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 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

This past weekend 8 Independence First Aid Squad members attended the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Tactical Emergency Casualty Care course. The Warren County Department of Public Safety and the Independence First Aid Squad sponsored this joint training course. Instructors from Saint Clare's Health made the trip to the Great Meadows Middle School to instruct the class. In addition to our eight members that attended the course, 15 members of the Warren County Rescue Taskforce and other members of local Police, Fire, and EMS agencies participated in the class. 

The Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) course teaches EMS practitioners and other prehospital providers how to respond to and care for patients in a civilian tactical environment.
The course presents the three phases of tactical care and integrates parallel EMS nomenclature:

Hot Zone/Direct Threat Care that is rendered while under attack or in adverse conditions.
Warm Zone/Indirect Threat Care that is rendered while the threat has been suppressed but may resurface at any point.
Cold Zone/Evacuation Care that is rendered while the casualty is being evacuated from the incident site. 

The 16-hour classroom course includes all new patient simulations and covers the following topics:
Hemorrhage control, including immediate action drills for tourniquet application throughout the course;
Complete coverage of the MARCH assessment;
Surgical airway control and needle decompression;
Strategies for treating wounded responders in threatening environments;
Caring for pediatric patients;
Techniques for dragging and carrying victims to safety; and
A final, mass-casualty/active shooter event simulation.

National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians TECC course is endorsed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, is consistent with the current guidelines established by the Committee on TECC (Co-TECC), and meets all of the updated National Tactical Emergency Medical Support Competency Domains. 

The final simulation tested the students' knowledge they learned over the two-day course in a simulated active shooter scenario with over 35 "victims." We want to give a massive shout-out to Warren County Technical School for allowing students to attend our final scenario as role players. 

We want to thank all the agencies that assisted in making the final exercise as realistic as possible. The following agencies participated in the final exercise. 
Law Enforcement: 
Independence Twp. Police
Mansfield Township Police Department
Washington Township Police Department
New Jersey State Police
Phillipsburg Police Department, NJ

EMS: 
Phillipsburg Emergency Squad
Lebanon Township Fire Department
Independence First Aid Squad

Public Safety:
Warren County Department of Public Safety FIELDCOM

Once again, we would like to thank the Great Meadows Regional School District Board of Education for allowing us to use the middle school and all of the instructors from Saint Clare's Health for putting the class on for us. 

If you are interested in taking a TECC course or your agency is interested in hosting a TECC course, you can contact Clinical Supervisor Ryan Stickle at ryanstickle@primehealthcare.com for further information. 

Ryan Newkirk and Chris Hinkle took all photos.