When people think about spending time with their children, rarely do they think of riding in the back of an ambulance with them, working together to tend to the medical needs of a community member.
But for Michael Leahy, deputy chief of West Windsor’s Twin “W” First Aid Squad, volunteering is a way to bond with his son, who is also now an EMT, and he is encouraging other residents to do the same. “You get to sit back and watch your child treat a patient — watch them mature faster than you want them to,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to ride with your son or daughter and watch them give back to the community.”
Of course, not all of the volunteers have a parent-child connection. Either way, those looking to volunteer within the township can do so with the West Windsor Rescue Squad, which is looking for volunteers ages 16 and older, primarily to cover overnight shifts when members of the township’s paid squad are unavailable.
Leahy has been a volunteer with Twin “W” for six years. He has also been a volunteer with the West Windsor Volunter Fire Company for 14 years, where he served as chief from 2004 to 2008. His training came from his years spent in the Air Force, he said.
Leahy balances his volunteering with a full-time job as the director of internal audit for an investment banking firm in New York. His son, Michael, a senior at North, joined him on the squad when he was 16. He also earned his EMT certification and will turn 18 in January, at which time he will be promoted from his probationary EMT status. Currently, he is even studying to become certified in Coaching Emergency Vehicle Operations (CEVO), and will be training others how to operate and drive the ambulance. He has since also joined the fire company.
According to Leahy, there are various positions for which a person can volunteer, including active EMTs, drivers, trainees, and associate members who handle the corporate side of the squad’s business, freeing up other members to tend to the needs of the public. “We need more community people,” Leahy said.
The volunteer members of the Twin “W” First Aid Squad cover the shifts, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, and from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. “Some people can’t do the whole 12 hours, and that’s fine. We ask that they try to give us one night or as many hours as they possibly can.”
There has been an increase in the number of dedicated Princeton University students volunteering with the rescue squad, and the high school students currently serving on the squad are also extremely reliable, Leahy said. “It gives them the insight as high school students of what the medical profession is like, since a lot of them have an interest in pursuing a medical degree,” said Leahy.
But, the squad needs more residents — about five or six core residents, Leahy estimated. “Everybody doesn’t have to do one night,” he said. “They can do as many nights as they want. It can be every two weeks. This just helps out if we can get a few more core residents.”
There are some volunteers who have children at home and who may ride 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. In this case, the squad finds someone else to work from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. during those shifts. Regardless, the squad can make accommodations. “It’s not as hard as it sounds. There are nights we don’t have calls, and there are nights you can have five or six calls. It’s a great group of people to be involved with.”
Those interested in volunteering can call the squad at 609-799-4383 and leave a voicemail, or E-mail president@twinw.org.
