CPR, First Aid, Fire Safety and Safety Training

     On Monday, August 30, 2004, the Safety & Health Solutions Team faced its darkest moment. Our dear friend and colleague, Jeffrey S. Balcom unexpectedly passed away at the age of 41.

     Jeff was a lifelong resident of the Kirkwood section of Voorhees Township, New Jersey. He was a veteran of the Kirkwood Fire District, Engine Company 661 and served both as a volunteer and paid Firefighter / EMT for nearly 25 years. He also held the ranks of Lieutenant and Fire Inspector. Jeff was also an instructor with Safety & Health Solutions, LLC.

     Along with serving the people of Voorhees Township, Jeff also served with the Gibbsboro Fire Company, Engine 681 and Lindenwold Ambulance, Squad 634. Jeff also worked in the Fire Control Center at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

     Jeff was very devoted to helping people, often times placing the needs of others before his own. He was very well respected, by not only the residents of the communites that he served, but also by all of the men and women that he served with.

     Jeff had received numerous commendations and life-saving awards and had been named "Firefighter of the Year" on several occasions. To mark Jeff's dedication to the Fire Service, he has been memorialized at the National Fallen Firefighter's Memorial on the campus of the National Fire Academy, located in Emmitsburg, MD as well as at the Camden County Fire Academy, located in Blackwood, NJ.

     Thank you for all that you have done to make this world a better place Jeffrey. We are all the better for having had you in our lives. We miss you very much and will keep your legacy alive forever.

One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.

When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.

"Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don't understand why, when I need You most,
You leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."