Oakland First Aid Squad Plays Vital Role During Pandemic

If there’s a silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic for the Oakland First Aid Squad, it’s that calls for assistance are down dramatically so far this year. And fortunately, all squad members continue to test negative for the virus.

“During a normal year, we respond to between 900 to 1,000 calls,” says Matt Goodrich, chief of the John Robert Walker Memorial Oakland First Aid Squad. Through the first nine months of 2020, though, “we’re below 500,” he adds.

“Call volume tanked with the coronavirus. Nobody wanted to go to the hospital. People only called for ambulances when it was a real emergency.”

Indeed, in April, the squad received just eight calls for assistance.

“We normally get 80,” Goodrich remarks.

By June, calls started to tick back up and by mid-October, call frequency had returned to its norm.

At the height of the outbreak, the squad was tasked with transporting some COVID cases to area hospitals. “We had some exposures,” Goodrich reports.

“A few of us had to quarantine. But luckily to date, none of us has tested positive.”

Today, for the most part, when a call comes in that includes COVID symptoms or exposure, a paid service is dispatched to transport, but Goodrich still arrives on the scene to oversee EMS operations.

The arrival of the pandemic required significant changes to squad practices.

“We had to change what we do on the fly,” says Goodrich, who is in his third year as chief. “We changed all of our PPE protocols as standing orders from hospitals changed. We treated every call as though it was COVID, with members donning full N-95 masks, goggles and gowns.”

The small, close-knit squad was further challenged as some members with underlying conditions or living with others with underlying conditions opted out of calls.

“There were also members in the vulnerable population who wanted to keep riding,” Goodrich notes, “but as chief, I nipped that. I didn’t feel it was safe.”

Fortunately, the squad has mutual aid partnerships with first aid squads from Franklin Lakes and Pompton Lakes.

Goodrich, a seven-year Oakland resident with a wife and two young children, joined the squad in 2014. He became an EMT in 2002, inspired by the heroics of September 11, 2001, and has previously served on both the Waldwick and Ho-Ho-Kus volunteer ambulance corps.

“I’m responsible for the day-to-day operations of the First Aid Squad,” he says of his duties as chief.

He’s also tasked with responding to “any other department that contacts us, including the police, the county and the borough administrator and council.” This year, along with the Office for Emergency Management, Goodrich has additionally overseen the borough’s stockpile of personal protective equipment, or PPE.

“We were fortunate that we had a large amount of PPE when the pandemic started,” he notes, “so we were well ahead of the game. We’ve remained focused on staying ahead.”

Goodrich serves as the borough’s recycling coordinator.

The Oakland First Aid Squad—which Goodrich describes as “an independent organization that provides a necessary service”—was founded in 1954. Annual funding from the borough covers supplies, but the majority of the squad’s resources come from donations from residents. Its yearly donation drive is slated for this fall, while a planned coin toss has been cancelled, due to COVID. The borough also covers the cost of insurance and fuel for the vehicles. A new ambulance, jointly funded by the squad and the borough, was added earlier this year—joining another already in service—at a cost of $240,000. According to Goodrich, there are a handful of members who have been on the squad for 20-plus years, including longest-serving member Bob DeBoer, with more than 40 years.

COVID-19 aside, the biggest challenge facing the Oakland First Aid Squad is its membership need. While the rolls are higher, Goodrich says only 15 to 20 members are regular contributors.

“It’s hard to get members to honor their commitment for any length of time,” he notes. “Many get burned out after one to two years. Some don’t want to ride for the 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. shift. It’s difficult but we make do.”

The squad utilizes two types of members—driver members and full members—who are required to serve two six-hour shifts a week. Full members must be certified EMTs and must recertify every three years, while undergoing continual training. Driver members must be CPR-certified and receive additional training from the state.

For those who can make the commitment to serving on the first aid squad, the rewards run deep.

“It’s the satisfaction of being able to help someone,” remarks Goodrich.”

He points to the Oakland woman on whom he performed successful CPR a few years ago, and whom he frequently encounters.

“She always reminds me that I saved her life,” he says. “That helps get you out of bed at three in the morning.”

Terri Allan is a freelance writer and editor, and long-time Oakland resident