Atlantic Highlands First Aid Squad

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ – The Atlantic Highlands First Aid & Safety Squad has been named the 2009 EMS Magazine Gold Award Winner. 

EMS Magazine honors just two organizations in the nation a year, one for a volunteer organization, which went to the Atlantic Highlands First Aid & Safety Squad, and the other to a paid organization, which went to the Mecklenburg County (NC) EMS Agency. 

“Winning this national award is recognition for the dedication of the men and women of the Atlantic Highlands First Aid & Safety Squad,” said Chief Richard Huff. “Day in and day out the members devote their personal time, and time away from their families, to help their neighbors and seek nothing in return. This is a true honor.” 

This is the second major award for the organization in as many years. In 2008, the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services, Office of EMS named the AHFAS the Outstanding Volunteer EMS Agency of the Year for being “an active, progressive emergency medical services organization dedicated to serving its community” and surrounding areas. 

“In 2009, EMS Magazine has selected the squad as its volunteer service Gold Award winner for the same reason,” the magazine’s editors wrote in the October issue. “Clearly, this is an agency that works hard to maintain its high standards and provide quality care to the citizens it serves.” 

“On behalf of the members of our squad, we thank all who have helped us achieve this award, our families, members of the community and local government,” said Lou Marotta, president of the AHFAS. 

Now in its 80th year, the Atlantic Highlands First Aid & Safety Squad is an all-volunteer organization that provides free, around-the-clock emergency medical and rescue services to borough residents and occasionally into surrounding areas. The organization operates three ambulances and a marine unit to respond to water emergencies. It does so through generous financial donations from the borough and the community. 

In a letter to its members, the leadership of the New Jersey First Aid Council congratulated the AHFAS for the award. 

“Fantastic job Atlantic Highlands,” the organization representatives wrote. “You represent the best of New Jersey’s EMS volunteers and we’re very proud to have you as a member of the Council.” 

The Gold Award will be presented the annual EMS Expo held Oct. 26-30 in Atlanta. For information about the AHFAS log onto www.ahfirstaid.org or call (732) 291-8118. 

“Our members do not set out to be heroes, but what they do is often heroic,” Huff said. “They routinely leave their families to respond to calls for help. They give also up personal time for training and making sure they’re the best they can be. This EMS Magazine Gold Award validates those sacrifices every member makes in order to be part of this organization and help their friends and neighbors in their time of need.”

If you want to see the article written in EMS Magazine, click here. Or visit 

http://www.emsresponder.com/print/EMS-Magazine/National-Award-Winners--EMS-Magazines-Gold-Award/1$10586.