The Jackson Township First Aid Squad answered 178 calls and served almost 2000 hours (1978, but who's counting?) of regular duty time during May.  But we don't just answer ambulance calls.  Here are a few other things that Squad members have been up to during the month.

The Jackson Township First Aid Squad has equipped its ambulances with the opiate antidote naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan®, under a waiver issued to basic life support services by the New Jersey Department of Health.  The waiver was issued in response to the large number of heroin-related deaths in New Jersey, especially in Ocean County.  The Squad initially held training on the new medication on April 17, and has now placed naloxone in all its ambulances and the supervisor vehicle.  

The Jackson Township First Aid Squad hosted a two-day training course on weapons of mass destruction on April 5 and 6, 2014.  The class was attended by 28 first responders from agencies throughout New Jersey, including 17 from the First Aid Squad.  Participants learned how to manage injuries from a variety of man-made disasters. 

The Jackson Township First Aid Squad joined the Jackson Police Department and the township's fire departments, along with many local businesses, in celebrating the National Night Out on August 6 at the Shoprite on County Line Road. 

On April 13, 2013, the Jackson Township First Aid Squad held a 'coin toss' at the Van Hiseville intersection (the corner of East Veteran's Highway and Bennett's Mills Road) to raise money for new stretchers sorely needed by the Squad.  Through the efforts of the members and the generosity of the Jackson community, approximately $2,850 was raised in about four hours of fundraising, bringing the Squad a third of the way to affording its equipment upgrades.

On Sunday, February 24, the Jackson First Aid Squad, along with the Jackson Township Police and representatives from each of Jackson's four Fire Districts, welcomed home the Jackson Liberty HS Lions Cheerleaders, fresh from their championship performance at the Reach the Beach competition in Ocean City Maryland.  

Courtesy of Ashley Mlotkiewicz, the 2012 Squad video highlights the events of last year, from our annual participation in Project Graduation to assignments with the EMS Task Force for Hurricane Sandy Relief.