Â Cranbury Forum | Bulletin | Info Sharing Â :: Topic review - CRANBURY: First Aid Squad and FD need volunteers

Michael

The end of the year is almost upon us! Time to make good on your resolution to volunteer in your community. Join the Cranbury Vol. Fire Co. or the Cranbury First Aid Squad! Call 395-0633 for the Fire Co. or 395-1707 for the First Aid Squad. Help us help Cranbury!

Michael

It's a new year! Why not make one of your new year’s resolutions to volunteer with the Cranbury Fire Co. or the Cranbury First Aid Squad! Both organizations offer free training and equipment. We have memberships and programs available for High School students as well! Call 609-395-0633 or stop by the Firehouse on Monday nights, or call 609-395-1707 for the First Aid Squad.

Michael

This Friday (12/19) Santa will visit the firehouse. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions of our members and take a look around. Applications are available. As always, we are at the firehouse almost every Monday night. Stop by and visit, we would love to show you around.

Guest

"I am curious as to how many real (not false alarms) does the fire co respond to during the day when the employees are on the clock. "

You don't know it is a false alarm until you get there. Every call should be treated as an emergency.

Mac

I find it hard to believe that these two employees would be told "no, you can't go" when the fire whistle blows. Safety is an issue and no one should be put or left in a dangerous situation. I am curious as to how many real (not false alarms) does the fire co respond to during the day when the employees are on the clock. Would these two employees have made a difference if they attended a real fire call?

Guest

As far as I am concerned if Monroe is covering even one call it is a qustion of why. If Monroe is responding only because we were short staffed, and could have responded if we had these employees responding then that is a major problem. The time between the call coming in and a response from Monroe is huge (on a relative scale.) I assume the call comes first to Cranbury's squad. Then to Monroe. That means our employees by not responding are putting our residents lives and health in jeopardy. A few minutes can be all the difference in a rescuing someone from a burning building or saving them from choking or a heart attack.

The issue is not simply oh the employees are busy, to me it is potential theft and risk/death. If the boss is not letting the employees respond he should be reprimanded as he's causing the employees to cheat our tax payers and put them in harms way. This is a dangerous scenario and one that would cost us no money to fix. Actually it would save us money by not having Monroe respond.

Also, if we are charged whem Monroe responds when we could have otherwise then that resident is also being cheated. Cheated on taxes paid to the employees and then having to pay again for Monroe to come out to their aid.

It's simple, as the SNL skit said- FIX IT. Mandate the employees respond and reprimand their boss if they do not. We should not accept that they are simply busy. They are paid for a service and they should be required to perform the actions they are paid to do. If they don't like it they can decide not to take the pay.

Guest

Guest

No, Monroe is not covering all of our calls. There are times when the squad relies on mutual aid to cover calls either because they are on another assignment, or there are not enough members to cover the call. Yes, other squads do charge for services, as do paramedics, but Cranbury still does not.

Guest

Someone told me that Monroe is covering all our first aid calls now and his insurance was charged for the service. Has anyone else heard that?

Jay T.

That may be no one on this board is privy to what is occurring, unless a rep. from the fire dept or TC member are aware. If the employees are not allowed to respond then their manager is accountable. That person has to be told that the employees are required to respond. That's why the Fire Department made the plea with the TC who is in charge of the town and employees. Otherwise, we tax payers are losing money, our volunteers are in jeopardy and the people being helped are at risk. It's a pretty simple process.

Guest

I don't think the town employee's do not want to respond to the first aid or fire squad calls when they are working, rather they are not allowed to. That's how I am understanding the artical in the press.

Jay T.

I honestly looked at volunteering for the Fire Dept. I had no issue with the personal time or effort involved. My only issue was that the class times and hours of initial training did not match with my work load.

I personally believe a big effort on the recruitment side could occur if we residents and the Town officals demonstrated more support for these organizations. Requiring paid employees to respond, attending their Christmas functions, looking to help in acquiring the necessary equipment.

I might even be willing to discuss an award to new volunteers or to volunteers who recruit new volunteers like a company that pays referral bonuses. Say upon completion of the training and one year of service with x percent of calls made then the person gets a cash bonus maybe $200.00. That money is cheap compared to paid squad.

Guest

You better hope that is not something the TC or TA are considering. We need to stay volunteer. You are talking millions in benefits, pay and insurance. You are talking hiring unmotivated employees because the ones who are dedicated to these services will look at towns where there is more to keep them busy.

My fear is that the town administrator is pushing to go this way.

Guest

It takes a special person to be a volunteer and respond at all hours of the night. People are busy with their lives and just don't have the time to devote to the community.
I wonder how long until there is a paid first aid squad and fire dept?

Cranbury Conservative

Guest

What could the First Aid Squad and Fire Department do to attract more volunteers? They already have a Length Of Service Award Program, and offer free training and equipment. Is there anything more they could do?