Thursday, April 11, 2013
Ambulance Squad seeks higher credits for increased service activities.
The Sparta Township Council postponed a decision on the expansion of LOSAP members of the Sparta Ambulance Squad until April 23. Mayor Gilbert Gibbs said council members wanted to study the data provided to them by the ambulance service. This is the second such postponement since March LOSAP, the Length of Service Award Program, is designed to provide a contribution to a retirement fund for volunteer emergency service members such as ambulance squad members or firefighters. The awards are based on active participation in the squad’s activities, and can range from $100 to $1,150 annually per qualified member. Squad Capt. Robert Shurgard had presented the council with a list of members who served on various squad committees, saying that …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Two part-time paid medical technicians help cover daytime calls.
The addition late last year of two part-time paid medical personnel has increased the number of calls that the Sparta Ambulance Squad handled, the Township Council was told. The local volunteer ambulance squad was beset with the same daytime response problem that affected many ambulance squads in New Jersey: The lack of close-by volunteers able to respond to daytime calls. The result, Capt. Robert Shugard told the council, was that many emergency calls were answered by other municipalities or a squad from St. Clare’s Health Services. With the addition of the two daytime employees, Shugard said, “That is now a rarity.” Shugard said between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 the local squad answered 260 calls, of which 172 were daytime calls. That …
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Currently all-volunteer squad will also charge patients, following Hopatcong's model implemented two years ago.
The Sparta Ambulance Squad, which has been operating with just volunteers during its 65 years of existence, is adding in paid employees and charging patients in order to continue providing its emergency medical services to the township. Capt. Andrew Smetana of the squad told the Sparta Township Council at Tuesday's meeting about the changes, which are expected to take place next month. "We find it necessary to put on some paid EMTs during the day to make sure we have the manpower to take care of the town the way we need to take care of it," Smetana said. "We're just trying to be a little progressive and stay ahead of any major problems that may arise from us not being able to answer the calls in a timely fashion." Smetana said that the …
Karen Castellano
5:00 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012
I'd rather pay an EMT's salary so that they are there when needed than pay for the ridiculous school field costs! more ›