(above) The Officers and Members of the Kenilworth Volunteer Rescue Squad
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As you may know, the Kenilworth Rescue Squad is a completely volunteer department that provides Emergency Medical Care 24/7 to the residents of Kenilworth.
One thing that makes us so unique compared to other towns is that we operate almost solely on donations, including a donation from the town. With Covid-19 striking our town heavily, our operating costs have increased exponentially. In order to provide safe care and prevent spread of the virus, we spent nearly $10,000 on decontamination supplies and personal protective equipment. Our Department’s main fundraiser, The KFD Carnival, has been cancelled, and our Rescue Squad’s fundraiser scheduled for November is uncertain at this time due to social distancing regulations.
Money aside, the manpower alone needed to operate was astronomical. Our call volume almost doubled, as did our man hours. Our average call takes about an hour and a half depending on the nature of the call. With the donning of protective equipment, sterilization, proper documentation, and decontamination of the ambulance, the average time rose to about 4 hours per call. The height of Covid-19 for us was in April: that month alone our EMT’s dedicated an average of 253 of riding hours per person, that equates to riding 10 days straight. Again, these are all volunteer hours. Some members even chose to live at the firehouse 24/7 -so as not to risk infecting their loved ones. We hope this global pandemic has proven our dedication and commitment to the people of Kenilworth.
We really could use your help now more than ever. Your support helps us to continue to provide the professional level of care that you deserve and that we all pride ourselves on. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity.
Sincerely,
The Officers and Members of the Kenilworth Volunteer Rescue Squad
If you would like to help, please mail your donation check to:
Kenilworth Fire/Rescue Support Organization
Attn: Rescue Squad Fundraiser
491 Washington Ave
Kenilworth, NJ 07033
(above) With the donning of protective equipment, sterilization, proper documentation, and decontamination of the ambulance, the average time for the Kenilworth Rescue Squad to respond to a call is about 4 hours.
