History The Idealism of a qualified rescue squad was conceived by George Bardol after a tragic accident in which two children were asphyxiated. Mr. Bardol's plan was presented to and endorsed by the South River Fire Department, Mayor John Fitzpattrick, Police Chief Charles VanDeventer, ex-mayor John Quinn and members of the Police Department. On March 23, 1936 the newly organized rescue squad held it's first meeting in the George Street Firehouse and elected its officers. The South River Rescue Squad and the older South Amboy squads were the first to operate in Middlesex County and are among the oldest in he state. The Squad's members took various first aid courses and were soon ready to serve the community. In addition to serving South River, the Squad also covered areas of Sayreville, East Brunswick, Old Bridge, Spotswood, Jamesburg, Englishtown, Milltown, and North Brunswick which did not yet have rescue squads. Calls for the Squad averaged from three to eight a week. Although the squad was allowed to use an old "Paddy Wagon" police van with first aid materials, the members decided that was insufficient, and a house-to-house fund drive was conducted for purchase of a new ambulance, white 1936 LaSalle. This call for funds continued each year and provided for the majority of the squad's operating expenditures. The ambulance was first housed in a garage behind the Borough Hall. Later in 1937, an addition was made to the George Street Firehouse to accommodate the ambulance and to provide the Squad's members with a meeting place. During the next several years, accumulated supplies made it difficult for the Rescue Squad to operate from the firehouse, and a need for an independent Squad building was recognized. Since the Borough Council determined that the cost of the project would be too much of a burden on the taxpayers, the plan was taken before a group of businessmen. A "Citizens' Committee" then was formed and Paul Kozak was elected chairman for this effort. After a sufficient number of pledges were made, the Squad was able to purchase a tract of land from the Service estate on the corner of George and Thomas Streets. Various materials and hard work were donated for the construction of the present day Squad building, which was dedicated on April 12, 1948. The South River Rescue Squad has continued to grow with the needs of the community. Today, its equipment includes one 1986 Ford E-350 Type III ambulances, one 1998 custom type III ambulance with ice rescue equipment, one 2003 Ford F-450 Type III ambulance, and one heavy rescue truck with extrication tools such as the Jaws of Life, a gasoline driven hydraulic spreader and cutter used to gain quick entry into mangled automobiles where a person might be trapped. It also has lighting, water rescue equipment, S.C.B.A., and various other rescue and medical supplies. We also have one 1970 Boston whaler rescue vessel with a 115 horsepower outboard engine and one 1997 STX1100 Kawasaki Jet Ski with a rescue sled. The Squad is equipped with supplies to handle any medical emergency. Training for today's Squad members include 120 hours of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course and 12 hours of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course. Members also take additional voluntary courses such as aeromedical transport, hazardous materials training, and trauma patient care. These courses are usually taken as the member works a fulltime job.
The South River
Rescue Squad handles on average 1,500 calls each year for the
Borough of South River and the surrounding communities.
Members are alerted to calls through the means of a pager
system. The Rescue Squad also provides medical care at
community and civic events. The South River Rescue Squad
is a completely volunteer organization. It is an
organization which relies on proceeds form mail fund drive
campaigns to allow its dedicated members to continue the
medical and life saving services it has been providing for
over 64 years. |
