We’re excited to be sending 8 members through the EMT Basic Course this spring semester at South Branch Emergency Services!
This is a big milestone for us — it’s the largest number of students we’ve ever sent through the class.
A special shout-out to four of the candidates who have already completed Firefighter 1 at the Hunterdon County Training Center and are also active members of their local fire departments in Readington Township.
While we’ll miss having them around with reduced time riding with crews, we know that time is going toward what matters right now: the academic and practical portions of their training. Committing to 220+ classroom hours (plus plenty of studying) is no small task — but it’s absolutely worth it. Join us in wishing them good luck on their journey!
Best of luck to our EMT candidates:
Anthony Mondelli (Fire 1 graduate)
Jacob Apgar (Fire 1 graduate)
Kyle Apgar (Fire 1 graduate)
Brian Schmitt (Fire 1 graduate)
Vanessa MacDougal
Alexa Stangota
Lea Childs
Zach Rudolph
Whitehouse Rescue attended this drill at Hunterdon Medical Center back in December. Check out the release from Hunterdon Health
www.facebook.com/share/p/17s1ES2QGU/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Congratulations to our very own Avery Schaefer on obtaining her EMT Instructor certificate! Avery leads a busy life, when she is not setting up training/CPR classes, working administratively behind the scenes or riding the ambulance for our organization she works as a Nurse and an EMT Instructor.
Congratulations Avery!
www.facebook.com/share/p/17ricfhnvz/?mibextid=wwXIfrPlease join us in congratulating Avery Schaefer on obtaining her New Jersey EMT Instructor certification. This is a significant professional achievement and a reflection of her dedication to EMS education, leadership, and the future of our providers.
We’re proud to have Avery join the ranks of certified EMT instructors and look forward to the positive impact she will make on students and the EMS community.
Well done, and congratulations on this well-earned accomplishment!
Meet Camila, a Whitehouse Station resident whose story reminds us how fragile life can be—and how powerful compassion, skill, and teamwork truly are.
In the early morning hours of an October day, Camila suddenly became gravely ill while driving. Trusting her instincts, she called her husband to tell him something wasn’t right. Moments later, she became unresponsive. Her husband called 9-1-1.
Our crews arrived within minutes of locating the vehicle to find Camila in cardiac arrest. In that moment, every second mattered.
Immediate, high-quality CPR and life-saving care was started by FF/EMT Pat Paul and Assistant Chief Brad Fagan. With the support of Lieutenant Billy Wallace, FF/EMT Evan Lundy, Deputy Chief George Liothake, and Deputy Chief Harrison Laverty, Camila was rushed to the hospital. Along the way, Hunterdon Medical Center Paramedics Rory Hudock and Sarah Pirozzoli met the ambulance and continued relentless efforts to bring her back.
Through extraordinary teamwork, determination, and care, Camila regained a pulse. She was admitted and treated by the exceptional emergency and hospital staff at Hunterdon Medical Center. After more than 20 long days—days filled with uncertainty, hope, and perseverance—Camila was discharged to rehabilitation. Today, she has made a full recovery and is home where she belongs, embracing life with her two young sons.
Cardiac arrest caused by a pulmonary embolism is often sudden and devastating, and outcomes like this are heartbreakingly rare. This is a story of people refusing to give up—on a stranger, on a mother, on a life.
We are profoundly grateful to every responder and medical professional involved. Your skill, compassion, and dedication turned a moment of unimaginable fear into a story of survival and hope.
Not pictured: DC Laverty and AC Fagan
We want to take a moment to truly thank the Readington Township Community Outreach Team, and especially Director Christine Dey and Community Outreach Officer Brandon Griffiths, for the care, time, and heart they continue to pour into this community.
What they do goes far beyond programs, reports, or numbers. They show up for people who are struggling, often at their most vulnerable moments, and stay with them long enough to make a real difference. Whether that means listening, advocating, or connecting someone with the right resources, their willingness to go the extra mile has changed lives.
As EMS providers, we are often limited in what we can do once the immediate medical need is addressed. Over time we see the same patients, the same struggles, and the same gaps, but we don’t always have the tools or time with patients to bridge those gaps long term. Having a strong, consistent presence from social services—people who can follow up, advocate, and connect residents with the right long-term resources—has been an invaluable link for us as emergency medical providers.
Because of our partnership and their dedication, we’ve seen a reduction in repeat patients. That isn’t just a statistic. It represents people getting help before reaching a crisis point or becoming ill/injured as the result of a vulnerable living situation, and better long-term outcomes for residents who might otherwise have fallen through the cracks.
We are deeply grateful for your partnership, your compassion, and your commitment to Readington Township. The impact you’ve made is real, it’s lasting, and it matters. Thank you for everything you do!
www.readingtontwpnj.gov/departments/social-services
(Photo from Readington Township, NJ)