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Published by Communication Solutions, 2018-04-30 11:07:46

LNHARS Spring Newsletter

LNHARS Spring Newsletter

First Response
PROVIDING EMERGENCY CARE TO LAMBERTVILLE, NEW HOPE & THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES LNHARS.ORG n SPRING 2018

Safety for Adults, President Don
Kids and Canines “Tex” Huggins
to be Covered Celebrates
at Lambertville-New 50 Years with
Hope Ambulance & LNHARS
Rescue Squad May
20 Open House For half a century, Don “Tex” Huggins
has dedicated his life to helping save
The 2018 National Emergency Medical Services Week is (NAEMT). The annual event brings together local lives in the City of Lambertville and
May 20 - 26 and the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance communities and medical personnel to publicize safety surrounding communities.
and Rescue Squad is pleased to announce it will celebrate and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-
the event with an open house Sunday, May 20 from to-day life-saving services of medicine’s “front line”. This The 70-year-old husband, father
1-4 p.m. at its station, located at 70 Alexander Ave., year’s theme is “stronger together.” and grandfather has been an active
Lambertville NJ, 08530. member of the Lambertville-New
“We’re looking forward to having members of the Hope Ambulance & Rescue Squad.
The rescue squad will offer a host of different activities community visit our station and learn more about the It was there where he learned to serve
for the whole family, including the family pet, focusing on important work our EMS members do on a daily basis,” as an Emergency Medical Technician
the importance of safety and first aid. CPR demonstrations said Chief Harry J. Heller III. “Keeping the public (EMT), technical rescue specialist
will be held throughout the day. The K-9 team will practice informed through events like EMS week is crucial to and search and recovery diver. He
drills and representatives will show how to resuscitate a keeping the community safe and sound.” currently serves as president of the
pet with an oxygen mask using a K-9 mannequin. Children rescue squad and captain of rescue
will participate in a mock 911 emergency dispatch center, For more information about EMS week or to learn more services.
take tours of an ambulance, receive coloring books and about volunteer opportunities with the squad, call 609-
will have a chance to work inside the teddy bear hospital. 397-0945 or visit LNHARS.org. n Looking back on the last 50 years of
service with the rescue squad, Huggins
Squad members will also be on hand to discuss the says he “can’t believe it’s been that
ongoing volunteer recruitment campaign for teens and long. It’s been a great experience.”
adults. Volunteers are needed to become emergency From a daring rescue along a steep
medical technicians, K-9 search-and-rescue handlers, cliff, to saving lives during countless
marine services members or to join the youth squad for water emergencies, to lending a hand
teens ages 12-18. Details about the various volunteer during one of our nation’s darkest
opportunities will be available at the event. hours, Huggins has been a force for
good for decades.
EMS Week is a joint effort between the American
College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the It was his brother that first suggested
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians the idea of joining the rescue squad
when Huggins was a college student
in 1967. The breadth of different
services the squad provided was
noteworthy for the time and appealing.
“It was a very unique squad before
me,” he said. “The rescue end of
the rescue squad felt interesting and
challenging. When I got involved we
did land rescues, water rescues with

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

On December 18, 1970 two remarkable organizations merged. The Lambertville Ambulance Association (formed in 1927)
and the Lambertville Rescue Squad (formed in 1946) joined to become The Lambertville Ambulance & Rescue Squad, one
organization dedicated solely to providing emergency care to the Lambertville-New Hope and surrounding communities.

Water Safety Tips LNHARS Members Rise to the Challenge of [
Four Nor’easters During the Winter Season
The summer season means many more
people will be headed onto the river The winter season packed quite a punch for Lambertville and
for some wet and wild fun. Swimming, surrounding areas. With Nor’easter after Nor’easter, our squad
fishing, boating and other water sports members were plenty busy helping to keep folks safe.
can be a great way to spend the day
when the thermometer starts to rise. Here’s a snapshot of the different calls our members responded
However, it’s important to know the risks to during the first three months of 2018:
and be prepared in case of an emergency.
Be sure to remember these safety tips 4 Marine Rescue Calls
before your next visit to the river: 2 K-9 Calls
ALWAYS WEAR A LIFE JACKET: Accidents can 6 Fire Rehab Response Calls
happen in a second. Whether someone 6 Special Services and Utility Support Calls
has fallen overboard a watercraft, didn’t 468 Dispatch Calls
check the weather forecast for changing 475 Total Vehicle Responses to Calls
conditions, or collides with another vehicle, 170 Man Hours to Handle March 7 Winter Storm
accidental drownings can happen. From 146 Man Hours to Handle March 20 & 21 Winter Storm
2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 We want to thank the community for its support and for staying off
fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating the roads during particularly heavy winter storms. This allowed first
related) annually in the United States - responders to answer emergency calls quickly and efficiently. n
about ten deaths per day, according to the
Center for Disease Control. An additional [50 Years with LNHARS: Continued
332 people died each year from drowning
in boating-related incidents. Always wear boats, scuba diving, auto evacuation; we did it all. Today “I can’t say enough about the volunteers and career
a life jacket.    it’s pretty common among most fire and rescue stations staff,” he said. “They’re all professionals.”
WATER HAZARDS: A slippery and uneven river but back then it wasn’t.”
bottom combined with the stream’s current An Inspiration to His Squad
can suddenly sweep you off your feet. A Passion for Rescuing Others Meanwhile his fellow rescue squad members noted
Debris and underwater features such as Over the years there have been several moments that Huggins’ own leadership and professionalism as a source
trees, branches and logs, and even narrow have helped define Huggins’ career with the rescue of inspiration. “Tex is one of the guys we’ll talk about
gaps between rocks can trap you under squad. For instance, in 1970, while home on military when we’re explaining to our new volunteer recruits what
water, causing hypothermia or even death. leave from the U.S. Marine Corps, he was lowered over a model squad member looks like,” said Chief Harry J.
AVOID ALCOHOL: Alcohol impairs your the face of a 200 foot cliff during a high angle rescue of Heller. “His professionalism, dedication to the squad and
judgement, slows reaction times, reduces an injured teenage girl who had fallen onto a rock ledge, passion for saving lives has earned him the respect of the
coordination, encourages riskier behavior, which was inaccessible. He tied a rope harness to her so entire crew. We want to congratulate him for 50 years of
and reduces the effectiveness of CPR if she could be raised to safety. service to this community.”
someone needed it. It can also lead to
unintentional drowning and other accidents. In 1986, Huggins was a member of the rescue squad’s As Huggins finishes his term as president this year and
Think twice before deciding to drink. all-male first aid team, winning first place in the New continues to reflect on the past 50 years, he said he hopes
BE PREPARED: Take a basic water safety and Jersey First Aid Competition. In 1993, he assisted with to see the rescue squad continue to draw new volunteers
rescue course. You’ll have the knowledge his airboat crew, the successful rescue of three canoeists and continue the high level of service to the community.
you need in case of an emergency and it’s and a U.S. Coast Guard Rescuer, who became stranded
good to refresh your memory about the in a tree from raging flood waters in Northampton, Pa. Outside of the rescue squad, Huggins is a retired
dangers on the water. In 1994, as captain of the squad’s technical rescue team, major in the Marine Corps, with 22 years of active and
KNOW THE ABILITIES OF THOSE GOING WITH YOU: the team assisted at the scene of the Edison, N.J. gas reserve service. He is also a retired lieutenant in the
That includes swimming abilities and level pipe explosion. In 1999, with his airboat crew, Huggins New Jersey State Police, with 29 years of service. He
of supervision required. Be sure to provide participated in water rescues in Bound Brook, N.J. more recently has been employed as a state civilian
appropriate supervision. during Hurricane Floyd.   investigator, assigned to the New Jersey State Police.
When he’s not working, he’s spending time with
LNHARS.ORG Huggins responded on Sept. 11, 2001 as a member of his wife Patricia, their children Brian and Tracy and
the New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue Task Force to grandchildren Logan and Cameron.n
the World Trade Center, and was deployed for 10 days at
Ground Zero in search-and-rescue operations.

Yet you won’t hear much talk about those
accomplishments. For Huggins, what keeps him going to
this day is getting in a boat and responding to emergency
calls on the Delaware River.

“It’s the rescue unit,” he said. “I’ve always had an
interest in that. If the squad ever stopped offering it and
focused on ambulance service, I’d probably be finished.”

Huggins prides himself on having the first airboat to use
for water rescues in New Jersey. He also highlighted the
fact that emergency care has also continued to improve
over his time, and of course he didn’t’ have anything but
glowing remarks for his fellow rescue squad members.

Former Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance New Volunteer Eager and
and Rescue Squad Chief Back at the Helm Ready to Help the Community
Thanks to Recruitment
A familiar face is back in charge of the Heller has seen dramatic changes from when
Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and he first became chief to today, he said. The Becoming a LNHARS volunteer may have been the best
Rescue Squad. The organization is pleased biggest of which is the life-saving equipment post-retirement decision Bill Velivis ever made.
to announce it has named Harry J. Heller III found on-board ambulances. Things like the “Volunteering is a natural high for me,” said the 67-year-old
once again as its newest chief. Heller has Lucas mechanical CPR machine, Narcan nasal former industrial engineer. “Volunteering means I’m willing
previously served as chief four times over the spray, used to treat narcotic overdose victims, to commit my time to help others with wanting nothing in
past 30 years. or even a defibrillator, weren’t found on-board return. When I’m willing to do that, the feeling that I get back
an ambulance during his first administration. is priceless.”
Heller takes over the chief position from Jason He credits that technological evolution for The Solebury Township
E. Strauss, who served from 2014 through 2017. saving countless lives. resident is just one of the 10
new recruits who have joined
A member of the squad for over four decades, He also mentioned the fact that call volume LNHARS since the launch
Heller joined the squad in 1974 and became has also increased over the years to nearly of its volunteer recruitment
an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 2,000 calls a year, up from about 1,100 back campaign six months ago. The
1975. He has previously served as chief in in 1987, which has led to a staffing increase. campaign was started as a
1987, 1988, 2004 and 2005. Heller has also way to encourage community
previously served as a lieutenant, deputy chief An unfortunate change he’s also seen has been members to join the rescue
and chief of line operations, as well as vice the decline of the number of volunteers who squad’s ranks by becoming an
president / chairman of the board of trustees. have joined the squad. He’s targeted that as a Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), K-9 search-and-rescue,
marine rescue or youth squad volunteer. The official slogan
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE “Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things” speaks to the
important work that the squad’s members do every day. It
Why LNHARS Needs to Replace also speaks to the idea that anyone can join the team and
an Aging Ambulance make a difference, no matter their background.
It turns out the desire to help others runs in the Velivis family,
The Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance We are a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, as his son, Zachary, is the volunteer battalion chief at Fort
and Rescue Squad is committed to providing which means we rely on community support Washington Fire Company in Fort Washington, Pa.
the best emergency care to the Greater to help fund purchases like this to help us do Velivis himself now volunteers once a week and said the
Lambertville, New Hope and surrounding our job safely. As we move forward through decision to join came from the goals of the campaign, which
communities. To do that, we need to ensure this process, the most important goal will be to spoke to him. He first learned about the need for volunteers
that our fleet of ambulances are always in a sell the vehicle at the best price, and identify inside the inaugural issue of “First Response.” Rather than
state of readiness – prepared to save lives at a reasonably priced replacement. By making spend his retirement on a golf course in Florida, he said he
any given moment. a donation today, you’re helping to ensure wanted to give back to his community by becoming a K-9
that our rescue squad is ready to provide life- search-and-rescue volunteer.
One of our ambulances is 10 years old and saving assistance After filling out an inquiry form on LNHARS.org, Velivis was
needs to be replaced. With over 100,000 soon contacted by squad Chief Harry J. Heller, and began
miles on the odometer, the cost of upkeep Any and all donations are appreciated and tax the process of becoming a member. The process was quick
is outweighing the expense associated with deductible. To make a difference by donating and easy. Before he knew it, he was accepted as a full-
replacing it with another ambulance. We to the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance fledged member. “I felt great,” he said. “Everybody likes to
realize the replacement vehicle will require a & Rescue Squad, please use the envelope be accepted.”
financial commitment. We are reaching out the enclosed in this newsletter, call 609-397-0945 “Bill and all of our new recruits have already become important
to the community members we serve to request or visit LNHARS.org. We appreciate any assets to our team,” said Heller. “It’s great to see so many
your support in offsetting this purchase. support you’re able to provide. n ordinary people willing to step up and help their community.”
Every potential new recruit goes through the same process
to becoming a member of the squad. It begins by filling out
an inquiry form on LNHARS.org. From there a representative
from the squad will contact them and invite them to come
to a meeting with the squad. Once the application process
is completed, new volunteers begin by learning the ropes.
That includes free training on all of the equipment as well as
becoming certified in CPR and other life-saving procedures.
Then new recruits will begin assisting more experienced
members of the squad on emergency calls.
If you think you have what it takes to help save lives in your
community, consider becoming a LNHARS volunteer. Fill out
a form at LNHARS.org and join the ordinary men and women
who do extraordinary things every day. n

LNHARS.ORG

Lambertville-New Hope Non-Profit Org.
Ambulance & Rescue Squad U.S. Postage
P.O. Box 237 Paid
70 Alexander Ave., Flemington, NJ
Lambertville NJ, 08530 08822
Permit No. 95
Join us to save lives:
LNHARS.org

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Chief Back at the Out & About
Helm: Continued
A Night to Celebrate
primary issue he wants to address as chief. - LNHARS staff and
volunteers celebrated
First though will be to bring himself up to speed on the the spirit of serving
changes to the job and maintain the steady course the squad others during the
has continued to follow. annual spring banquet
April 7th.
“I hope to continue on the path we’ve been on,” he said.
“Maybe I will tweak it a bit, but we are going to continue MAY 20TH OPEN HOUSE
moving forward.”
SEE COVER FOR FULL DETAILS
In addition to his leadership roles with the squad, Heller has
also served on several committees over the years, including
the ambulance and rescue truck purchase committees.
He was the communications / radio officer, equipment
officer, and assisted in the establishment of the career staff,
which was created to cover emergencies during the day.
Heller recently retired as chief of communications for the
Hunterdon County 911 communications center.

His father was a charter member of the Lambertville Rescue
Squad in 1946.

“I am so proud to once again serve as chief of this terrific
squad,” said Heller. “Our volunteers and career staff help
save lives every day and it is a privilege to lead them.”  

“Having a guy like Harry in charge again is great news,” said
President Don Huggins. “He already knows the ropes and
will play a big part in moving this team forward.” n   


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