Keeping BMS safe

The responders are people with specialized training who are the first to arrive and provide assistance at the scene of an emergency, such as a fire, accident, natural disaster, chemical spill or act of terrorism. These include hazardous materials (haz mat) technicians, emergency medical technicians (EMT's) and firefighters. 

Many of the BMS first responders are members of the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) or Research organizations, according to John Welling, director, EHS & Emergency Services, Global Facilities and Engineering.

The team is multi-disciplined and well-trained. Many of the BMS responders are also firefighters in the communities where they live, and two are on New Jersey’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue Team.

In 2020, BMS first response teams responded to a total of 748 calls for assistance, a decrease of 23% from 2019 due to lower site occupancies because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Welling also pointed out the generous equipment and community grants made by BMS in 2020 to the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad; the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company; the Hightstown Engine Company; the Pennington Fire Company and the Summit Police Athletic League.

BMS responders provide medical services each year for the New Jersey Special Olympics State Games at The College of New Jersey; the St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center Safety Day, and the Hopewell Valley Emergency Services Open House. In addition, the responders hold education sessions at the Child Development Centers at the various facilities, Bring Your Child to Work Day, CPR/First Aid training for employees, hands-on fire extinguisher training, and more.

Welling believes that the response teams are ambassadors for our company, with “our teams responding to emergencies off campus, and providing mutual aid support to the surrounding communities,” he said. “And our apparatus are billboards for our company, proudly showing our new corporate branding.”