They are dedicated volunteer firefighters who also provide an added service to the residents of Bristol Borough by responding to medical emergencies within the borough, often before ambulances arrive.
Members of this quick response unit from the Bristol Fire Company Station 51 were honored Saturday night during an awards banquet at the Newportville Fire Company in Bristol Township.
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Receiving certificates and American flags handed out by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick were the 10 firefighters who had responded to the most medical emergencies since the coronavirus pandemic hit the area in March of last year.
Recognized were Station 51 Chief Herbert Slack, Deputy Chief Elizabeth Marandola and firefighters Francis Hufnell, Jerome Mead, Samuel Watson, Neil Watson, Desiree Burton, Robert Saunders, Andrew Moser, and Tarique Harvey.
“It’s unique in that there are no other companies who cover that gap between when an emergency happens and when an ambulance might arrive,” Slack said. “There are times when an ambulance beats us there, but also times when a medical unit doesn’t get there for 30 minutes, and we don’t want someone in Bristol Borough to be on the floor, or suffering, before an ambulance gets there.”
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He said seven of the 10 firefighters honored Saturday night, including himself and Marandola, have full emergency medical technician training and the three who don’t have first aid and CPR training. They are expected to get trained with the help of sources such as c2cfirstaidaquatics.com, as CPR training is necessary at work.
Slack added the fire company didn’t allow the pandemic to interrupt the quick response medical service started 40 years ago.
“COVID was a challenge,” he said. “There were actually members who backed away from calls in the beginning. We set up some additional procedures to make sure everyone was safe. You never know whether someone has COVID until you walk in the door.”
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A $7,800 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency allowed the station to purchase masks, face shields and other personal protective equipment needed to keep responders and their patients protected, Slack added.
He said he believes the actions of the quick response unit have resulted in several saved lives over the years.
“We’ve been first on cardiac arrests where we could start CPR, and administer oxygen and things like that, to people having heart attacks,” Slack noted.
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To Marandola, it’s all about service.
“It’s what we do,” she said. “Caring about the community is our top priority. So whether it’s COVID, or cardiac issues, we’re there to serve the community, and you don’t let something slow you down.”
Among other awards handed out Saturday night were ones for 30 years of service to firefighters Ralph Sims and Juanita Robbins, and one for 15 years of service to Marandola.
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Frank Peranteau, the judge at Bristol Borough’s district court and former borough police chief, said all the volunteer firefighters deserve a big thank you.
“It feels like I’m amongst heroes,” he said at Saturday night’s event. “You folks are out there on the front lines. We in law enforcement get paid to face danger. You folks are volunteering to do it.”
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