No – We do not charge for our services and we never have, since our inception in 1958.

What you probably saw was a MSHVFAS ambulance and paramedic unit. In New Jersey, paramedics, who are hospital-based, sometimes use large SUVs or ambulances. Sometimes referred to as MICUs (Mobile Intensive Care Units), these vehicles and the paramedics who operate them are an extension of the hospital’s emergency room and provide a higher level of care than EMTs.

Simply put, the paramedics were likely not needed. Each ambulance call is unique, and the level of care required varies from patient to patient. In this case, it’s likely the patient’s condition did not warrant advanced medical intervention. It’s also possible the ambulance crew was enroute to meet paramedics at the hospital or at a designated rendezvous point.

There are well-defined protocols that determine when paramedics are required. When someone calls 911, the dispatcher can quickly assess the situation and determine whether paramedics are needed based on the nature of the injury, illness, or event. Additionally, the ambulance crew can request paramedic support if they determine it is necessary upon arrival.

You are correct, MSHVFAS does not charge for their service. However, there is a charge for the hospital-based paramedics.

First, a backup tone and alert will be sent to all volunteers that an additional crew it needed. If able, off-duty members will staff another ambulance. If no off-duty members can respond, MSHVFAS relies on long-standing mutual aid agreements with other volunteer ambulance squads from a number of surrounding towns.

Yes, all members of MSHVFAS are unpaid volunteers. Most serve while also working full-time jobs or attending school.

Our primary hospitals are Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and Overlook Medical Center in Summit. In certain cases, we can transport patients to Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, University Hospital in Newark, Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark.

All members are licensed Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics, or currently enrolled in an EMT course. At present, the curriculum for the EMT program is approximately 200 hours. EMTs are also required to recertify every three years.