Response Statistics for April 2023

Last month the Independence First Aid Squad was dispatched for 167 calls for service.

Here are the responses by the municipality for April 2023:
Independence Township - 38
Liberty Township - 14
Mansfield Township- 72
Allamuchy Township – 3
Belvidere- 1
Blairstown Township- 3
Frelinghuysen Township – 3 (1 Long-term Care Facilities)
Hackettstown – 20
Hope Township – 3
Knowlton Township- 1
Washington Borough – 3
Washington Township – 3
White Township– 3

The above calls are the calls the Independence First Aid Squad was requested to respond to. The primary EMS agency or a closer mutual aid agency may have canceled our response to some of the calls we were dispatched to.

During April 2023, the First Aid Squad had 124 patient contacts and 98 patient transports.

April 2023 Response Times (All Calls):
Average Dispatch to Responding: 2.73
Average Dispatch to Scene: 12.51

In April 2023, the Independence First Aid Squad missed two calls in our primary area.

The following EMS Agencies handled the two calls that we missed in our primary area:
Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad- 2
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We are always looking for new volunteers to join our team. For more information, visit www.73rescue.org

The Independence First Aid Squad is excited to announce another public outreach class for June, Heartsaver CPR and AED!

The American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR and AED training program is a classroom, video-based, instructor-led course that teaches adult CPR and AED use and how to relieve choking on an adult. This course teaches skills with AHA's research-proven Practice-While-Watching (PWW) technique, which allows instructors to observe the students, provide feedback and guide the students' learning of skills.

The Heartsaver CPR and AED Course will run on June 17th, 2023, at our building at 3 Regina Lane, Great Meadows, NJ 07838, from 12 pm to 4 pm.

Course cost is $65.00 each.

When checking out for the course, the PayPal option also accepts regular credit card payments; you do not need a PayPal account.

To sign up, please click the "enroll here" button on the training section of our website.
https://www.73rescue.org/trainingcenter.html

Did you know the Independence First Aid Squad offers multiple other training programs to community groups, businesses, and the general public? Courses can be held at our building, and we also provide on‑site or private programs.
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If you have any questions, please reach out to us at trainingcenter@73rescue.org

The Independence First Aid Squad is excited to announce our first offering of the American Health and Safety Institution Childcare and Babysitting Safety Course! 

The Child and Babysitting Safety training program is designed to focus on supervising, caring for, and keeping children and infants safe in babysitting settings. The program provides fundamental information on the business of babysitting, proper supervision, basic caregiving skills, and responding properly to ill or injured children or infants.

Even though CPR/AED and Basic First Aid certification are not required as part of this course, it is strongly recommended, so we will also be offering an American Heart Association Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED the directly after the Child and Babysitting Safety Course. 

The Childcare and Babysitting Course will run on June 10th, 2023, at our building at 3 Regina Lane, Great Meadows, NJ 07838, from 8 am to 12 pm. The Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED will start at 1 pm and run until 5 pm. 

Both courses cost $80.00 each, but we offer a bundled deal for both courses at $140.00. 
When checking out for the course, the PayPal option also accepts regular credit card payments; you do not need a PayPal account. 

If you have any questions please reach out to us at trainingcenter@73rescue.org 
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To sign up, please click the "enroll here" button on the training section of our website. 
https://www.73rescue.org/trainingcenter.html

The Independence First Aid Squad would like to thank The Tiny Farm Childcare Experience for donating us five additional Wag'N O2 Fur Life - The Pet Oxygen Mask Initiative Pet Oxygen Mask Kits!

With these additional kits, we can now have a pet oxygen mask kit on all four ambulances, Special Services 735 and Car 735.

We are incredibly excited to be able to have enough pet oxygen mask kits to be able to help our furry friends in every one of our units!
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Thank you The Tiny Farm Childcare Experience!

On Sunday, 4/9/23, at 1341, the Independence Township Volunteer Fire Department, Hackettstown Fire Department, and the Independence First Aid squad were dispatched to 2 Main Street in Independence Township for the reported structure fire.

BLS 73-52 (Main Station) and BLS 73-51 (Station 2- Tri-County Fire) responded within minutes of the initial dispatch.

The incident was quickly upgraded to a 1st alarm assignment after the Warren County Department of Public Safety Communication Center received multiple calls reporting flames coming from a residence.
Special Services 735 and BLS 73-53 also responded to the incident.

Two dogs and one cat were pulled from the fire by Hackettstown Fire Department Firefighters. Independence First Aid Squad crews provided first aid to the dogs by utilizing our pet oxygen masks. Crews performed CPR on the cat, which sadly succumbed to its injuries.

Due to the condition of both dogs and a large amount of EMS resources on location, Chief 735 approved BLS 73-53 to transport both dogs to the Harmony Animal Hospital. Both dogs are expected to make a full recovery.

While returning from the animal hospital, BLS 73-53 handled a medical call in our primary area.
EMS units provided rehab services during the incident. One civilian and firefighter were transported to Hackettstown Medical Center for minor injuries.

All EMS units cleared the scene at 1803 hours after being cleared by Incident Command.

During the incident, the Lebanon Township Fire Department BLS Unit was moved to Station 2 (Tri-County Fire Company) as a standby unit.

EMS Units on Scene:
BLS 73-51
BLS 73-52
BLS 73-53
Special Services 735
Deputy Chief 735
Lieutenant 735-1
Lieutenant 735-2
Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad BLS 78-51, BLS 73-53, Special Services 785 (Cascade Unit)
Saint Clare's Health MIC 57
Fire Agencies on Scene:
Hackettstown Fire Department
Independence Township Volunteer Fire Department
Mountain Lake Fire Company- 72 Fire
Good Will Fire Company #1
Hope Volunteer Fire Department - Station 38 Fire
Allamuchy Fire Dept.
Washington Fire Department Station 83
New Jersey Forest Service
Other Agencies Involved on Scene:
Independence Police Department
Hackettstown Police Department
Warren County Department of Public Safety FMAC 1, FMAC 6
Warren County HAZ MAT Response Team - Station 22
American Red Cross New Jersey Region
Washington Township (Morris County) Bureau of Fire Prevention
New Jersey State Division of Fire Safety
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We are collecting gift cards for the family involved in this devastating fire. Gift cards can be dropped off at our building at 3 Regina Lane, Great Meadows, NJ 07838, any time, or you can call (908)-736-6109, and we can arrange a time to pick up the gift cards from you.

The Independence First Aid Squad would like to introduce BLS 73-54!

BLS 73-54 is a 2017 PL Custom Ford F-450 Classic 156. BLS 73-54 is on a 4x4 chassis making this the second 4x4 vehicle in our fleet. This unit is also equipped with a Stryker power load system making this our third Ambulance with a Stryker power load system.

We want to thank our friends at NJDRP for all of the hard work making sure this unit is mechanically up to our standards and Elite Vehicle Solutions Hunterdon County for the excellent graphic work to make BLS 73-54 look identical to our current fleet as well as performing some much-needed safety upgrades to the unit.
You will see BLS 73-54 out on the road late next week after crews stock the unit and take it to its OEMS inspection.
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We would also like to thank Mansfield Township for the Ambulance to serve the communities better!

Response Statistics For March 2023

Last month proved to be another busy month for the Independence First Aid Squad, with 213 requests for service.

Here are the responses by the municipality for March:
Independence Township - 40
Liberty Township - 21
Mansfield Township- 95
Allamuchy Township – 3
Belvidere- 1
Blairstown Township- 1
Franklin Township- 1
Frelinghuysen Township – 7 (5 Long-term Care Facilities)
Hackettstown – 21
Hardwick Township- 1
Hope Township – 3
Knowlton Township- 3
Washington Borough – 7
Washington Township - 7
Out of County- 2

The above calls are the calls the Independence First Aid Squad was requested to respond to. The primary EMS agency or a closer mutual aid agency may have canceled our response to some of the calls we were dispatched to.

During March, the First Aid Squad had 156 patient contacts and 106 patient transports.

March Response Times (All Calls):
Average Dispatch to Responding: 2.85
Average Dispatch to Scene: 12.09

The Independence First Aid Squad missed no calls in our primary area in March.

March was a very busy month for our training center. In March, our training center ran multiple classes certifying over 60 people in CPR for the month.
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We are always looking for new volunteers to join our team. For more information, visit www.73rescue.org

​On Wednesday, 3/15/23, at 0832, the Hope Volunteer Fire Department - Station 38 Fire and the Independence First Aid Squad were dispatched to Frelinghuysen for a fire alarm at a nursing home/assisted living facility. The call was upgraded to a structure fire one minute later, and Warren County Communications struck a first alarm assignment. 

BLS 73-53, Special Services 735, and Chief 735 all responded within minutes of dispatch. Due to the structure's occupancy type, Chief 735 initially requested additional BLS units from Blairstown Ambulance Corps and Allamuchy-Green First Aid Squad. Upon the arrival of Special Services 735, Deputy Chief 735 was advised of possibly 30 patients to be evaluated for possible smoke inhalation. With a large number of patients, Chief 735 requested for the Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident plan to be dispatched, adding additional BLS units from Warren, Sussex, Morris, and Monroe Counties. Atlantic Mobile Health was also contacted and initially sent 4 BLS units, 1 Critical Care Unit, and multiple Managers and Supervisors.    

Engine 38-63 and Rescue Engine 38-62 arrived and found one wing of the building filled with smoke, and staff members had already evacuated the residents of that wing. Interior crews found the source of the fire to be an attic HVAC unit which was quickly mitigated by fire units on location. 

Once EMS units determined that no patients on location required immediate care, the Level 2 MCI was reduced to a non-emergent response. Then, once it was determined that there was no need for an emergency evacuation of residences in the facility, the Level 2 MCI was canceled by Chief 735. The incident was held to BLS 73-53, BLS 46-54, Atlantic BLS 241, and Atlantic BLS 241. 

Once fire mitigated any life hazards, Chief 735 established a unified command with Atlantic Manger 602 to asses the 51 Residents of the Facility as well as 5 Staff Members. 

Warren County Department of Public Safety EMS coordinator EMAC 1 was assigned as the Medical Branch Director, Deputy Chief 735 was designated as the Triage Unit Leader, and Atlantic Assistant Manager 615 was designated as the transport unit leader. 

With the assistance of facility staff, a total of 56 total patients were systematically evaluated throughout the facility, and one patient was transported to the hospital. 

Units remained on location until the Department of Health approved the facility to reoccupy the affected faculty wing. 

All EMS units cleared the scene at 1032 hours. 

During the incident, BLS 73-52 was staffed out of our second station to cover our Primary Area. 

EMS Units on Scene:
BLS 73-53
Special Services 735
Car 735
Chief 735
Deputy Chief 735
Blairstown Ambulance Corps BLS 46-54
Allamuchy-Green First Aid Squad BLS 95-52
Warren County Department of Public Safety EMAC 1
Atlantic Mobile Health BLS 221, BLS 241, BLS 292
Atlantic Mobile Health Manager/Assistant Managers 602, 614, 615
Atlantic Mobile Health BLS Road Supervisor

Other Agencies Involved on Scene:
Hope Volunteer Fire Department - Station 38 Fire
Blairstown Hose Company #1
Green Township Fire Department
New Jersey State Police
Warren County Fire Marshall 
Warren County Health Department

Last month proved to be another busy month for the Independence First Aid Squad, with 195 requests for service. 

Here are the responses by the municipality for February 2023:
Independence Township - 28
Liberty Township - 27
Mansfield Township- 92
Allamuchy Township – 2
Belvidere- 1
Blairstown Township- 3
Frelinghuysen Township – 5 (1 Long-term Care Facilities) 
Hackettstown – 17
Hardwick Township- 1
Hope Township – 3
Knowlton Township- 3
Washington Borough – 7
Washington Township - 3
White Township- 3

The above calls are the calls the Independence First Aid Squad was requested to respond to. The primary EMS agency or a closer mutual aid agency may have canceled our response to some of the calls we were dispatched to. 

During February 2023, the First Aid Squad had 147 patient contacts and 117 patient transports.

February 2023 Response Times (All Calls):
Average Dispatch to Responding: 3.31
Average Dispatch to Scene: 12.88

In February 2023, the Independence First Aid Squad missed 5 calls in our primary area. The following EMS Agencies handled the 5 calls:
Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad- 5
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We are always looking for new volunteers to join our team. For more information, visit www.73rescue.org

Last month proved to be the busiest in the history of the Independence First Aid Squad, with 218 requests for service. It was also our first month being the primary EMS agency for the Township of Mansfield.

Here are the responses by the municipality for January 2023:
Independence Township - 42
Liberty Township - 21
Mansfield Township- 111
Allamuchy Township - 2
Blairstown Township- 2
Frelinghuysen Township – 8 (6 Long-term Care Facilities) 
Hackettstown - 17
Hope Township - 2
Oxford Township - 2
Washington Borough – 6
Washington Township - 2
White Township- 5

The above calls are the calls the Independence First Aid Squad was requested to respond to. The primary EMS agency or a closer mutual aid agency may have canceled our response to some of the calls we were dispatched to. 

During January 2023, the First Aid Squad had 193 patient contacts and 130 patient transports.
Average Dispatch to Responding: 3.19
Average Dispatch to Scene: 12.2

In January 2023, the Independence First Aid Squad missed one call in our primary area. The following EMS Agencies handled the one call:
Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad- 1

In January 2023, three different training classes were held for our members, and four members started their Emergency Medical Technician Initial program.  
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We are always looking for new volunteers to join our team. For more information, visit www.73rescue.org