Rescue squad member pens kids’ book on EMT work

Barry Bachenheimer EAST BRUNSWICK — Township rescue squad member Barry Bachenheimer found a hidden treasure while browsing through his old college papers some years ago: a children’s story he had written for an English assignment as a senior in college.

Titled “Please Don’t Dance in My Ambulance,” the piece was written to teach children about first aid squads and the work that paramedics do, in a way that was imaginative and fun.

“I had forgotten all about it. It was all in rhymes, and I had drawn the pictures with crayons,” he said with a laugh.

“I thought it was a great story,” his wife Stacey said. “I told him, ‘You should try to publish this,’ but he just put it away.”

Several years later, Bachenheimer, who is the director of instructional services for the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools, mentioned the story to colleague Mea Amacher, a high school arts teacher, whose husband is a paramedic. Amacher offered to illustrate the book, and the two began working together and looking for a publisher.

“We were thrilled when Amazon picked it up,” Bachenheimer said.

“Please Don’t Dance in My Ambulance” is the story of a little boy who comes across an ambulance and goes inside to explore. As he looks at all the gadgets and buttons, he begins to dance. An emergency medical technician (EMT) comes by and explains what all the equipment is, and offers to take the boy on a call to learn how rescue squads save lives.

Bachenheimer has been a volunteer first aid squad member since 1985, when he started out as a cadet in Milltown. He was drawn to the work because he wanted to help people, and over the years he certainly has, having delivered three babies and helped to save hundreds of lives.

He served as an EMT with the East Brunswick Rescue Squad from 1988 to 1996 and then worked with other squads in Essex County. Although he lives in West Caldwell, he has recently returned to the East Brunswick squad.

“They are a great group, and I have a lot of connections to East Brunswick. My father still lives in town,” he added.

Bachenheimer is enjoying his new role as an author, and it has turned out to be a bit of a family affair. Over the summer, he had a book signing at the Passaic County Fair, and his two children — Lea, 7, and Brett, 5, — helped him man the stand.

“It’s really cool,” Lea said of her dad’s book.

Perhaps a talent for rhyme runs in the family; Leah is writing her own story, called “Don’t Mix the Chicks,” and said she has helped her father with the title for a future book he is considering.

“It’s called, ‘Get the Duck off My Fire Truck,’” she said with a giggle.

Fred Beisser, president of the East Brunswick Rescue Squad, thinks the children’s ambulance book is a great idea.

“Rescue squads don’t get much attention, and it’s important for kids to understand what we do,” he said.

“Please Don’t Dance in My Ambulance” can be purchased online at Amazon.com and other online venues.

Helping the squad

The East Brunswick Rescue Squad as a whole does its part to teach children about its work.

“We invite Cub Scouts and kids from a camp for children with autism to come down. We show them the ambulances and equipment and explain what happens,” Beisser said.

Both children and adults tend to have some common misconceptions about rescue squad service. Beisser noted that volunteers don’t have to be from a certain profession or age group, and not everyone needs to be an EMT.

“We have people of all ages and from all backgrounds,” he said. “You can ride with the squad if you’re certified in first aid.”

The need for volunteers has grown with the town, and as Beisser said, there is now much more competition for people’s time. He suggested people who may be interested visit the squad’s website at www.ebrs.org.

Another misconception is how the rescue squad is funded.

“We are not supported by taxes. We are totally dependent on donations,” Beisser said. “All of our equipment and supplies are bought with donations.”

The EBRS sends out two fundraising mailings a year. One is under way now. Beisser is hoping for a good response, though he noted that usually only 13 percent of residents donate to the squad.

All the services of the rescue squad are free to residents, even those in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. The squad, in fact, makes many calls to local senior facilities, and one in particular, Chelsea Assisted Living, has shown its appreciation by holding an annual luncheon for rescue squad volunteers and making “a large donation,” Beisser said.

Anyone interested in making a donation can do so online or they can send a check to the East Brunswick Rescue Squad, 346 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816.