With Lakewood boasting the largest number of volunteer emergency services of any New Jersey township in the state, and the quickest response rate – as well as skilled career professionals working hand in hand with those volunteer agencies – it is only natural that this tremendous pool of talented and driven individuals come together to collaborate the response efforts of all agencies in a time of crisis.

Chief Gregory H Meyer of the Lakewood Police Department in conjunction with Coordinator Robert C Lawson of the Lakewood Office of Emergency Management arranged the intensive multi-agency training on the first responder’s role in a situation of mass casualties. This session was overseen by the liaison for emergency services in the township, Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein, who has pledged to take training and rescue to the next level in Lakewood.

The intensive session included members from all emergency agencies throughout the township including Lakewood Police Department’s School Resource Division, Administrative Command and Intelligence Unit, Lakewood Fire Department, Lakewood CERT, Lakewood OEM, Lakewood SWAT team, EMS, Lakewood First Aid, Hatzolah, Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch, Chaveirim, and Bikur Cholim

The goal of the training was to have all agencies understand their role and how to respond properly and safely in an incident of mass casualty.

Presenters included a 25-year veteran of the Israeli Police Bomb Unit who utilized his wealth of knowledge, expertise and first hand experiences in the field of mass casualty. Participants came away with a certificate of completion to acknowledge their participation, and with words of appreciation for having been given the opportunity to further their knowledge and ability to be effective responders.

[TLS]