The first aiders are looking for help responding to more than 800 EMS calls a year. (Click to enlarge)

This edition of Done Good focuses on appeals for help from two Red Bank organizations that are usually on the receiving end of such calls.

One is the borough’s volunteer First Aid Squad and Rescue Squad, a unit of the volunteer fire department.

The other is the Community Emergency Response Team, an all-volunteer unit of the borough’s Office of Emergency Management.

Here are press releases on each:

• The Red Bank First Aid Squad is actively seeking new members. We are an all-volunteer organization that is a branch of the Red Bank Fire Dept. When there is a sagging economy, it’s hard to attract and retain volunteers to answer over 800 EMS calls per year. Most families rely on more than one income and that leaves little time for volunteering. We are fortunate to have neighboring First Aid Squads respond to assist us, but that puts additional work on their volunteers. We especially have trouble answering calls during the day when all of our volunteers are at their regular jobs.

Anyone 18 years and older is eligible to join, and we will provide training at no cost. If you have doubts, just give it a try. If you find that it’s not for you, you walk away with some first aid knowledge and maybe some newfound friends.

We will be having an open house/bar-b-que on Sunday, September 23 from 1 to 3 pm at the First Aid Building 151 Spring Street. All are welcome to have lunch with us and meet your volunteers.

• The Emergency Management Committee is seeking more volunteers to participate on their CERT team.  CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and the people that they serve.  The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills.

The committee recently had six volunteers graduate from the program, and there is a new set of classes beginning at the end of September.  The committee will be hosting an open house in the coming weeks with the exact date to be announced.  Anyone interested in volunteering should contact OEM Coordinator Tom Welsh at 732-530-2777 x-496 or by email.