Summit First Aid SquadPress Clipping |
Serious Accidents Tarnish Holiday Weekend (appeared in the Summit Observer 1/6/2000)
Members of the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad are accustomed to automobile accidents, responding to over 200 each year. The most serious are those involving vehicles that leave the road or overturn. Last weekend, the Squad responded to 3 accidents involving overturned vehicles; an alarmingly high number.
On Friday, December 24, a car traveling on River Rd. near the new building construction site struck a patch of ice, spun, traveled across the median and overturned into the opposing lane of traffic. Fortunately, the seat-belted driver escaped with only minor injuries. First Aid Squad members Ken Herr and Alice Nichols transported the man, along with the Christmas gifts from his car to his place of business on Summit Ave.
At about 2:00 P.M. on Monday, December 27, Squad members Don Cometa and Margaret Hirsch were headed to Overlook for a non-emergency transportation when they discovered another overturned car on Morris Ave. near Sayre St. They immediately reported the accident via radio. Summit Police and Fire departments as well as 3 additional First Aid Squad members responded. The driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, sustained a serious laceration to her hand. Her 2 and 6-year old children were both properly secured with car seats and belts and escaped uninjured. All three were transported by the First Aid Squad to Overlook Hospital.
An early morning accident on Tuesday, September 28 had far more tragic results. A sport utility vehicle traveling on Maple St. near Oakland Pl. struck a tree and overturned. 3 of the 5 occupants were able to crawl out of the wreck. 2 remain trapped inside. 8 First Aid Squad volunteers responded with 2 ambulances. The Summit Fire Dept. responded and stabilized the vehicle. A paramedic unit from Overlook Hospital also responded to assist with treatment of the 2 serious patients.
Squad members and a fireman gained access to the trapped victims through the rear hatch. A 20-year old man was removed from the car and pronounced dead on the scene. It appeared that he had not been wearing a seat belt. A 21-year old woman, also removed from the car was transported by ambulance to the trauma center at Morristown Memorial Hospital with severe facial lacerations and fractured ribs. The woman stated that she had been wearing a seat belt. 2 other occupants were transported by ambulance to Overlook Hospital. A 5th occupant escaped uninjured. John Staunton of the Summit First Aid Squad and John Mullen of the Summit Fire Department supervised the rescue operations.
The members of the Summit First Aid Squad would like to point out the importance of wearing seat belts. Those who do have a significantly higher change of surviving a serious accident. Parents should also note that while most child car seats perform very well in an accident, many are not properly installed. In fact, recent studies show that more than 50% of all child car seats may not be properly fastened. Guidance on the proper use of car safety devices is available at the Squad’s web site.
[ back to Publicity page ] [ Photos ] [ Membership Application ]
[ Statistics ] [ Fund Drive ] [ History ] [ Contacting Us ] [ Home ]