On January 7th at the Pantagis Renaissance Restaurant - the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad Installation of Officers Ceremonial Dinner and the Celebration of 75 years of Volunteer Emergency Medical Services was attended with over 175 members, friends and guests.  The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch was also in attendance and wrote the following article.

http://scotchplains.patch.com/articles/photos-first-aid-squad-celebrates-75-years-of-serving-scotch-plains#photo-8852978

PUTTING TRAINING INTO ACTION…From left to right, Marissa Minnicino of Scotch Plains, School Nurse Susan Kaplan and Margaret Fitzpatrick of Westfield were heroes at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung; the trio helped take action after a student collapsed on a classroom floor.

WATCHUNG – “It could be a coincidence, but I don’t believe in coincidence,” said Sister Lisa Gambacorto, directress at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung, about the school’s actions after a student collapsed on a classroom floor. Immediately, two other students in the class, both EMTs, went into action. Marissa Minnicino of Scotch Plains and Margaret Fitzpatrick of Westfield put into practice what they had learned. The classroom teacher, Patrizia Davis of Westfield, called the school nurse and 911, and then cleared the classroom.

Other teachers arrived to assist and volunteer their services if needed. The school nurse, Susan Kaplan of Middlesex, arrived in less than a minute and administered an Epi pen. Margaret Shaw, assistant directress, waited outside of the building to direct emergency vehicles to the correct classroom. In short order, Watchung Police

arrived with needed oxygen, and minutes after that, the ambulance arrived. Marissa and Margaret gave their report to the ambulance team, and the ill student was immediately transported to Overlook Hospital. Sister Lisa, notified the family. Teacher Lori Frazier volunteered to stay with her until her family arrived at the hospital.

After the patient was stabilized, an Emergency Room doctor told her mother he was pleased with the speed with which she was brought to the Emergency Room. Sister Lisa said, “We are overjoyed and grateful to God that our student has recovered and is back with us. The faculty is trained; we review emergency procedures every year at the first faculty meeting, and this was the first time everything was needed. The emergency plan worked like clockwork. I believed it was Divine Providence that two students in her class were EMTs. No coincidence.”

EMT Margaret stated she acted by the rote her training gave her and concentrated on what she needed to do. “Marissa and I trained together and were a team immediately. We are so proud of being able to help a classmate and friend,” she said. EMT Marissa said, “We wait for calls, and when a call comes in, there is time for a quick review of what to do first and what equipment is needed. There was none of that. My brain instantly switched from class work to rescue work. In a second, I was on the floor with Margaret, and we were doing our best.”

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As printed in the "The Scotch Plains - Fanwood Times" on December 2, 2010