At 1:30 a.m. on June 14, 1958, the Millburn-Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad responded to its first emergency call—and has proudly served the community ever since.
Earlier that year, on January 30, the Chairman of Volunteers announced that 45 individuals would begin a first aid training course. Following certification by the New Jersey State First Aid Council on May 27, 1958, the Squad was officially chartered with 33 members.
In June 1958, the Junior League generously donated a used 1958 Cadillac ambulance to the Squad. A second Cadillac ambulance was purchased in 1960 to support the growing demand.
Initially, the Squad operated out of a makeshift space in the township’s Public Works garage. However, the need for a dedicated facility became clear as membership and call volume increased. In December 1966, the Squad celebrated opening its own building at Glen Avenue and Lackawanna Place. A crew room was added in 1975 to support training and operations.
In its early days, the Squad was dispatched by telephone. A “bell” system was installed in the homes of crew chiefs, allowing the police to activate emergency calls remotely. In 1972, the Squad transitioned from telephone dispatching to a Plectron radio system, significantly improving mobility and enabling members to remain in constant radio contact.
Always committed to advancing training and equipment, the Squad purchased its first GMC Transmode in December 1975—an “emergency room on wheels” that was the first of its kind in the country.
To meet the growing demand for improved communication, the Squad adopted a new, state-of-the-art Minitor radio system in 1983. This compact, pager-sized device, combined with the establishment of the Squad’s own radio frequency, marked a major leap forward in modernizing communication—one that continues to serve the Squad to this day.
In 1986, the Squad building was expanded to house a third, state-of-the-art ambulance.
