October 16, 2005
Remembering Heroes
Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad members Greg Simpson (left, Wednesday night crew) and Jeanne Gladis (right, Wednesday morning crew) participated in the Fallen Heroes 5K Memorial Run in Elizabeth, NJ on September 10th. Jeanne came in first place for females in EMS, while Greg took first place for men in EMS.
March 5, 2005
Westfield Rescue Squad Volunteer Encourages Community Participation
Throughout the upcoming weeks the Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad will begin the annual fund drive. Squad member Ron Liu encourages community members to contribute financially and/or as volunteers.
Ron Liu is a senior year student at Kean University, a Corporal/Squad leader in the Marine Corps, and has been a volunteer EMT for the past two years.
When asked why he became an EMT, Liu answered, "I want to help people and give back to the community. In the event of a personal emergency, I could only hope that people would be there to care for me."
Liu spends approximately thirty hours a week at the Squad building. He stated, "For all the time dedicated to the Rescue Squad, it's not all work an no play. You get to meet interesting people and help those in their most crucial times of need. Being an EMT, you learn quite a bit that can benefit you, and those experiences broaden your horizons, and can make you a well-rounded person." The relationships that members gain through their experiences at the Rescue Squad often last a lifetime, and many people stay dedicated for decades.
Liu encourages community members to "keep an eye out" for the fund drive mailing that will be distributed in the upcoming week. "In order to achieve the kind of success that we strive for at the Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad we need help from all those able to contribute", stated Liu.
Anyone interested in joining the volunteer organization or making a donation is invited to stop by or call the Squad building, which is located at 335 Watterson Street in Westfield.
January 14, 2005
Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad Really Delivers!
Veteran EMTs Lynn Feldman and Morris Paserchia were just beginning their shift at the Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad, Westfield, NJ, and had decided to get things going with a cup of coffee. Turns out that no caffeine was needed to get the adrenaline going for this team. Within 5 minutes of getting the rig ready for duty in came a call for a woman in labor.
EMT Paserchia thought, "Not a bad way to start off", as it was his birthday and transporting a soon-to-be-mom to the hospital would be a pleasant diversion from the recent rash of aid-to-sick and motor vehicle accident calls. Well, it didn't quite turn out that way. Even though mom's labor began two hours prior to the call, things moved along very quickly. Contractions were 3 minutes apart and it became clear that the delivery was imminent. In less than the two minutes it took to package mom up and get her to the rig, the baby's head crowned and progressed so fast that the baby was actually delivered on the front lawn in the pouring rain!
Subsequently both mom and baby were transported to Overlook Hospital and are doing fine. It's going to be difficult to say the least for EMT Paserchia to get a better birthday present - his first delivery.
As for EMT Feldman, she's a pro as this is number two for her - not counting her own two daughters!
2004 November 2
Husband And Wife EMTs Volunteer Together At Westfield Rescue Squad
Each year the Westfield Rescue Squad responds to over 2000 calls within the community. The diverse groups of people who respond to the calls are truly dedicated to the quality care of each individual in Westfield. Twenty-four hour/seven day a week coverage is provided by Squad members from the building, but many members go above and beyond by waking up in the middle of the night to rush out to someone in need or staying past their duty periods to assure coverage in the town.
In September of 2003, a young couple, Sean and Riva Waller, made the decision together to commit themselves to the volunteer services as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) in Westfield. Sean and Riva have a young daughter at home and full-time jobs; Sean as an elementary school teacher, and Riva, senior manager of structured products for "Man Investments", an international hedge fund. When asked what being on the Westfield Rescue Squad means to them, Sean stated, "Being on the Squad gives us the opportunity to give back to our community. At the same time we get personal satisfaction knowing that we make a difference in other people's lives." Riva stated, "After 9/11, I felt that I wanted to make a commitment to my community."
Recently the Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad began its annual membership drive. A letter was sent to the homes of all community members expressing a need for more volunteers. When asked what he thought was the best thing about joining the Squad, Sean stated, "The volunteers. They've created a good atmosphere, which makes it enjoyable to spend time at the Squad building. At the same time it is a very professional environment you can be proud of."
When asked how being an EMT has affected them, Riva stated, "Being an EMT is overwhelming at times, but the feeling of satisfaction at the end of the shift is worth it." Sean continued, "Becoming EMT's has given us the confidence and sensitivity towards all people, and has allowed us to integrate ourselves into the community in a way we've never done before." Both Sean and Riva encourage others in the community to volunteer at the Westfield Rescue Squad.
For anyone within the community who is interested in joining the Squad, it is important to know that all training is provided for by the Squad. If interested in further information, stop by the Squad building located at 335 Watterson St. in Westfield or call (908) 233-2500.
