Submitted by: Your Neighborhood Squad Members
Are you curious about the Berkeley Heights Volunteer Rescue Squad (BHVRS)? Have you thought about joining but are concerned about the commitment? Are you unsure how you could schedule one more thing into your busy week?
Our members felt the same way. Many of us have jobs, children, and some are even back in school. The BHVRS makes it easy to volunteer. Members have the option of riding at night or during the day—and you do not need to stay at the building when you are on shift.
We want to meet you! Come stop by our open houses, every Tuesday night from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Rescue Squad located at 378 Snyder Avenue. Ask our squad members anything you want to know. Learn about what it is like to be on the BHVRS and how it can fit into your hectic life. There is no obligation to sign up.
“When I first joined I was worried about balancing the squad with a work-from-home job and little kids. But the rescue squad understood I was only able to give so much,” says squad member Carolyn Sayre, NREMT. “When I am on shift I can still help my kids with their homework or sit down for a family meal. I can tell you that they have never remembered the bedtime story I missed when my pager went off or I had a training to attend. But they sure do remember, “My mom is an EMT!”
For 75 years, the BHVRS has proudly served its community by providing life-saving emergency medical services. Our members respond to more than 800 calls a year including falls, motor vehicle accidents, and medical emergencies. In 2018, we even had the honor of delivering a baby for the first time in 20 years! The BHVRS is a friendly face in the community—standing by at town and school events, educating the public about CPR and First Aid, and offering mutual assistance to neighboring towns.
None of us want to think an emergency will happen to us. But our community needs to be prepared when it does. Every day and night a group of only 25 regular BHVRS members covers a town of more than 13,400 people, including a four-mile stretch of Route 78. We need more residents to step up and join us!
Imagine if it was your grandpa having difficulty breathing, your husband experiencing chest pain, or your child injured on the sports field. Wouldn’t you want a dedicated group of trained first responders that live nearby to provide emergency care—and in some cases, life-saving interventions—as quickly as possible?
“The BHVRS has been an amazing second act that has brought me great fulfillment. I became a member because I was looking to give back to my community when my kids were getting older and starting to leave the house,” says squad member Joe Plocinski, EMT. “It has been a great experience from day one and that has motivated me to keep doing more. The BHVRS has changed my life, and will change your life too.”
Who We Are
The BHVRS is staffed entirely by volunteers. Our dedicated members are all ages, and come from all walks of life and professional backgrounds. We rely entirely on donations from generous community members.
Most of our members did not work in the healthcare field before we became EMTs. You do not need any medical training. We will teach you everything you need to know—and we do not ask you for more than you can give or handle. All you need is a desire to learn and help.
“Being on the squad has brought an incredible perspective and joy to my life in a day and age where we can so easily become distracted with our daily responsibilities. The BHVRS reminds me about what truly matters in life—community, togetherness, and kindness. Until you are part of the BHVRS, it is impossible to describe the joy and satisfaction you feel when you ride home from a call and know you made a small difference in what is likely one of the worst days of someone’s life,” adds Sayre.
Become an Emergency Medical Responder Today
The BHVRS will offer EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) training at the squad building starting in April. EMR certification provides a level of training below that of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Training takes just 40 hours and you are able to ride on the ambulance assisting EMTs with medical and trauma calls. If you are interested or have any questions, please send an email to emr@bhvrs.org or call 908-464-0013.
