Squad Seeks New Members to Join in the Success
In 2021, the Chatham Emergency Squad (CES) answered the call a total of 1266 times – up by nearly 50 calls over 2020. CES responded to 911 calls in the Chathams as well as mutual aid to Madison, Florham Park and Summit. CES also provided coverage to many public events like Chatham High School varsity football games, Fishawack and both Chatham Thanksgiving trots. Of those 1266 calls, 130 came in when the duty crew was already out on a call, so a scramble crew of off-duty EMT members had to be mobilized. Even more impressively, 13 of those calls were second scramble calls, putting all three of CES’s ambulances in service simultaneously.
CES is an all-volunteer squad funded almost entirely by donations from the community. In reviewing the 2021 call volume, Captain Mike Lemons said, “There was certainly a rebound from the early months of Covid as the sick and injured became less reluctant to go to the hospital. Just as our members were there during the height of COVID and the challenges of 2020, they were ready for the volume challenges of 2021.”
Recruiting reliable volunteers is always a challenge and many emergency response agencies are facing alarming declines. CES remains strong but the need for new members is always an urgent priority. Training a new EMT is a serious process and CES members are expected to achieve the highest level of professionalism. New volunteers are put to meaningful work from their first day and are well supported by their crew partners as they complete initial EMT training and progress toward full membership. All training, uniform and equipment expenses are paid by CES.
CES members come in all life stages from students to working professionals to retired community members and everyone in between! Previous medical training is not required to join CES, only the desire to serve the community in this special way.
If you’d like to talk about joining the Chatham Emergency Squad, contact Robin Hoppe, VP, Membership at membership@chathamemergencysquad.org or go to the website chathamemergencysquad.org and click on the Volunteer link. If you’re interested in donating, click on the Donate link. The Chatham Emergency Squad – Answering the Call.
