| Frequently
Asked Questions
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FHFD
SECTIONS: | Membership
| Firefighting | EMS
| Our Facilities |
Membership
Questions
Q: I'd like to help out, but I don't know anything
about firefighting or EMS. Other than giving a monetary donation,
what can I do?
A: Even if you have absolutely no prior experience,
we would love to consider you for membership in the Fire Company.
Please see "Joining FHFD" to get started. However, if
you don't want to join but do want to volunteer some of your time,
please contact us and we'll get in
touch. We can use lots of help!
Q: Do I have
to live in Fair Haven to join the Fire Company?
A: No. We accept membership applications from any
of the nearby towns, including Little Silver, Red Bank and Rumson.
Q: I work in
New York City and commute every day. Would I be a useful addition
to the Fire Company?
A: Absolutely! We have many members who are commuters,
and they give of their time when ever they are in town. Fortunately,
we also have a number of members who work locally, so we have not
experienced the difficulties many departments have with undermanned
daytime responses.
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Firefighting
Questions
Q: How do the firefighters know when there's an
alarm? I used to hear the whistle on top of the firehouse a lot,
but I don't seem to hear it as much any more.
A: Members of the Fire Department carry special
pagers than alert them when there is a fire or first aid call. The
device allows the Fair Haven Police Department dispatcher to announce
the address and nature of the emergency. During the day, we still
blow the fire whistle as a backup procedure. However, we do not
blow the whistle after 11pm, which explains why you don't hear the
sound as much as you used to.
Q: I have a
fire detector, and I change the batteries annually. Do I also need
a carbon monoxide detector? What is the difference in these things?
A: You definitely should have both kinds of detectors.
The fire detector senses heat and smoke, both of which create carbon
monoxide in your residence. However, carbon monoxide can be created
by several other events that would not necessarily trigger the fire
detector.
Q: I am confused
about which number to call if I have an emergency. We used to use
(732) 747-0991, but all the TV shows show people using 911. What
is right for Fair Haven?
A: Either number will get you quickly connected
to the dispatcher at the Fair Haven Police Department. However,
we recommend that you teach the 911 number to your children or aging
relatives -- it's much easier to remember and dial, and it works
pretty much any where in the United States.
Q: I had a very
small fire in my oven the other day -- and it seemed like about
a dozen fire trucks showed up! Why couldn't you just send someone
over to check this out for me?
A: Any fire that is inside a structure -- such
as your house -- is a serious threat, even if it's seemingly small.
We would much prefer to be over-prepared than to show up and be
inadequately equipped to handle the situation. Please don't make
judgments -- just call and tell the dispatcher what problem you
have. We will respond with the equipment that can handle any eventuality.
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Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) Questions
Q: Are the First Aid Squad members Paramedics?
What is the difference?
A: First Aid Squad members are highly trained First
Responders to a medical emergency or trauma scene. Most of our members
are either Emergency Medical Technicians or First Responders, and
at present we do not have any Paramedics as members (although we
conceivably could have). The First Aid Squad volunteers provide
what is known as "basic life support" services for all
emergencies and transports patients to the hospital. If a life threatening
situation is encountered, paid Paramedics from the Monmouth/Ocean
Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC) are dispatched, along with
the First Aid Squad, to provide "advanced life support"
services.
Q: How does
the First Aid Squad decide which hospital a patient should be transported
to?
A: Ordinarily, the patient will be transferred
to the closest hospital designated to have the level of support
needed by the patient. So, for example, if the patient has suffered
a severe head injury, he or she would probably be taken to the regional
trauma center -- Jersey Shore Medical Center. More routinely, patients
are transported to the closest hospital, typically Riverview Medical
Center in Red Bank or Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.
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Questions
About Our Facilities
Q: How does Fair Haven afford the huge firehouse
and all the fire trucks you have?
A: Many residents do not understand that the firehouse
property and buildings are owned by the Fire Company - not the Borough
of Fair Haven. Much of our fundraising goes toward the upkeep of
these facilities. As for the fire and first aid apparatus - the
Borough is responsible for purchasing all the apparatus. However,
over the years the Fire Company has seen fit to augment the Borough's
funds and purchase several vehicles that were subsequently deeded
to the Borough.
Q: Can I rent
the large firehouse meeting hall for a private function?
A: In short, no. While members of the Fire Company
are allowed to rent the hall for their personal use, and while local
civic organizations such as the Scouts do get permission to use
the facility for worthy causes, we do not rent it to residents at
large. This policy emerged over the years as a result of a number
of troubling legal and political experiences.
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Got a question
that wasn't answered?
Please submit it to us and we
will contact you with the answer.
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