"We have a very dedicated group of individuals whose main focus is helping our community," said Chief Tyler Volkers.
Patch Community Leaders, Patch Staff
First responders are a vital part of our communities, keeping us safe and playing an integral role in daily life. Patch and T-Mobile have partnered on a Ride-Along series to showcase the important work these Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squads and individuals do every day.
We had the opportunity to speak with Chief Tyler Volkers of the Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad to learn more about the Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad, life as a first responder and the impact of their work.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Chief Volkers: The Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad started in 1951 by members of our community who realized there was a problem and came up with a solution. They put countless hours into fundraising to be able to afford their first ambulance. Later, they built a building and obtained more apparatus to expand what we can offer to the community.
Currently, we have three ambulances, an off-road SUV, an air truck, a rehab truck, and a rescue truck. When our organization first started, they were responding to roughly 300 calls a year., Now we see around 1500 calls. We cover 2 square miles and cover approximately 12,000 residents. We do run mutual aid into our surrounding towns and help them whenever they need it. This influx in calls we have seen causes a lot of extra stress for our members, but we have a very dedicated group of individuals whose main focus is helping our community.
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Even though our organization was started 74 years ago and many things in this world have changed since then, our mission stays the same.
Chief Volkers: A typical day for our volunteer first responders usually starts at their full-time jobs. At 6:00 PM, the members scheduled to run that night meet up at the station and do a rig check to ensure the vehicle is operational and stocked for that night. Then members will go home to spend time with their family until the pager goes off, alerting them of an emergency call. Once alerted, they will don their uniform and head to the station. They will get into one of our ambulances and respond to any emergency that may need our help. The volunteers will run till 6:00 AM.
Chief Volkers: When I was 17, I joined the local fire department and that is what started my first responder career. I found that during my time there, I really liked rescue calls because they were something that challenges you and makes you think outside the box. I joined the Rescue Squad when I was 19 to further my knowledge and training in the rescue field.
I then started running EMS with the squad. I enjoyed the interactions with people and the fact that the skills I was learning could not only help me on the job, but also off the job. After finishing college, I took a lot of rescue classes and training and then got my EMT license. I served as rescue Captain for three years and then took the position as Chief.
Chief Volkers: The thing I enjoy most about Hackettstown is the diversity of people. We have so many different people, religions and cultures, and it just blends well in Hackettstown to create a desirable town.
Chief Volkers: We were dispatched to a male experiencing a heart attack. Our deputy chief and I responded and were on scene with the ambulance within two minutes. We began CPR and life-saving measures and were able to bring the gentleman back to life. To this day, we still see him around town.
Chief Volkers: Becoming a first responder takes a lot of dedication and commitment. If you're looking at joining a first responder agency, make sure you're capable and ready to commit because it is a life-altering decision between the countless hours you spend responding to calls, training and fundraising.
The Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad offers several ways for individuals in the community to get involved. All interested members must be available to run at least one night a week and hold a valid BLS CPR card, which the organization can assist you in obtaining.
Here are the available levels of membership and additional requirements:
For more information, visit the Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad website.
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Get more information about T-Priority and the first responder discounts here.