When Summit EMS Volunteers are dispatched to respond to a motor vehicle accident with rollover, they always hope for the best and prepare for the worst. That was the case when Fred Schwarzmann and John Staunton answered the call for this accident on Route 78. Fortunately, the driver of this vehicle had been wearing a seat belt, was able to exit the car on his own and was found standing on the side of the road when emergency responders arrived. The story would have been much different had he not used seat belts. The Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad advises all drivers and passengers to always use seat belts, even when driving on local roads or for a short distance. “We’ve seen some serious accidents occur just a few feet from someone’s own home and those who wear seat belts always fare better than those who do not,” said Staunton, a 34-year member of the Squad.
Trauma surgeons ask EMS to take a photo of the scene whenever possible to help understand the mechanism of injuries. In this case the crew took photos, but fortunately no trauma surgeon was needed. We instead hope this serves a teachable moment.
Summit's all-volunteer First Aid Squad has 62 adult members, 20 junior members and is always looking for new members to join its ranks. All needed training, uniforms and equipment is provided. For information on becoming a volunteer, please call 908-277-9479, or visit their web site at: www.summitems.org. The Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad is funded entirely through private donations and provides all services free of charge
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Photo by Fred Schwarzmann
