Beach Haven First Aid Squad sees decrease in annual calls, increase in medical and psychiatric calls associated with Sandy

The Beach Haven First Aid Squad responded to a total of 917 calls during the 2013 calendar year, making it one of the lowest in calls in years.

“That’s from the greatly diminished year ’round population that we have,” said Deborah Whitcraft, president of the Beach Haven First Aid Squad. “Before (Superstorm) Sandy it had greatly diminished, but subsequent Sandy even more so.”

Photo via BHFAS
The Beach Haven First Aid Squad responds to
calls for 10 out of the 18 miles of LBI.

The squad, which covers calls for 10 out of the 18 miles of Long Beach Island in Beach Haven, Ship Bottom and Long Beach Township, normally averages between 1,000 and 1,200 calls annually, she said.

Although the number of calls diminished last year, the nature of the calls took on a different personality. There have been more medical and psychiatric calls associated with Sandy, including domestic violence, said Whitcraft.

At its annual installation dinner, held at the Engleside Inn on Sunday, Jan. 26, the first aid squad thanked Ship Bottom, Beach Haven and Long Beach Township municipalities for their continued support. The organization acknowledged Long Beach Township Mayor Joseph Mancini, Police Chief Michael Bradley and the board of commissioners for recently creating a policy to hire only police officers who are EMT-certified.

“Four of their officers this summer will be working 12-hour shifts responding to calls for the Beach Haven First Aid Squad – in other words, completing the calls from start to finish,” said Whitcraft.

The organization’s 2014 elected officials include Whitcraft, president; Jack Casella, vice president, captain and president of the board; Leslie Houston, treasurer; Tom Walsh, recording secretary; Bev Tromm, corresponding secretary; Shirley Harris, lieutenant; Bob Weidman, first sergeant for Ship Bottom; Ed Shanley, first sergeant for Beach Haven; and Anthony Orzo Jr., second sergeant. Many of the named officials are also among the trustees.

– Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.