EMT857

My township is still all volunteer Fire and EMS (separate agencies) with a population of approx. 40,000. There are two separate squads for each side of town, combined about 3,600 (split pretty evenly) calls a year. Each has 3 rigs plus a first responder truck. Generally an EMS duty crew is always signed up in advance and can respond from home and second assignment crews are usually who ever is available or bounces to the other squad. There have been times 6-7 calls in town have been going and we've run out of rigs. As for Fire, 3 companies, all on the 24/7 who ever is around responds and for working fire mutual aid is called. But they still have the potential for 6-7 days with out any calls.

A New Jersey point of view... As a volunteer EMT-B I would absolutely agree that paid ALS is the way to go. My county is still mainly volunteer BLS first response with Monoc ALS dispatched as needed. A few paid day crews exist here and there. On a busy day we're lucky if they can meet us on the way to the hospital and in the past two years they've actually cut back on MICU rigs on the road. They shut down one post in my town of 45k people in 32 square miles. We have 6 BLS rigs capable of covering the town, to staff these rigs is another story. Average transport times I would say are 20-30 minutes on top of first waiting an average of 15 minutes for a crew to arrive on a good day. If the squad doesn't have a crew, you could wait 30-45 minutes for a mutual aid crew to get out. We've had days we've run more mutual aid calls than our own. As much as I enjoy it as a volunteer, I'll be glad when the services go paid ALS. It will be better for the population, but New Jersey being the fine corrupt state it is, who knows when that will happen.

I know in Howell, Monmouth County, NJ the Police Dept runs a few BLS crews during the day and in Toms River, Ocean County, NJ a similar setup. The New Jersey State Police have a medivac fleet who are first response and if any of their birds are unavailable they go to the private services such as Monoc or Atlantic Air

Chevy Tahoe or Suburban Ford Exploder Dodge Durango Any of these will suffice. Right now the name of the dealership in NJ that our old Ford Explorer came from is not coming to mind. But I believe they had given a discount to the squad. We just sold it to a rescue squad in Somerset where it will probably meet its demise. Remember what ever you get is inevitably going to be beaten to h*ll has people will probably drive it like it's stolen. Irresponsible yes, reality as well unfortunately.

Let's see NJ Monmouth/Ocean Counties 10-1 get ready for info 10-2 phone call 10-7 dinner break 10-9 on location 10-24 drunk driver 10-13 motor vehicle stop In trouble, not sure what the 10 code is. For my town PD dispatchers also dispatch fire and ems so the one time I had to request PD I just told them location and that I needed an officer nothing more. It has been stressed to Fire/EMS not to use 10 code which most of us don't. The old-timers/rednecks/uber-whackers love to, fortunately not too many left.

Being 20 and from New Jersey already has me red flagged on this forum, but freedom of speech is a wonderful thing. I am very well aware and will completely agree with you that the state is in the stone age and has a metric sh*tton of problems. As much as I enjoy being part of the "first aid squad" and volunteer fire dept, it will be a great day when this state finally gets its act together and mandates 100% ALS response. I joined the cadet division of the squad when I was 16 and was allowed to ride along with only CPR for the Professional Rescuer and ARC First Aid. Cadets are allowed to assist with in the scope of their training which is essentially assisting and observing. Never allowed in the back with out an active EMT-B. Cadets are never ever allowed to even get behind the wheel of the ambulance to move it with out a patient inside. Also they will be told to hang back if the crew chief feels that the particular call may upset the cadet. Report cards are mandatory at the end of each grading period and cadets have been suspended for not keeping up to standards. Also the squad has relieved cadets of membership who have answered calls or have been at the building during school hours. Once the advisers and other active members see that you're truly interested they will recommend that you complete the EMT-B course and continue on to be an active member. Once the cadet turns 18 they first need to be accepted to the squad and then will serve a probationary period of at least a year if not more if necessary. Driving is the last part of the training. I feel it is absurd that post 53 gets away with what they do. While CBS shows like that can be rather biased, their website seems to back it up quite well. There is absolutely no reason for a student to leave a high school class in order to answer a ems or fire call. Same goes for someone in college too. As for someones comment about it keeping kids away from drugs and alcohol, I know quite a few cadets that are into drugs and will drink. It definitely won't stop them all. The few of you that are defending this, you need a serious reality check.

That W New Jersey Ave in Villas by any chance?

Monmouth County... All 59-*** units are Monoc only now they go by 201 - 8** Currently it's the same first two digits = town 15(freehold)59(ambulance) if the squad is the only in town If there's two it's 28(marlboro)3(morganville ems)62(ambulance) (28362)or 28(marlboro)1(marlboro ems)57(ambulance) (28158). 50-54 are ems officers 55 first responder unit 56-65 ambulances 66-70 - fire officers 71-84 - Engines 85-89 - Rescue/Salvage/Utility 90-92 - Tower

No, you are a volunteer and you are under the age of 18. There is no reason you should be leaving school. Why do you feel it is necessary to be missing class to answer calls?

Never use your hazards, I don't know about you, but when I see someone with hazards on it usually means they're having a problem... A single dash light, if approved by your Captain/Chief is more than enough. I only use mine if absolutely necessary. Running a ton of lights and driving like an a$$hole will get you nowhere. Drive with due regard and only pass if the other drivers yield to you. Remember, you're only a volunteer, if you miss that rig or truck because you were driving safely, big deal. You'll make the next one. Be safe

one of my fas officers always stresses to people that can drive: speed kills skill saves

Interesting, I used to live in Forest Hills and still visit family there very now and then. I always though FDNY ran everything there now. I know years back (parent's grew up there) there was primarily volunteer service.

I figured around here people have a clue, and I said, I have my moments

I have my moments, but I've gotten better. I have a small very basic first aid kit in my trunk which has come in use (I do a lot of driving). I'm on the VFD and VFAS in my town (that's all there is providing fire and ems). Only have a dual-talon that is some what hidden and same with small grille LEDs. (small town roads that haven't been improved to handle larger town traffic, proven to make a difference in response time for us). Occasionally I'll listen to the scanner too, I guess it's just interesting to listen to since I can hear as far as New York City.

In New Jersey we have a very large amount of volunteer systems. With the roads getting more and more crowded you really do need lights to respond more efficiently. My FD is still one of those that some weeks we'll get 8-12 calls and other weeks 2-3. there is no point in having a 4-5 man crew sitting down at the station. Same goes for ems, while the call volume is significantly higher, the roads are more crowded than ever and being that it is volunteer we aren't required to sit at the squad building for the entire shift, lights do make a difference in the response time. Most people are responsible and the ones that aren't know about it very quickly and have either gotten their permit revoked or suspension from the dept. And in terms of safety, there are times where we have no choice but to respond to scene (read mva/etc is on the road between home and station) I want to be seen at night if I have to stop.