[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 93 (Tuesday, July 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE THIRTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WEST ORANGE FIRST AID 
                                 SQUAD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 1998

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
highlight a momentous milestone for the West Orange First Aid Squad in 
West Orange, New Jersey. This July the squad will celebrate its 35th 
Anniversary in service to the public of West Orange.
  In the late 1950s to early 1960s the Department of Civil Defense-
Disaster Control (CD-DC) in West Orange began a series of residence 
training programs which focused on ``Home Preparedness,'' fire safety, 
home protection, and elementary first aid. These sessions were very 
well attended. At every town function, the CD-DC would have the local 
boy Scout troop set up a first aid tent to care for minor injuries. For 
serious injuries, the fire department had an ambulance located at Fire 
Station #4 on Pleasant Valley Way. The personnel were not properly 
trained, and the equipment was lacking, but they did the best they 
could with what was available.
  At this time, at a monthly CD-DC meeting a police auxiliary officer 
proposed creating a first aid unit. Information was gathered from the 
NJ Safety Council, and various township officials were contacted, 
resulting in the decisions that an emergency first aid unit should be 
created. After some debate, it was decided that it would be a separate 
volunteer organization. Volunteers were sought and a training program 
was started. Commissioner Edward Roos decided that the volunteers would 
be able to use the ambulance at station #4 if they passed their 
training.
  The early 1960s saw all of the volunteers passing the first aid 
course. They were given a uniform of white coveralls with a special 
insignia. When it was realized that women too were taking the course, 
and a decision was reached that the squad would be an all-male 
operation, the women created an auxiliary called the Gold Cross which 
was responsible for raising money for the squad.
  In 1963, the squad was officially recognized by the township as a 
separate volunteer medical unit and was granted a charter for ``Primary 
Medical Emergency Medical Service.'' In the 1970s the number of 
volunteers grew and the squad was moved to a larger location at 25 
Mount Pleasant Place, where it is still located today.
  Today, the West Orange First Aid Squad continues to provide free 
emergency medical care to the Township of West Orange. It is one of the 
few squads in New Jersey to offer an in-house, 24-hour volunteer crew. 
Its volunteers go through an extensive training program, and work with 
the fire department in life threatening emergencies.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, and the Township 
of West Orange, as we congratulate the West Orange First Aid Squad on 
its 35th anniversary and wish it the best of luck in providing service 
to its community in the years to come.

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