Eric J. Rickenbach (thus the "EJR) is a 28-year veteran of the volunteer emergency services.  He is originally from Ontelaunee Township and graduated from the Schuylkill Valley High School in 1982.  He is an active volunteer fire fighter and emergency medical technician with the Keystone Fire Company of Rehrersburg in rural northwestern Berks County, Pennsylvania.  In addition, he was very active in the emergency medical services from 1982 until about 1996.

Eric has been an instructor for vehicle rescue through the PA Department of Health since 1997 and the PA State Fire Academy 2000.  He has been affiliated with the PAgricultural Rescue Training Program since 2003.  Eric also teaches several other fire/rescue courses.

In addition to teaching, Eric is active in several related capacities, serving on various vehicle rescue and farm safety and occupational health committees at both the local and state levels.

In the specialized arena of farm and agricultural rescue, even though Eric is an instructor, he, himself, is not a farmer.  He grew up in and lives in a rural community, with many close friends who are active in production agriculture.  Through his friends he has gained an understanding of farming and the farm culture, and coupled with his emergency services experience, he is able to present the programs from “both sides of the fence”.  Eric firmly believes that to be truly good at providing emergency services in an agricultural area, one must be understand the farm environment and have an understanding of how emergencies occur and the impact that these events have on the families and community.

To reinforce the teamwork concepts needed to perform the rescue function, Eric has assembled a 'team of instructors' for his vehicle and farm rescue programs, that includes people with extensive backgrounds in various facets of specialized vehicle and machinery rescue, production agriculture and/or the emergency medical services to provide a well-balanced presentation focused on teaching 'street-wise skills'. 

From the farm rescue perspective, this helps create an arena for providers to interact and learn about their local agricultural community, and what they can do to promote farm safety in their area."

Eric has been honored for his work in the field of rescue medicine by being a member of the ‘PAgricultural Rescue Training Team’ which was honored by the Penn State Extension service for recognition as the ‘Outstanding Team’ for 2007.  In addition, he was named the 2008 Pennsylvania ‘Rescue Technician of the Year’ by the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council.

Outside of the classroom, Eric is employed full-time as the Chief Dispatcher for the Wyomissing Police Department, where he also serves as the Borough's webmaster.  He holds affiliations or memberships in the PA Farm Bureau, the Keystone Chapter - Fire Service Instructors, the Transportation Emergency Response Committee and the PEHSC Rescue Task Force. In addition, he serves as a Voluntary Rescue Service Recognition inspector/evaluator for the Eastern PA EMS Council.     

Photo credit - Reading Eagle