First Aid committee gives final report

HARDYSTON — The Township council received the last recommendations for the committee to create a new First Aid Squad for the township on Dec. 9.

The Committee recommended and resolved that the Township Council enter into contracts with both Hamburg and Milton’s First Aid squads for at least 6 months in 2016. In addition, the committee is requesting that the Milton and Hamburg First Aid squads extend their night and weekend coverage through July 30, 2016. The committee also recommended the council go into contract with St. Clare’s for daytime coverage for a minimum of six months in 2016.

The Sparta Ambulance Squad informe the township it will terminate the contract with Hardyston as of Dec. 31.

The committee also suggested the council continue to back the idea of creating a new volunteer first aid squad within the township. Committee suggested the council use funds from its 2016 budget to cover training costs for at least 10 people, who may want to obtain their EMT certification. The committee explained its hope is that throughout 2016 more volunteers will be interested in training to become an EMT.

The committee suggested the council they extend Hardyston’s contracts with Hamburg, Milton and St. Clare’s as it sees appropriate for the second half of 2016, as the restoration of a Hardyston volunteer first aid squad will take a substantial amount of time.

An extensive amount of supervision and recruitment will be needed to develop the new Hardyston First Aid Squad. The committee suggested the creation of a new temporary First Aid administrator position. The first aid administrator position can be a part-time paid or voluntary position. The committee explained the duties of this position would be to manage the creation of the new first aid squad and would oversee and develop the new squad’s budget, which would include the start-up budget and the capital budget. The administrator would report to the township manager and coordinate with the first aid squad operating committee.

The final responsibility would be to guarantee accurate township oversight is formed and embedded in the by-laws and SOP’s of the new First Aid Squad.

Council members stated if the recommendations are approved, the committee will be dismissed, a steering committee will be established with interested volunteers to redevelop the squad.