The Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad’s David Schempp is the local winner of a 2016 EMT Excellence Award from Overlook Medical Center. The award was presented at a dinner at Berkeley Plaza by the squad’s chief, Kari Phair.
Phair told of how Schempp, “like many others, showed up at our door after Sept. 11 trying to figure out what he could do to help.” She said the new volunteer thought maybe he could assist with the landscaping or lawn mowing at the squad’s Elm Street headquarters, but when he was asked “to ride the ambulance, he thought, ‘Cool. That sounds like fun.’” Fifteen years later, he rides a weekly 12-hour shift and a weekend shift every month.
She described Schempp as “a very active member of the squad” whose volunteering exceeds the minimum of 48 hours each month and whose service includes participation on a variety of committees. Since Schempp earned his EMT certification, Phair said she has had “the opportunity to respond to emergencies with Dave, allowing for first-hand experience in observing him provide patient care, take the initiative and improve his first aid skills.”
Schempp, according to Phair, is a “true asset” to the Summit squad, not only volunteering to cover open shifts but also helping out with transports within and outside of New Jersey. The crew chief on the Thursday day shift, he has held many offices at the squad and has chaired numerous committees.
“One that really stands out for us,” Phair said, “is the grants committee. Dave has worked tirelessly to get us all kinds of grants to fund various equipment and training we need to keep up with the ever-changing EMS standards. To date, Dave has raised just under $600,000 in grant money for the squad.” Phair noted that the Summit squad recently raised $4 million to construct a new headquarters, and, “We couldn’t have done it without him.”
She said Schempp takes great interest in sharing his enthusiasm for the rescue squad with its younger members, “teaching them not only squad stuff,” but also challenging them to be better people, to take on more responsibility and to become better leaders.
(above) Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad member David Schempp is the city’s winner of this year’s EMT Excellence Award, presented by Overlook Medical Center at a dinner at Berkeley Plaza in Berkeley Heights. Schempp received his plaque from Kari Phair, the squad’s chief.
