FREEHOLD, N.J. — A Disaster Preparedness Exhibition, organized by the Freehold First Aid & Emergency Squad, in early January for nearly 100 junior members of 10 first aid squads and fire departments taught teenager participants about local, county and state disaster preparedness resources.
“Our junior members are just beginning to explore the field of emergency services,” said Capt. Peter DeNicola, Freehold First Aid & Emergency Squad. “Events like these not only have an educational component, but they also provide an opportunity for the next generation of first responders to get to know one another.”
The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications Center was the first stop of the tour. Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden explained the resources available with the county’s emergency operations center. Communications Supervisor Scott Nielsen and Senior Public Safety Telecommunicator Dawn Dupre spoke about the role of dispatchers in emergency response services.
“Learning how our 911 calls are dispatched and what county resources get activated in an emergency was very interesting,” said Capt. Sean Preston, Cadet Corps Freehold First Aid & Emergency Squad Cadet Corps. “We were able to see a different side of emergency services that we don’t see when we’re on the ambulance.”
The junior squad members also viewed emergency response vehicles from the New Jersey Task Force One Urban Search and Rescue, New Jersey Emergency Medical Services Task Force, Army National Guard, Freehold Fire Department, Freehold Township Independent Fire Company, East Freehold Fire Company, Gordons Corner Fire Company, Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC), and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.
The Freehold First Aid & Emergency Squad plans to host similar opportunities for its junior members and invites squads and agencies interested in future collaboration to contact Captain DeNicola.