[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5151-5152]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE WANAQUE FIRST AID SQUAD'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 12, 2013

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Wanaque 
First Aid Squad, located in the Borough of Wanaque, Passaic County, New 
Jersey, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
  Before the existence of the Wanaque First Aid Squad, emergency 
medical services were provided to the borough by the Pompton Lakes 
First Aid Squad, located in the adjacent municipality. With the aim of 
providing better coverage to Wanaque, a group of residents petitioned 
the Mayor and Borough Council to form their own squad in 1970. Then 
Mayor Frank Longo appointed Councilman Samuel Liotti to serve as a 
liaison to the group and monitor its progress, and in October 1971, 
prospective members began training with the Ringwood, New Jersey 
Ambulance Corps. The first officers appointed by the Wanaque First Aid 
Squad were President Dennis Gallagher, Vice President Thomas Jones, 
Secretary Rosemary Jenkins, and Captain Robert Brown.
  The Wanaque First Aid Squad was incorporated on June 21, 1972, due to 
the efforts of founding members Martin Carrigan III, Joseph Cisco, 
Arnold Cohen, Raymond Ernst, and David Sisco. The seventeen new members 
then began probationary training with the

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Ringwood and Pompton Lakes Squads, while they worked to build up their 
training and the capabilities of the new Wanaque First Aid Squad. The 
members wrote to other area squads seeking equipment donations, and 
were able to meet most of their needs. Later in the year, the squad 
obtained two aged Cadillac Ambulances, and in December, found a 
property on Melrose Avenue for their headquarters. While the new 
building was being completed, the squad operated out of a trailer set 
up behind the Borough Hall on Ringwood Avenue.
  The Wanaque First Aid Squad officially began to operate at midnight, 
April 1, 1973. They held a dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate, 
and there they chose the names for the first premier, duty crew from a 
hat. Just before midnight, David Brolema, David Doughty, Joseph 
Carrigan, and Robert Jordon left to start the first shift of the 
Wanaque First Aid Squad. The squad proved their importance quickly, as 
the first use of the rigs was the following day, April 2, and the first 
emergency call came on April 3.
  The official headquarters was completed and dedicated on May 26, 
1974, and within five years, a large hall was added, thanks to the 
donations of the Wanaque Lion's Club. Today, the hall is open for use 
for public fundraisers and private events, and every Thursday night, it 
is used to host the Wanaque First Aid Auxiliary Bingo Night, which 
provides the main source of fundraising for the squad. The Auxiliary 
handles most of the fundraising efforts for the Wanaque First Aid 
Squad, as the job is very demanding. There are 14 EMTs, who have met 
the 270 hour certification requirements, and six drivers who also must 
go through basic training. They cover the Wanaque area 24 hours a day, 
five days a week, and alternate weekend coverage with Pompton Lakes, to 
help provide each squad with weekend relief. In the year of 2012, the 
Wanaque First Aid Squad answered to 1,008 calls and dedicated 11,378 
volunteer hours, for an average of 569 hours per member. The squad 
plans to celebrate their 40th year with the arrival of a new 2013 Ford 
E-450 ambulance, which will replace their old rig that will be 
auctioned off.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the Wanaque First Aid Squad as they celebrate their 40th anniversary.

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