Clinton Township Newsletter

2 6 j u l y 2 0 2 1 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M Welcome to Clinton Three Q with Rachel Sprague, an interview column featuring people and organizations around Clinton Township. Parts of the interview may have been edited or condensed for space. Maybe your ears perk when you hear sirens whizzing by, or maybe you follow their exploits on Facebook...Clinton Three Q has caught up with Chief Frank Setnicky of South Branch Emergency Services, as everyone kicks off a summer of fun! (South Branch Emergency Services serves the Town of Clinton, Clinton Township, Lebanon Borough, High Bridge, and parts of Franklin, Union, Bethlehem, and Tewksbury Townships). C3Q: Let's start with the exciting stuff! You've certainly had a busy season already. Can you talk about some of your recent saves and activities? Chief Setnicky: Well, we had a huge drop during Covid, but EMS calls are back up to where they were, pre-Covid... we're back to normal! Our water rescues have really skyrocketed... This year, between January and the end of May, we had nine water rescues, when the usual average for that period was three; all of them were at Round Valley Reservoir. People are finally getting back outside after a year spent inside, and it's important for them to remember water safety: make sure you are wearing a personal floatation device (not leaving it in your boat if you dip in for a swim!), keep your cellphone in a watertight bag, and call right away if you get in trouble. Round Valley is very big, and the waves can be 18" high in the middle, and going out in an inflatable on a windy day is not a good idea. 911 gives us the coordinates, and we can pin them and it makes it easier to locate someone in trouble. Normally, we have two ambulances that are staffed 24 hours a day, at one or both stations, but most rescue staff take five minutes to get out of their home and seven minutes to get to the site... it can take up to ten minutes to get there. Our ambulance crews are trained in water rescues and ready to help out. We know enough statistics that we can expect a water rescue, and so our staff are ready and close by. C3Q: That is an incredible response time! Has that changed a lot since you've started on the squad? Chief Setnicky: I've been doing EMS since 1978, and I've been in Clinton since 1984, and it is way different. In the beginning, Clinton was doing 700 calls a year, and now it is 4000 calls a year. Back then, it was a 20 member squad, and now it's 90 volunteer members and paid staff. (Paid staff started in 1996; Clinton planned ahead to meet need so that no calls were missed and that we always had people scheduled for calls and had crews ready at the station.) Our response times are very good. Rescue Squads can only improve the response time between the 911 call and getting out the door; we can't change the driving response time. One thing that has changed recently is that this year we have added a Junior Cadet program in Clinton, since merging with High Bridge. Right now, we have about 12-14 Cadets between the ages of 14 and 16. It's a great experience; the Cadets get training in first aid and CPR, and once they turn sixteen, they can ride on the ambulance with adults. By the time they are 18, they have done so much; it's a terrific thing to do, other than school and sports. We have a lot of adult squad members who started this way... My kids started that way when they were younger, and we have husbands and wives, whole families of volunteers...even kids who grow up and volunteer in the future town where they live, or use it as experience to launch careers as nurses, paramedics, and doctors. Really, anyone can volunteer, and we are always looking for volunteers. You don't need any experience, the squad trains you, and you start just by riding and observing. The volunteer commitment time is not overwhelming; our requirement per month is 28 hours. That works out to two 12 hour shifts and a four hour evening block, with flexible scheduling. We definitely need more volunteers, call volume is high! We always have a need for more members. C3Q: Speaking of volunteers and staff, is there anyone on your team that deserves some superstar special recognition recently? Chief Setnicky: We just had our SBES Recognition Banquet in June, and we celebrated our successes together from 2019 and 2020, finally gathering in-person together to honor all the hard work of our entire team. Our MVPs of 2019 were Carol Dorf, Christopher Querry, and Evan Holz, and our 2020 MVPs were Kaitlyn Valendo, Walter Dorf, and Michelle Garder. We also recognized our High-Call takers. C3Q: What are some ways, other than volunteering, that people in the community can support their local emergency personnel? Chief Setnicky: SBES has three prongs of financial support: the patient's bill, the yearly funding from the municipal government, and community donations. If any three of those shift, it can make things difficult for the squad. In terms of community donations, we do four coin tosses a year; two in the Spring, and two in the Fall, and people are very supportive. The Annual Fund Drive is in October, done via a mailing, and is very crucial to us as well. Local businesses sometimes give lunch to the crews, and some people donate through the website (now available through Venmo), and we've seen gratitude like that this past year and it's very appreciated. C3Q: Any other summer safety tips or words of wisdom? Chief Setnicky: Be safe! Use PFDs when you are doing water activities. And watch your kids in the pool. If you are having a party, consider hiring a certified lifeguard for the party. Thank you to Chief Setnicky, and to all the brave members of SBES! We hope it's a fun and safe summer! Welcome to with Rachel Sprague "Really, anyone can volunteer, and we are always looking for volunteers. You don't need any experience, the squad trains you, and you start just by riding and observing." – Chief Frank Setnicky, South Branch Emergency Services Rachel Sprague, a resident of Clinton Township, has a degree in journalism from Rutgers. With her husband Russell, Rachel is raising two young children in the Clinton Township School District. She thinks that Clinton Township is a delightful place to live. b o y s C o u t s o F a m e R i C a P R o G R a m s Boy Scouts of America programs in our County, the Hunterdon Arrowhead District, are active and accepting new members! Families with daughters and sons who are interested can find a unit near them by visiting www.BeAScout.org. The B.S.A. organization offers five programs designed to develop character in youth while engaging in hands-on/outdoor activities and exploring career paths. • Cub Scouts, for youth (boys or girls) grades K-5 • Scouts BSA, Youth (boys or girls) 11-17 years • Venturing, Co-ed 14- 20 years old • Sea Scouts, Co-ed 14-20 years old • Exploring, Co-ed 10-20 years old For more information about Hunterdon Arrowhead District and Washington Crossing Council, visit: www.BSAWCC.org.

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