Bill Springer, Captain Jack Ferrara welcome and encourage the students.
Cake baked by Sandy Hill for PFAS EMT Valentine's Day class.
The Pennington First Aid Squad EMT Class took to baking sweets last Saturday, coincidentally Valentine’s Day. The 18-member class brought in cakes, cookies, chocolates and brownies to complement the day’s clinical topic: Cardiology.
This cake, baked by student Sandy Hill from Montgomery FAS, was a clinical-culinary hit, illustrating the heart's coronary arteries and veins. It was a genuine "learning experience" as students munched and reflected on the presence of cherry and chocolate chip fillings in the heart-cake: "Thrombi & emboli?" one student guessed.
Back Row (left to right):Thomas Tedd (Vice President), Neal Blackwell (Trustee), Jack Ferrara (Captain), Doug Kabay (Trustee), Jon Guerard (Trustee), Kirk Schmitt (Second Assistant Captain)
Front Row seated (left to right): Joan Schwarzwalder (Corresponding Secretary), Daniel Boone (President), June Guerard (Recording Secretary), John Muccioli (First Assistant Captain)
Not in group photo: Naomi McCarty (Treasurer)
The winter EMT class has begun. Registrations are no longer allowed.
We were saddened to learn of the passing this morning of Jessie Bailey. Jessie served as Captain of the Pennington First Aid Squad longer than any other Captain, from 1980-1993. She was instrumental in establishing the PFAS dedication to education. Together with her husband, Richard Bailey Sr, she established the Cardiac Defender Program at PFAS in the 1970's which taught community CPR to hundreds of Pennington and Hopewell Township residents. She was one of the earliest paramedics and answered many calls as a paramedic back in the days when volunteer squads like PFAS were allowed to have paramedic ambulances. She instilled her daughter, Heather, and son, Richard Jr, with her excitement for EMS. From the 70's to 90's there were few calls that did not have at least one Bailey on the ambulance. She will be sorely missed.
A winter EMT course has been scheduled to begin in January.
The Pennington First Aid recently received a state-of-the-art Lucas 2, CPR device, generously donated by Dr. Kirk and Mrs. Bonnie Schmitt, both longtime members of the squad. This mechanical device provides continuous chest compressions to a victim of cardiac arrest.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a physically and intellectually demanding activity requiring many first responders. Successful CPR depends on several simultaneous actions begun as soon as possible after the victim’s heart stops beating: Chest compressions, breathing assistance, automatic defibrillation and transport to the hospital. The Lucas 2 performs the mechanical chest compressions while the crew simultaneously provides oxygen and defibrillation. The device does not tire and can operate in confined spaces where manual CPR is awkward and potentially ineffective. It can also continue to give compressions when the patient is being moved for transport.
The Lucas 2 has a suction cup that rests on the victim’s chest and compresses at the appropriate rate, rhythm and depth to allow the heart to fill with blood between compressions. The machine pushes “hard and fast” for effective CPR compressions giving the victim the best chance of survival.
Throughout the years, a number of CPR saves have resulted from the combined efforts of first aid squads and local police. Their rate of success will no doubt improve with the addition of this mechanical device.
Pennington First Aid Squad Captain Jack Ferrara, President Daniel Boone, with Lucas 2 mechanical CPR device purchased with funds donated by Dr. Kirk and Mrs. Bonnie Schmitt
A letter of appreciation was presented to Hopewell Township Police Sergeant Michael Cseremsak, Officer Robert Sparano, and Officer Louis Vastola, Pennington Police Officer Douglas Pinelli, Pennington First Aid Squad responding crew John Muccioli, Douglas Kabay, and Matthew Peck, and bystander Trauma Nurse Sean Varricchio for a CPR save in which the patient was subsequently released from the hospital. The letter was presented during the yearly EMS week ceremony in which the Hopewell Township Committee honors all Valley first responders. The complete text of the letter is available.
Top (left to right): Hopewell Township Deputy Mayor Allen Cannon, Pennington First Aid Squad EMT Douglas Kabay, and Hopewell Township Mayor Vanessa Sandom
Bottom (left to right): Hopewell Township Deputy Mayor Allen Cannon, Pennington First Aid Squad Assistant Captain John Muccioli, and Hopewell Township Mayor Vanessa Sandom
Back Row (left to right): Kirk Schmitt (Second Assistant Captain), Dan Walker (Trustee), Neal Blackwell (Trustee), Jack Ferrara (Captain), Thomas Tedd (Vice President), Jon Guerard (Trustee)
Front Row seated (left to right): Daniel Boone (President), Joan Schwarzwalder (Corresponding Secretary), June Guerard (Recording Secretary), John Muccioli (First Assistant Captain)
Not in group photo: Naomi McCarty (Treasurer)
Julie Aberger receives the Shield Award from Captain Kirk Schmitt at the 4th Annual Hopewell Valley Knights Of Columbus Shield Award Ceremony Oct 21, 2013
Un-assuming new generator sure to make a difference during next big storm.
An EMT Refresher course has been scheduled at PFAS for Oct 6, 13, and 20 from 0800-1600 each day. To register go to www.lessstress.com. The course will be open to the public so sign up soon.
The course will begin on August 26 with orientation and presentation of course materials. Seventeen students are expected, 15 from Hopewell Valley squads.
PFAS has changed its rules to allow applicants to ride the ambulance as an observer before taking the EMT course. We also now accept applicants who live at any distance from PFAS. Details have been posted on our "Join" tab.
Click here for the registration form. The course is free if you are a member of a volunteer first aid squad, so join now before you register for the course. The course schedule has been posted. If you are are a member of a Hopewell valley squad you will be given preference (Pennington, Titusville, Hopewell).
Officers for PFAS for 2013
Not in group photo (left to right): Naomi McCarty (Treasurer), Dan Walker (Trustee)
Back Row (left to right): Jon Guerard (Trustee), Jack Ferrara (Second Assistant Captain), Neal Blackwell (Trustee), Thomas Tedd (Vice President), Kirk Schmitt (Captain), John Muccioli (First Assistant Captain)
Front Row seated (left to right): June Guerard (Recording Secretary), Douglas Kabay (President), Joan Schwarzwalder (Corresponding Secretary)
The Pennington First Aid Squad is proud to have participated in a run-up to next year's Special Olympics USA games which will be held in New Jersey in 2014 with a concentration in Mercer County. Rebecca Miller and Kurt Pedersent stood by and made awards. More pictures can be found under the pictures tab. Thanks to Brian Fischberg of Pennington Road for the pictures.
Rebecca Miller and Kurt Pedersen present awards
The Pennington First Aid Squad is proud to have participated in an Operation HeadOn along with our neighboring squads and fire companies, The Pennington Fire Company, Union Fire and Rescue, The Hopewell Fire Department and Emergency Medical Unit, and Hopewell Valley Emergency Services. The contributions of NJ State Police, Wilson-Apple Funeral home, Daves Ringoes Sunoco were essential as were the acting skills of Hopewell Valley Central High students Catherine Dillingham, Simon Evans, Mariel del Castillo, Ben Granzow, and James Caulfield who played the victims of the crash.
Operation HeadOn is a drama staged by fire, police, and EMS to simulate a car crash caused by drunk driving. It is hoped that the event will be sobering for students on the eve of graduation. The local event was organized by Gavin Nelson, an EMS lieutenant at Union Fire and Rescue (and also a member of PFAS). Graduating seniors for Hopewell Valley Regional High School were led through the events of the crash from the first 911 call to the departure of the hearse with the simulated fatality wrapped in a body bag. Pictures of the event have been posted on this web site
Scenes from HeadOn
An EMT Refresher course has been scheduled at PFAS for Oct 13, 14, and 28 from 0800-1600 each day. We have attempted to reserve the version of the EMT refresher that is the transition course plus refresher (8 hr new material, 16 hour refresher). This version may not be ready in time for the course. If that happens, the course will be the A-M-T version in which old and new materials and skills are interleaved. To register go to www.lessstress.com. The course will be open to the public so sign up soon.
The course is now filled, but if you are late and are a member of a Hopewell valley squad you will be given preference (Pennington, Titusville, Hopewell). There is a waiting list for non-Hopewell valley applicants. Click here for the registration form. The course is free if you are a member of a volunteer first aid squad, so join now before you register for the course. The course schedule has now been posted.
The EMT Refresher course, which had been cancelled, has been rescheduled. Details here
After 17 years as President, Dan Boone decided to turn over the reins as did Vice President Gorczycki after a similar, long period of service. Our thanks for all their years of dedicated volunteering.
Front Row (left to right): Kirk Schmitt (Captain), June Guerard (Recording Secretary), Linda Hlavacek (Corresponding Secretary), Naomi McCarty (Treasurer)
Back Row (left to right): Jack Ferrara (Second Assistant Captain), Douglas Kabay (Vice President), Joel Orland (President), Dan Walker (Trustee), Neal Blackwell (Trustee), Jon Guerard (Trustee), John Muccioli (First Assistant Captain)
We are pleased to announce that the Pennington First Aid Squad has been chosen as the Outstanding Volunteer EMS Agency for the state of NJ. The Squad was chosen for its professionalism, call volume, and its dedication to volunteerism and EMS education. The award was presented at the 2011 Awards Dinner in Atlantic City as part of the 2011 New Jersey Statewide Conference on EMS. The award was accepted by Captain Kirk Schmitt.
We were also pleased that EMT Brendan Clune received the Outstanding Action by a Youth award for his actions to save the life of a swimmer who suffered a collapsed lung as the result of a deep dive. EMT Clune remained calm, assessed the patient, administered oxygen, and kept the apneic patient breathing for over 20 minutes until an ambulance arrived. EMT Clune expressed gratitude for the excellent training he received as an EMT in the classroom and in the field with the PFAS.
Although we did not win, were pleased to have been nominated for a significant number of other awards at the dinner including EMS Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award for Corresponding Secretary Linda Hlavacek and Captain Kirk Schmitt and Outstanding EMS Educator for EMT Juliana Aberger and EMT Gavin Nelson. We are pleased with our long standing association with our medical director Dr. Stephen Vetrano who was nominated for Outstanding EMS Physician, an award he won in 2008.
Kirk Schmitt, Captain PFAS, and Brendan Clune with awards for Outstanding Volunteer EMS Agency and Outstanding Action by a Youth
We had hoped that there would be enough EMT students from Hopewell, Union, and Pennington to justify another valley-only course like the highly successful course we held last fall, but there were not enough applicants. Click here to apply for the fall EMT course. Valley applicants will be given priority.
PFAS opened its doors and its ambulances for tours and demonstrations for interested residents. Here is a more detailed description.
Each year the Knights of Columbus recognizes a Police Officer, Firefighter, and an EMT New Jersey who have demonstrated outstanding service to their community. This year the PFAS is proud to report that the EMT chosen was Daniel Boone, President of the PFAS, for his nearly 20 year devotion to the squad as President, prime instructor, regular crew chief, organizer of our EMT courses, and, not-incidentally, always in the top 5 or so responders with almost always over 100 calls per year.
New Jersey State Council Knights of Columbus Shield Award EMT of the Year awarded to Dan Boone in recognition of his leadership, outstanding service to the Community and genuine concern for his fellow man. Awarded May 13, 2011. Presented to Dan Boone by Bob Rushnak.
The PFAS is pleased to have been selected to be the Grand Marshal of this years's Memorial Day parade, largely based on Dan Boone winning the Knights of Columbus, NJ EMT of the year award.
PFAS executive officers Vice President Debbie Gorczycki, President (and Grand Marshal) Dan Boone, and Corresponding Secretary Linda Hlavacek.
The Pennington First Aid Squad is proud to have participated in an Operation HeadOn along with our neighboring squads and fire companies, The Pennington Fire Company, Union Fire and Rescue, The Hopewell Fire Department and Emergency Medical Unit, and Hopewell Valley Emergency Services. The contributions of JeffSTAT, Wilson-Apple Funeral home, Daves Ringoes Sunoco were essential as were the acting skills of Hopewell Valley Central High students Alex Bhaskar, Eric Fass, Melissa Helmstetterr, and Natalie Santos who played the victims of the crash.
Operation HeadOn is a drama staged by fire, police, and EMS to simulate a car crash caused by drunk driving. It is hoped that the event will be sobering for students on the eve of graduation. The local event was organized by Gavin Nelson, an EMS lieutenant at Union Fire and Rescue (and also a member of PFAS). Graduating seniors for Hopewell Valley Regional High School were led through the events of the crash from the first 911 call to the departure of the hearse with the simulated fatality wrapped in a body bag. Pictures of the event have been posted on this web site
HVCHS students Eric Fass, Alex Bhaskar, Melissa Helmstetterr, and Natalie Santos in their roles as the drunk driver, the critically injured patients, and the fatality.
The Pennington First Aid Squad training center has graduated a class of 17 students that is unique in the training center's history. All the students are to be volunteer EMTs and all are members of Hopewell Valley first aid squads.
Our Hopewell Valley squads are the Pennington First Aid Squad, Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad and Hopewell Fire Department and Emergency Medical Unit. Each squad needs to attract, train, and keep 5-7 new people every year. Over the years, the PFAS has established itself as a State training center, gradually increased the size of its building, the number of instructors, its presence on the internet, and the number of courses it teaches per year to keep getting new volunteers, but what has been seen from this increasing effort is that the PFAS has been teaching more and more students from farther and farther from the Hopewell Valley and retaining fewer of them. The ultimate example of this was the class held last summer. It had 44 graduates, but fewer than half intended to volunteer anywhere. Only five said they wanted to ride with Pennington and only 2 actually still ride.
The PFAS realized it needed to try something different. It decided to restrict a course just to volunteers and just to volunteers from the Hopewell Valley. The PFAS planned to keep the same number of instructors and use them to enrich the student's experience with trips and hands-on in real ambulances from the Squads they had joined. Students toured the Capital Health 911 dispatch center in Trenton, saw demonstrations of Union Fire and Rescue water rescue equipment, and were able to drill on the ambulances they would eventually ride as volunteers. It was hoped this would make volunteering on an ambulance come alive for these students.
Only time will tell if this was a successful strategy, but a comparison of the current class to the previous two classes is impressive. In the 16 months of riding time since the previous two classes, the graduates that joined the PFAS have answered 77 calls. In the 2 months that the students who plan to ride with the PFAS have been eligible to ride as observers, they have answered a staggering 67 calls.
The PFAS was pleased to have many family and friends attend the graduation on Saturday November 20 and particularly pleased to have Hopewell Township Deputy Mayor James Burd give the keynote address and for kind words of support and attendance of Hopewell Borough Councilman Sean Jackson, Hopewell Township Fire Commissioner Michael Chipowsky, Pennington Mayor Anthony Persichilli, Pennington Director of Public Safety Bill Meytrott, Pennington Borough Councilman Edwin "Weed" Tucker, and Hopewell Township Fire Commissioner Cindy Orlandi.
Pictures of the graduation are included in the pictures tab.
Fall 2010 class,
Back row, left to right: Nick Mohacsi, Jack Laufenberg, Chris Krause, Mark Gross, Cassandra Metz, Doug Kabay
Middle row, left to right: Adam Ames, Matt Chrusz, Eric Kranz, Georgia Foley, Kurt Pedersen, Krishna Kusupudi
Front row, left to right: Phil Mohacsi, Shane Baldorossi, Sarah Hopkins, Joan Schwarzwalder, Ben Dafilou
Each year the Knights of Columbus, Council 7103 recognizes a Police Officer, Firefighter, and an EMT from Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough, and Pennington Borough who has demonstrated outstanding service to their community. This year the PFAS is proud to report that the EMT chosen was Daniel Boone, President of the PFAS, for his nearly 20 year devotion to the squad as President, prime instructor, regular crew chief, organizer of our EMT courses, and, not-incidentally, always in the top 5 or so responders with almost always over 100 calls per year.
Daniel Boone, Shield Award winner cheered on by his friends from PFAS. Back row, left to right:Tom Tedd, Zay Risinger, Tom Steinbacher, Julie Aberger, Allie Freeman, John Muccioli.
There are new forms of the venerable medic alert tag in the field. These medic alert tags have the usual short description engraved on the outside but inside they have a flash drive. When plugged into a computer, a detailed patient history can be downloaded. These USB medic alert tags come as bracelets and neck pendants so they will be found during the usual focused exam. They just need to be recognized as USB flash drives.
We recently encountered one of these for a person with severe nut allergies. The person carries an epinephrine injector, but after using the injector he/she can no longer speak, so the information on the tag may be critical. However, the radius of the tag does not allow the plug to fit into the USB socket on the Panasonic Toughbook so the data cannot be read. We have contacted Panasonic and they suggested a small extension socket which we have obtained and placed in our clipboards. We contacted the manufacturer and they have told us they are redesigning the dog tag.
USB dog tag. A form of medic alert with detailed patient information available for display on ToughBook computer. The slider to extend the plug is shown on the side.
At a recent meeting, the Squad voted to make all its pictures available to the public. There is now a Pictures tab on this page with access to hundreds of pictures old and new.
The Squad is grateful to the family of Jack Post for donating a number of historic pictures including several of our original ambulance, a used 1952 Packard. Jack Post was Captain (1961) of the American Legion First Aid Squad of Pennington, Post No 413. The American Legion First Aid Squad of Pennington was the parent organization of the Pennington First Aid Squad.
Squad members load victims of an auto accident into the 1952 Packard ambulance around 1961. Attendents lifting patient into ambulance are Fred Barrett (left) and Tom Cooper. Experienced EMTs will observe that procedures have changed dramatically since 1961. Can you identify where this picture was taken?
The Pennington First Aid Squad is pleased to announce that our training center has graduated its largest class ever, 44 students. We thank our Director, Julie Aberger; Coordinator, Dan Boone; Lead Instructor, Cindy Orlandi; and Instructors Alice Freeman and Linda Hlavacek for this effort. The students have completed their 120 hours of classroom, 10 hours of riding or hospital experience and must now take the State or National Registry written exam. The PFAS Training Center's past performance for these exams has been >95% passes, so we are not worried about the written exam and hope to see these students on ambulances soon.
The PFAS is pleased to have netted 5 new members from this class along with 2 more for local squads. The class was unusual in that nearly 40% of the students were not funded by the the NJ training fund as volunteers, but by the students.Pictures from the graduation are available for viewing and download at various levels of resolution
Patient's with mechanical heart pumps can now leave the hospital and lead reasonably normal lives. Former Vice President Dick Cheney's assist pump has been in the news lately, but the Hopewell Valley now has at least one such patient living at home. Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD or VAD) must be assessed and treated somewhat differently from patients with normal hearts. Members should read more about this in our skills and procedures tab.
PFAS will soon be stocking new Epipens with a bright orange cap designed to reduce the frequency of accidental injection into EMTs instead of patients. The entire package insert is available from the manufacturer.
New design for Epipen and Epipen junior with blue safety cap and orange injection tip. Note that the instructions for use are clearly labled on the sides.
Promised delivery of the re-mounted ambulance 151-1 is now Jun-25.
The so-called "conspicuity striping" on the re-mounted 151-1 is really ugly but sure is easy to see.
The Squad's new policy on standby ambulances is now in effect.
The schedule and registration forms for our summer EMT class have been posted.
The Pennington First Aid Squad responded to 1021 calls in 2009, almost exactly the same as 2008.
The Boro of Pennington accounted for 26% of these calls with most of the remainder in Hopewell Township. Six locations accounted for 23% of our calls: Hopewell Garden Apartments (72), Stony Brook Assisted Living (71), Merrill-Lynch (31), Woolsey Court (26), Bristol-Myers Squibb (16) and Hopewell Township police (16).
The PFAS supplied mutual aid 97 times; to Lawrence (42), Ewing (37), Union (11), Hopewell (5), and Trenton (2). In return, we received mutual aid 43 times, almost all from Hopewell Valley Emergency Services. The mutual aid we provided was down from the 120 calls in 2008 and the mutual aid we received rose from 35 calls in 2008.
Our work could not have been accomplished without the work of the dedicated volunteers who responded to calls, kept our building and ambulances in order, helped with fund drives, and recruited and trained new members. The PFAS training center conducted two complete EMT-B courses and regular, monthly drills this year. Sixty-seven of our members responded to at least one call throughout the year and 17 responded to more than 50 calls.
PFAS salutes the top ten responders for 2009. Together these ten made 1347 responses to calls for help from our community.
PFAS top ten responders for 2009. From top left: Neal Blackwell, Daniel Boone, Richard Gordon, John Muccioli, Jess Niederer, Kristen Orlandi, Kirk Schmitt, Tom Steinbacher, Tom Tedd, and Heather Varrasse
A new section has been added to the "SOP, Skills, Procedures" tab called Manuals. I've attempted to collect and post every manual for every piece of equipment on the ambulances I could find so they're available to the whole squad and not just to those with access to the President's office. Will add more as they become available. Some files are pretty big because some vendors don't seem to have manuals available on line. The paper manuals were scanned in those cases. Login is required.
The President's report on voter eligibility for the 2009 election has been posted.
Receipts for purchase vouchers may now be uploaded in Microsoft Word format. Either the old .DOC format or the new, XML based, .DOCX format may be used, but not all approvers can read the .DOCX format.
Military style tourniquets designed for easy, fast use will now be carried on the ambulances. The tourniquets will be carried in the cravat bags and a check will be added to the weekend rig check to help members remember what the tourniquets look like and where they are found on the ambulances. For further information, follow this link.
Guidelines for controlling bleeding on extremities and for administration of nitroglycerin have changed. Tourniquets are now back in favor and the cut-off systolic pressure for nitroglycerin has been lowered to 100 mm Hg. The skills assessment sheets have been updated to reflect the changes.
Guidelines for Hopewell Valley Squads dealing with suspected swine flu patients have been posted.
Pictures and the program for the 2009 Captain's party have been posted.
A new base station radio has been installed and new, simplified instructions for the home alert test are available.
Pictures from the 2007 Memorial Day Parade at the squad have been added to the collection. Thanks to Julie Aberger for sharing.
Extensive helps for emsCharts have been added to the web site. Each page of a chart is reproduced in the helps. Help for each entry will "pop up" as the user slides the mouse pointer over it.
The Pennington First Aid Squad Responded to 1029 calls in 2008, up 2.7% from 2007.
The Boro of Pennington accounted for 24% of these calls with most of the remainder in Hopewell Township. Five locations accounted for 22% of our calls: Stony Brook Assisted Living (71), Merrill-Lynch (56), Hopewell Garden Apartments (51), Hopewell Township police (30) and Woolsey Court (18).
The PFAS supplied mutual aid to Ewing (52), Lawrence (30), Union (26), Hopewell (7), Princeton (3), and Trenton (2). In return, we received mutual aid 35 times, almost entirely from Hopewell Valley Emergency Services. The mutual aid we provided was up dramatically from 83 calls in 2007 to 120 calls in 2008, but the mutual aid we received dropped from 45 calls to 35 calls.
Our work could not have been accomplished without the work of the dedicated volunteers who responded to calls, kept our building and ambulances in order, helped with fund drives, and recruited and trained new members. The PFAS training center conducted two complete EMT-B courses and regular, monthly drills this year. Sixty-four of our members responded to at least 1 call throughout the year and 20 responded to more than 50 calls.
PFAS salutes the top ten responders for 2008. Together these ten made 1310 responses to calls for help from our community.
PFAS top ten responders for 2008. From top left: Neal Blackwell, Daniel Boone, Richard Gordon, Brian Haig, John Muccioli, Cindy Orlandi, Kristen Orlandi, Zay Risinger, Kirk Schmitt, Tom Tedd
Proud Members of the 2008 Pennington First Aid Squad EMT-B Class pose
for a graduation photo before they take the NJ State EMT exam:
(foreground, l-r) Nicola Burrow, Jacqueline Franzosi, Anna Lyman
(1st row l-r) Ben Cialone, Nathalie Cassion, Raushanah Ali, Yuliya Afinogenova,
Jack Ackerman, Nitzan Ben-David, Kathleen Nase, Emily Benziger, Dawn Ruggie,
Audrey Schlette, Erin Kamleiter, Annmarie Soganic, Troy Sabatura, Nicholas
Smaltino, Laura Murphy, Eric Keeny
(2nd row l-r) Brian Foster, Andrew DeVore, Dan Khan, Greg Bunting,
Tom Falkenberg, Kelsey Ballinger, Gabrielle Schmidt, James Palmer,
Mike Murphy, Jess Williams, Serge Paul, Niklas Hansson, Michael Leahy,
Joe Francisco
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR HIGHER RESOLUTION.
In process of scanning, transcribing, saving old PFAS Monthly Minutes to website. Available in Members section (need login). Complete Minutes 1990-2008. Others to follow
Approximately 250 more PFAS pictures added to the collection.
Anyone seen these TV ads encouraging people to become volunteer EMTs? Some of our PFAS members have cameo appearances.
Pictures from the Memorial Day Parade have been posted in the Members section. Thanks to June Guerard and Bonnie Schmitt for some of these.
Weekend rig checks should now be done on line. Please stop using paper forms.
2008 Infection Control Plan Finalized. See For Members
Pictures from 2008 Captain's Party have been posted in the members only section (finally!)
Congratulations to our latest EMTs, Brielle Hamilton, Dylan Hughes, and Mike Roubo
The 2008 Revision to the Pennington First Aid Squad Infection Control Plan has been posted in the members only section of the web site. Member input on the plan is requested
The Lion's Club Volunteer Recognition Award is presented by the Hopewell Valley Lions Club to members of Hopewell Valley's fire and EMS organizations. On March 30, 2008, the Lion's presented awards for 2006 and 2007 at the Mountain View Golf Course banquet hall. The 2006 recipient from the Pennington First Aid Squad was Julie Aberger, and the 2007 recipient was Cindy Orlandi. These recipients' names will be added to a plaque hanging in Pennington Borough Hall listing honorees from previous years.
Hopewell Valley Lions Club 2006/2007 Fire and EMS Awardees. Click on picture for higher resolution.
The drill for the April meeting will start at 17:30. Please see the training link for details.
New street, Silver's Court, added to directory.
Pictures from Captain's Party will be posted as soon as they are made available.
All PFAS EMTs must take "Right to Know" and "Blood Borne Pathogens" each year. Courses are being offered Saturday February 9 at 0800-1200, Wednesday February 20 at 1900-2300, Tuesday February 26 at 0800-1200. Sign up in the radio room.
Results are slowly dribbling in from the state. Congratulations to Wendella Doggett and Brian Haig, two more new EMTs.
Congratulations to our new EMTs: Lauren Apgar, Kyle Heys, Jessica Niederer, Kristen Orlandi, Kelly Thompson, and Morgan Zang. Hope to see you on many calls soon.
We expect to see more new EMTs on this list when the State finishes grading the tests for our other new students.
PFAS salutes the top ten responders for 2007; Julianna Aberger, Neal Blackwell, Daniel Boone, Ellyn Gerberding, Richard Gordon, John Muccioli, Zay Risinger, Kirk Schmitt, Tom Tedd, and Heather Varrasse. Together these ten responded to 1379 calls for help from our community.
PFAS top ten responders for 2007
Daily rig checks may now be done on line. Members are urged to try it and send feedback to the Assistant Captain. We expect this will result in faster correction of problems and better inventory control. The form is in the forms section for members only.
Individual loginIDs and passwords were issued to members tonight for access to the "for members" portion of this website. If you did not get one, call the Assistant Captain. The generic loginID and password will be retired in two weeks.
The new Ferno stretchers and Stat Trac fastening systems purchased with a grant from Merrill-Lynch have arrived and are being installed. Ambulance 151-3 was the first converted.
All members are urged to practice with the new system before they need to use them. A training session will be held at 18:30 11-Dec-2007, preceding the regular monthly meeting.
Some new rules for filling out emsCharts will be discussed by the Captain at the next monthly meeting, 11-Dec-2007.
We are pleased to announce the graduation of 35 students from the Pennington First Aid Squad's fall EMT-B class. The graduation ceremony took place November 17 at the Hopewell Township Municipal building where an overflow crowd heard talks from our education director Julie Aberger and Hopewell Township Police Chief George Meyer. The video "New Jersey Volunteer EMS Opens Doors was also shown followed by presentation of diplomas and an expression of thanks and gifts from the class to the instructors.
Of the 35 students, 13 will ride with PFAS, 8 with Titusville, and 5 with Hopewell. The importance of volunteers to the Hopewell valley was emphasized by the fact that the PFAS was toned out for two EMS calls during the graduation ceremony.
Fall 2007 EMT-B class
Knox Boxes are now operational on all three ambulances.
Our thanks to Merrill Lynch for a special grant of $15000 to replace our stretchers and stretcher mounting system.
Robert Krukowski, Director Hopewell Facilities and Helene Garcia, Director Community & Strategic Initiatives present check to President Daniel Boone, Captain Cindy Orlandi, and First Assistant Captain Kirk Schmitt
