NJ EMS Task Force

MAB 2 on scene at a structure fire in long branch, Monmouth County, NJ providing rehab for multiple departments working.

Members of the NJ EMS Task Force, Keyport First Aid Squad Inc. and local CERT team members were on hand Friday night to set up a Western Shelter tent system in advance of today’s Bayshore Cadet Competition.

Our Training Module took time during EMS Week to present the EMS Response to the Large Scale Incident: Awareness class at the Bellmawr Fire Department.

The class equips EMS providers with practical knowledge and skills to respond to a large-scale incident.

NJ EMS Task Force members Bil Withonel Rosen and Constantine Sypsomos delivered the four-hour program.

NJ EMS TASK FORCE CHALLENGED TO “PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE” Michael Bascom, president of the New Jersey EMS Task Force, challenged team members to “embrace the opportunities that lie ahead and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in emergency...

The NJ EMS Task Force Training Module celebrated the start of EMS Week today by delivering the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Mental Health Resilience Officer class for providers representing agencies throughout the state.

The day-long program held at Lakewood Township EMS trained attendees to serve as their agency’s MHRO. In that role, these specially trained providers engage with their peers to have a better understanding of mental health issues and resilience, they identify colleagues who are experiencing mental health stressors and crises; they offer navigation to peers in need of services for help; and they support the development of a culture of mental health resilience and wellness.

The class is part of the NJ EMS Task Force’s ongoing commitment to building and supporting the mental health resilience of first responders.

Bil Withonel Rosen Andy Caruso Richard Huff

We never sit idle.

This week, members of the NJ EMS Task Force took part in a two-date ICS200 class presented by team instructors Chris Kendall and Nick Vasquez at the Shore Area Communications Center in Neptune, NJ.

Participants in the program updated their knowledge of the Incident Command System and how it comes into play during incident management.

Congratulations to NJ EMS Task Force member Jason Kreyling for participating in the annual National EMS Memorial Bike Ride.

Kreyling, an EMT with South Branch Emergency Services, Inc., has participated in the ride for four consecutive years. The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride honors EMS personnel who have gotten sick, injured, or died in the line of duty nationwide through long-distance cycling events.

This weekend, members of the NJ EMS Task Force Training Module presented the NAEMT’s Mental Health Resilience Officer Class for the team at Mount Laurel Township EMS.

The class, delivered by Bil Withonel Rosen, Andy Caruso and Constantine Sypsomos was part of Mount Laurel’s annual work to honor the life and legacy of paramedic student Katie Broeker, who took her own life several years ago.

Mount Laurel EMS President Mark Hass opened the session, reflecting on Broeker’s impact on the organization. Mount Laurel EMS’ lead EMT instructor Joe Zuber played a pivotal role in bringing the NJ EMS Task Force training team for the class, which was attended by 31 members.

The New Jersey EMS Task Force participated in today’s FEMA Region 2/New Jersey State Police OEM CERT workshop at the Somerset County emergency services training center in Hillsboro.

Fifteen team members participated in the event, which was attended by more than 120 CERT team members across the state. During the day-long workshop, attendees took part in hands-on exercises, workshops, and a functional exercise.

The scenario for the drill was a simulated explosion in multiple buildings. Teams of four and five CERT members were dispatched to search for and extract victims to a triage area. There, they were met by NJ EMS Task Force volunteers, who walked them through the triage, treatment, and transport process. The patients were loaded onto a medical ambulance bus.

By participating in the workshop, the NJ EMS Task Force members were able to share insight into what the organization can provide to local communities during a mass casualty incident with the CERT members and participating agencies.

Units participating today from NJEMSTF agencies included:
Mercer County staging trailer hosted by Capital Health
Morris County mass casualty response unit hosted by Morris County OEM
Middlesex County medical ambulance bus hosted by Rutgers ES
Support van two hosted by West New York EMS
Special operations unit central hosted by Neptune EMS
Support unit vehicle hosted by South Branch Emergency Services.

The NJ EMS Task Force participated in a drill by the New Jersey Transit Police Department’s Office of Emergency Management on Saturday at NJ Transit’s Bay Head yard facility.

The drill was designed to test responses to a simulated transit incident. In addition to the NJ EMS Task Force, the event involved representatives from the New Jersey Transit Office of Emergency Management, NJ TRANSIT Rail Operations, the Bay Head Police Department, the Bay Head Fire Department, the Bay Head Office of Emergency Management, Point Pleasant First Aid Squad, Point Pleasant Borough Fire Department, the Brick Fire Department, the Mantoloking Fire Department, Point Pleasant Borough First Aid Squad, Manasquan First Aid Squad, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department OEM, Federal Railroad Administration, Lacey Township EMS, Jackson Township EMS, Beachwood EMS, Ocean County EMS Coordinators, Ocean County Fire Coordinators & Fire Marshal and the Red Cross.

For more about the NJ EMS Task Force, visit www.njemstf.org.

This weekend, NJ EMS Task Force members are participating in a Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Class at the Brick Fire Training Center.

The class is designed to teach EMS providers what to do when responding to a mass casualty or active shooter incident. Our members are expanding their knowledge in bleeding control, managing patients in threatening environments, moving patients to safety, and much more.

The TEEC class is part of a busy weekend for the NJ EMS Task Force. In addition to this key class, other members participated in an NJ Transit drill for a simulated accident at NJ Transit’s Bay Head yard facility. At the same time, NJEMSTF presented a Mental Health Resilience Officers class at Marlboro Emergency Services.

For more about the NJ EMS Task Force, visit www.njemstf.org.

Members of the NJ EMS Task Force trained another group of Mental Health Resilience Officers on Saturday during a day-long session at MMarlboro Emergency Medical Services

The NNational Association of Emergency Medical Technicians program delivered by the NJEMSTF training team teaches first responders how to serve as MHROs in their agencies. MHROs engage their peers to talk about and understand mental health, wellness, and personal resilience. They are also trained to identify colleagues experiencing mental health stressors and crises and help navigate them to the right services for help. These members are critical in supporting and developing a culture of mental health resilience and emotional wellness within their agencies.

The class is part of the NJ EMS Task Force’s commitment to building and supporting the mental health resilience of first responders.

The MHRO training was just one part of a busy weekend for the NJ EMS Task Force, with members participating in an NJ Transit drill for a simulated accident at NJ Transit’s Bay Head yard facility. At the same time, another team took part in a tactical emergency casualty care class at the Brick Fire Training Center.

For more about the NJ EMS Task Force, visit www.njemstf.org.

Bil Withonel Rosen Andy Caruso

Members of the NJ EMS Task Force today presented the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Mental Health Resilience Officer class at Capital Health in Ewing, NJ.

Twenty-six providers representing agencies throughout the state participated in the program, which trains them to serve as their organization’s Mental Health Resilience Officer. MHROs engage their peers to talk about and understand mental health and resilience better. MHROs are also trained to identify colleagues experiencing mental health stressors and crises and help navigate them to the right services for help. These members are critical in the support and development of a culture of mental health resilience and emotional wellness within their agencies.

The class is part of the NJ EMS Task Force’s commitment to building and supporting the mental health resilience of first responders.

For more about the NJ EMS Task Force, visit www.njemstf.org.

Welcome to our newest members.

This week, 49 new NJ EMS Task Force members participated in a four-hour orientation program to bring them up to speed on how our organization operates.

These new members are the best in EMS and represent agencies around the state. Their work will positively impact the residents of every county and beyond. We look forward to them contributing to the team for years to come.

The NJ EMS Task Force is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that develops disaster response plans and responds to large-scale mass casualty emergencies anywhere and anytime throughout the state with specially trained teams and equipment.

Congratulations to NJEMSTF's Safety Module manager Andy Caruso for presenting classes at this week's National EMS Safety Summit in Denver, CO. Andy presented sessions on “Bariatric Emergencies” and Safe (and legal) Patient Restraints."

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⚠️🌧️🌬️ A multi-hazard storm will impact our area on Wednesday. The system will bring strong to damaging winds, heavy rainfall leading to flooding, potential for severe thunderstorms, and dangerous marine conditions to portions of the area. Full briefing: http://ow.ly/Dqzs50xmC1N

The New Jersey EMS Task Force received a certificate of appreciation from the New Jersey Healthcare Coalitions for participating, engaging, and exemplifying the collaborative nature of the Healthcare Coalitions while being a positive force in the field of emergency management.

Thank you to our colleagues for this honor.

Great day of learning on day one of the two-day Keavney & Streger Leadership Enhancement & Development Program at the Cherry Hill Fire Department offered in cooperation with the NJ EMS Task Force.

Additional Class Locations are now available for Mental Health Resilience Officer (MHRO) classes for EMS Agencies across NJ.

Earlier today MAB 2 was dispatched to Eatontown, Monmouth County, NJ to provide rehab and warming at a multiple alarm, multiple jurisdiction structure fire.

Team -

As we near the turn of the New Year, I want to thank you for the hard work and dedication each of you has invested in the New Jersey EMS Task Force. I am indebted to all of you for what you’ve done to make this a world-class operation.

This year, we’ve grown together, grieved together, and celebrated together.

We have completed another year of transformation, innovation and expansion as the team evolves to meet the changing EMS needs of our great state. This we know: We are critical to the emergency response system in New Jersey – officials tell us that at every turn. Our colleagues in every county and town depend on us to be there when something big happens. They rely on us to have plans when a disaster they hadn’t thought about hits.

That is an incredible honor to have, which comes with much pressure. You all have excelled at every turn. Your work allows us to meet the challenge every day.

I want to thank the members of our host agencies, our partners at the Department of Health, our colleagues throughout the state in emergency medical services, law enforcement, fire, and our friends in every office of emergency management.

In this period of happy reflection during the holidays, when we look back at the many successes of this organization, we’re also looking ahead. Our goal in 2024 is to explore and tap into new ways of funding our mission to ensure you have the necessary tools. We’re looking at ways to expand the awareness of this essential team within the EMS community and beyond. We’re also focused on improving and evolving our organization to be better prepared for the future.

Above all, we’re determined to ignite the innovative spirit in each of you because, working together on this critical mission, we’re unstoppable.

Please offer our gratitude to your families for sharing you with us so we, as a team, can help others.

Have a Happy New Year.

From the NJ EMS Task Force Board of Trustees

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