Manchester First Aid and Rescue Squad Releases 2011 Productivity Report

The Manchester First Aid and Rescue Squad responded to over 2,500 emergency medical calls in 2011, according to a report presented to the Monday evening.

Of the 2,563 calls for emergency medical service last year received by the organization last year, the duty crew handled 2,424 calls and the back up crews responded to 138 calls, reads a memorandum presented by Edward Lynch, the squad's publicity officer. Advanced life support paramedics were needed to assist Manchester crews on 419 calls.

Those calls equaled about 7,010 man hours and required township emergency response vehicles to drive 29,466 miles, the report states. 

"It is important to remember that our volunteers save the township taxpayers substantially considering that 7,010 man hours times $15 per hour equals $105,150," Lynch writes in the memorandum. "This amount does not take into account expenses for health care, uniforms, training, continuing education, etc."

Manchester's 2012 municipal budget shows that the township's two first aid organizations — Manchester and Whiting — together received a total of $60,000 of aid in 2011 and are expected to receive that same amount in 2012.

Council president Craig Wallis commented on the report, calling the statistics "pretty big numbers."

"Mr. Lynch, thank your members because we know that the work they do is outstanding stuff," he said. "We appreciate it."

In addition to responding to emergency service calls, the squad also provides coverage for township events including home and away football games, little league baseball games, events at Harry Wright Lake and the Ocean County Fair. The squad also participates in the Radiological Exposure Response Plan annually, the report states.