Founding Member Visits First Aid Squad During EMS Week

In 1961, Betty Bangs and fellow Junior League member Sis Barker formed a committee to organize an ambulance squad for Summit and on July 28, 1962, the began service.

Betty became a charter member of the Squad, served as a volunteer for 10 years and held several positions including Trustee, Publicity Chair and Corresponding Secretary.  Her son John also joined the Squad in 1971 as a Junior Member.  Betty has since moved out of the area, but last week, she and her son returned to visit the organization she helped start as it prepares to celebrate 50 years of service.  Betty’s visit was quite timely as this also happens to be National Emergency Medical Services Week.  

The Squad began with a single ambulance that was stored in a member’s garage for the first 2 years until its building on Summit Ave. was constructed. A 2nd ambulance was soon added.  In the late 70’s a 3rd ambulance and building extension were added.  The Squad recently added a 4th ambulance to its busy fleet.

Betty commented that she is very impressed with the progress the Squad has made since her time there.  She was also pleased to see some of the memorabilia of Squad history that has survived all these years. The modern ambulances operated by the Squad today bear little resemblance to the Cadillac ambulances Betty used in the 1960’s.  But, the Squad’s mission remains the same.

On , the Squad will hold a “block party” celebration to commemorate 50 years of service to the Summit community.  All are invited to attend. The festivities will be held from 11 AM to 4 PM in and around the Squad’s headquarters on Summit Ave.  There will be displays of new and vintage emergency response apparatus and equipment, several specialty response vehicles, demonstrations, activities and games for the kids and food from local restaurants.  The Summit Ave extension from Morris Ave to Oakland Pl. will be closed during the event.  Details will be posted to the Squad’s website at http://summitems.org.

The all volunteer First Aid Squad is always looking for new members to join its ranks. All needed training, uniforms and equipment is provided. For information, please call 908-277-9479, or visit their web site at: www.summitems.org.

—John Staunton

John Staunton, an active volunteer EMT and Instructor with the Summit First Aid Squad, chairs the Publicity and Fund Drive committees.  The First Aid Squad is celebrating 50 years of service in 2012.