We are a member of the New Jersey First Aid Council and abide by their operating recommendations. This holds true for the training requirements. To ride as a crew member on our squad, you must hold a New Jersey Emergency Medical Technician(EMT) certification or National Registry EMT. This entails a training program that is approximately 110 hours in length. Classes vary in scheduling to accommodate the wide needs of prospective members. Also, American Red Cross or American Heart Association CPR - BLS Healthcare Provider level. We will provide you with the necessary enrollment paperwork for the class that you select. As long as you have been approved for membership and have enrolled in a class as an affiliate of the “Liberty Corner First Aid Squad”, you will be reimbursed for all training costs upon completion of the course.
You can download, complete and mail the attached Membership Application here.
There will certainly be many questions that you will have, before as well as during your training, and we will make sure that there will always be someone from the squad available to get the answers for you. However, we have listed below, brief answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
How much time will I be expected to put in once I become a member?
Being that the squad is a private volunteer organization, we take care of all of our business in a democratic fashion. This includes the election of officers. Therefore in order to be a "voting" member you must put in a minimum of 30 hours per month, on average, of which 6 hours must be weekend time. We do have members who are unable to fulfill this requirement and therefore put in less time.
Do I have to stay at the Squad building during my duty time?
No, Being on duty means that you have committed on the schedule to stay within our coverage zone and be available to respond to calls.
How do I know when there is a call?
You will be issued a pager that is activated by a dispatcher. This pager is like a one way radio in that you will be able to hear the information being broadcast. You will hear the location as well as the nature of the situation. If you are on duty you will respond to the building to get the rig(ambulance).
What if I don't know where a street is that we’ve been dispatched to?
You will be issued an alphabetical street directory that describes the location of every street in our town. Also when you get to the rig you can use the radio to ask the dispatcher for directions.
In the beginning will there be someone there to help me?
Absolutely, during your "probationary period" you will be closely guided to ensure that you are comfortable with what you are doing.
How long is the probationary period?
It is a minimum of 6 months from the time that you start riding on calls. At that point a review by the Captain and Trustees will take place to decide if more indoctrination is needed.
If I am already an EMT or Paramedic coming from another organization will I also go through the probationary period?
Yes, we feel this time is necessary for your familiarization with our operation.
How often do you have meetings?
Our business meetings are held monthly on the first Wednesday at 8pm. We also have a "drill"(training) night on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Again, in order to be a voting member you are required to attend 50% of both the business and training meetings.
What kind of calls can I expect to see?
We do cover 2 major highways, and do have our share of motor vehicle accidents, but most of our calls are of the medical nature (Difficulty Breathing, etc.).
What if I came upon a situation that I couldn't handle?
You will be very surprised at how much your confidence level will go up after you complete your training. However, there is always the possibility that there could be a situation that may bother you. Notify the "Crew Chief" on the call of your problem and he/she will reassign your present duty. There is usually enough personal on the scene to cover if the need be.
Will I have to buy any equipment or uniforms?
No, everything you need will be provided by the squad.
The Liberty Corner First Aid Squad
N.J.D.O.H. or National Registry E.M.T. Certification
ARC or AHA CPR - BLS Healthcare Provider
DOT Ambulance operations, ambulance and equipment familiarization