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GRVAC
Emergency Response Trailer Dedication Ceremony
Printed In
The Glen Rock Gazette, Friday September 21, 2007
The Glen Rock Volunteer Ambulance Corps celebrated
the completion of a long awaited Emergency Response
Trailer and garage addition with a dedication held
at their building on Saturday, September 8, 2007.
Mayor John Van
Keuren saying a few words at the dedication with
Ambulance Corps President Mary Surrago.
The story began 3 years ago when Bert Kendall, the
former Borough Administrator, upon information
furnished by the ambulance corps, obtained a $14,000
emergency preparedness grant from the State of New
Jersey which the ambulance corps used to purchase an
emergency response trailer. Much of the equipment
contained in the trailer, including a large store of
pressurized oxygen, is to aid firefighter
rehabilitation during working fires. There is also
a large supply of first aid equipment sufficient to
transport and aid multiple victims.
Members of the
ambulance corps positioning the tent before
inflation.
GRVAC members
showing the tent structure being rolled up for
storage
While the equipment is vital, a sheltered area was
needed where fireman could rest, receive oxygen,
have their vital signs monitored, and generally
“rehabilitate” before they went back into the fire.
This structure had to meet many criteria. It had to
be extremely weatherproof, sufficiently large enough
to serve many patients at once, and very easy to
erect using the least number of first aid
personnel. After extensive investigation, a 20 ft.
by 20 ft. Zumro inflatable
structure was selected. This quite amazing piece of
apparatus was purchased with funds obtained from the
Women’s Club of Glen Rock, the Glen Rock Jaycees,
the Glen Rock Chamber of Commerce, Boiling Springs
Bank, Tenants Association of Glen Courts, Ridgewood
Auto Wash, and Maple Rock Exxon and generous
donations by residents Evelyn Haller, George
Thompson, Mr. & Mrs. Ray Rogers, Mr. & Mrs. Sean
Dalton, Mr. & Mrs. Jim McKenna, Carlton Meier, Mayor
and Mrs. John VanKeuren, Mr. & Mrs. Jeremy Levine,
Daniel Rouse, Ralph Hasslinger, Mr. & Mrs. R.
DelGuercio, Mr. & Mrs. James Tryforos and donations
made in memory of resident Dorothy Walsh.
Emergency Response
Trailer and tent structure
As if this were not enough, the 200 Club of Bergen
County donated the funds for a multilator, a device
that allows eight firemen to receive oxygen at the
same time.
GRFD President
Carmine Nogara, 200 Club of Glen Rock Representative
Paul Schwartz and GRVAC President Mary Surrago in
front of multilator purchased with funds donated by
200 Club.
As planning progressed, it became evident that the
trailer needed to be housed in a heated area since
oxygen should be stored at a moderate temperature,
and there were large stores of water in the
trailer. A garage addition was called for. While
the shell of the trailer was funded through the
grant, it was now necessary to fund the addition. A
generous endowment of $36,000 from the estate Frank
Taylor, and a matching donation from the Mayor and
Council enabled the Ambulance Corps to complete this
phase of the project.
Trailer and
building committee members Paul Herrlett, Chief John
DeLaat and Edward Esposito cutting ribbon on
Emergency Response Trailer.
The addition was designed by
Borough resident and architect Scott Bella and built
by resident Chris Patoir. Gulmy Contracting, run by
resident Butch Gulmy, provided the final piece of
the puzzle. Continuing a tradition of over 50 years
of generosity to the Ambulance Corps, Gulmy
Contracting donated all the labor and expertise of
preparing the site, digging the foundations, and
paving an entire new driveway in front of the
building.
Ribbon
Cutting - Front Row - Butch Gulmy, Councilwoman
Carol Knapp, Mayor John VanKeuren, GRVAC Chief John
DeLaat, GRVAC President Mary Surrago, OEM Director
Joanne Perry, GRPD Representative Paul Webber and GR
Boro Administrator Lenora Benjamin. Back Row - GRFD
President Carmine Nogara, GRVAC Chaplain Rabbi Tow
and Councilman Art Pazan
So after 3 years of planning, designing, purchasing
and building, the trailer and the garage were
blessed by Corps Chaplain, Rabbi Neil Tow and
dedicated by President Mary Surrago on September 8th,
along with Mayor John VanKeuren, representatives
from the Office of Emergency Management, the Glen
Rock Police and Fire Departments and members of the
Ambulance Corps. It is a valuable collection of
equipment and facilities that will serve all four
emergency departments for years to come. This is
truly the result of “Neighbor Helping Neighbor.”
Mike Eckert
speaking to Ivy McCormack of the Glen Rock Womens
Club at the reception for special guests before the
dedication.
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