Additional study is needed on Jackson's first aid situation

Iwas pleased to read the article "Council Waiting for Info on Possible EMS Switch" in the Tri-Town News on Nov. 1.

As a concerned citizen in Jackson, I would prefer a careful study of the EMS crisis, rather than a rush to judgment. I agree that Mayor Mark Seda and the Township Council should carefully study the various options.

All citizens will benefit from a careful analysis of the facts and needs of our growing community. This problem did not arise overnight and cannot be solved instantly.

My main concern with the changes in the EMS delivery system is that the population is growing at an unparalleled pace.

Our health care EMS delivery system has not kept pace with our building of new houses. This solution must address the problems that exist today, and that will be developing in the near future.

We have the third largest township in New Jersey geographically. Two vehicles are insufficient to service the many young families moving in, young and unfamiliar drivers on the roads, and the adult communities emerging (Westlake, 1,400 homes, South Knolls, 900, and Metedeconk, 800 when built out).

The most essential factor in this delicate equation of life and death is the time a vehicle arrives after receiving a call, and the availability of EMS vehicles to respond at any given time (if there is more than one emergency call). If one or two vehicles are required to respond to a serious car accident or other major mishap, there must be redundancy built into the safety net (sufficient back-up) to respond to another emergency.

The pennies spent in having four vehicles dispersed geographically in the four Jackson firehouses is miniscule compared to the lives that could be lost in not having a 24/7 EMS operation. The goal in response time should be 10 minutes or less. Minutes save lives.

If this reserve of vehicles is never used, we will indeed be a blessed community in Jackson. However, given the dynamic growth of Jackson, this is highly unlikely, and it would certainly be a very cheap form of life insurance in our tax bill.

Harold Werner

Jackson