Rescue Squads Team Up for Shared Services Training Program

The Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad teamed with the Westfield Rescue Squad and several other neighboring communities to share services on the continuing education EMTs require to maintain their certifications.

Under a consortium formed by the volunteer squads in Westfield, Springfield, Summit, Scotch Plains and Fanwood, members will be able to take continuing education elective classes as part of the group, keeping costs down for the member squads. Under state law, EMTs are required to take 24 elective credit courses, and a "Core 13" refresher, every five years to maintain their certification. The five year time period is a change from the previous three year period. The Core 13 class covers the basics of being an EMT.

Westfield squad captain Lynn Feldman said changes in state budgeting have caused local squads to look at new ways to fund the training classes. The state had maintained a training fund for EMTs which Feldman said has diminished in recent years, allowing it to cover the costs of the Core 13 classes and not the elective units.

"We can still do the Core 13 with the training fund but not the electives," she said.

Under the new plan, debuted this summer, the training classes will be funded by the five squads and rotate among the towns. The courses will be open to members of the individual squads in the consortium. 

The elective classes cover a variety of the skills the EMTs need in the course of their work. The classes include the human body, environmental emergencies, bleeding and shock, diabetes/altered mental status, ambulance operations and behavioral emergencies.

EMTs who do not complete the required number of classes by the deadline every three or five years lose their certifications and may no longer respond to emergencies. They can only regain their certifications by retaking the 120-hour training program for new EMTs.

Feldman said the training program originally started through discussions between Westfield, Scotch Plains and Fanwood, as the three squads have many members who belong to Westfield and one of the others. During the discussions, outreach was made to the squads in Springfield and Summit who both expressed an interest in participating in the consortium. 

"This expanded to the five squads," Feldman said. "Now we have a contractual agreement between the five squads."

Editor's Note: This story was part of series on the Westfield Rescue Squad pn Westfield Patch.  All information was gathered during a day long reporting period on July 24, 2010.