GUILDELAND — The Western Turnpike Rescue Squad is helping local Scouts to live up to their motto and "be prepared."

In February, Webelo Scouts from Pack 50, Den 4, at Saint Madeleine Sophie Church, visited the rescue squad as part of a requirement for their Readyman Activity badge. The Webelo pack went on a tour of the rescue squad’s facilities at the 200 Centre Drive location, which is next to the Westmere firehouse on Western Avenue.

The Western Turnpike Rescue Squad is a volunteer-based ambulance corps that serves the residents of Guilderland and North Bethlehem. It was founded in 1939 and bears the name of the road on which it was formed.

Howard Huth, the rescue squad’s chief of operations, said that, after the tour, the Scouts took part in a presentation on some basics of first-aid and handling emergencies.

Huth and the Western Turnpike emergency medical technician, Alex Downey — who is an Eagle Scout — gave a two-hour presentation dealing with many different types of emergency situations. The topics ranged from snake bites and frostbite to what to do after an accident and how to treat shock, according to Huth.
The presentation ended with a "hands-on demonstration" of a staged emergency, he said. The Scouts used their newly-taught skills to be the first responders to the created emergency scene, said Huth.
"Howard did a great job. They really loved it," said Peter Boeri, one of the Webelos’ father. "We learned about first aid and all kinds of emergency situations."

The Webelos who visited the rescue squad include: Peter Boeri; David Bone; Michael Decker; Curtis Ericson; Thomas Fortune; Ben Goes; Nicholus Miller; and Shane Walsh.

Two of the den’s members, Ryan Adamzack and Erik Web, could not attend the presentation, according to Boeri.
"Western Turnpike is honored to be involved in educating the future emergency responders of our community," Huth said. "We congratulate them on setting an example for their community by becoming educated in dealing with emergencies, and hope to even welcome them into our family of EMTs a few years down the road."