FAQ's
What kind of time commitment does being a member of the squad entail?
Last year, in 2005, Wall Community First Aid Squad answered approximatly 920 calls. General members are expected to be able to respond to as many of these first aid calls as possible as well as sign up for a duty crew night.
Night duty crews are usually from 11 PM - 6 AM. Night duty crew members must respond on their designated nights when a call goes out but do not need to stand by at the building all night.
Members are also expected to attend the Squad's business meeting (8 PM on the second Tuesday of each month) and the training/drill meetings (7 PM on the last Tuesday of each month). In addition, members must contribute to fundraising efforts, etc. Officers and Executive Board members commit additional time to their positions.
What are the benefits of becoming a squad member?
There are many benefits to being a Wall Community First Aid Squad member. Members receive free training on CPR, defibrillation, first aid, emergency vehicle operation, incident command, and not to mention a free seat in the EMT-B class to become a certified Emergency Medical Technician. Members are also provided squad apparel and a pager. There are numerous social functions throughout the year for members. Wall Township has recently approved a "Length of Service Award Program" (LOSAP), which awards members who serve the squad for at least 3 years with a small retirement plan. Perhaps the best benefit of being a member is gaining experience in emergency situations and learning valuable life-saving skills. The gratitude of helping someone in need is by far the most rewarding aspect of being a Squad member!
What kind of training do squad members receive?
New members initially receive CPR training at the Healthcare Provider level. Squad-specific training is also provided so that the trainee is familiar with operations, equipment, and driving. Detailed training in emergency care and basic life support is provided by the State of New Jersey's EMT-B program, which is free of charge to members. This 120-hour course usually takes 3 months of night and weekend classroom time, and culminates in a practical and written examination which tests your new skills. Passing these exams identifies you as an accredited EMT throughout the Untied States. New Jersey EMT status must be renewed every 3 years through an intensive refresher course and continual education credits. The squad provides training throughout the year for which continual education credits can be earned. Topics include: Domestic Violence, Summer/Winter Emergencies, Incident Command, Pediatric care, Poisoning/Overdoses, Rescue/Extrication, etc. These classes ensure that our membership stays sharp on critical skills.
What is the cost of training?
Once you are a member of the squad, all training costs are taken care of by the squad, making it 100% free to you.
What do I need to keep up my EMT status once I get it?
To renew your EMT-B certification you must meet the following requirements:
NJ EMT-B certification - within 3 years you must get:
24 Elective CEUs
24 CORE CEUs
Hold a current CPR card
Nationally Registered EMT-B - within 2 years you must get:
48 Elective CEUs
24 CORE CEUs
Hold a current CPR card
How old must you be to join?
Junior members must be at least 16 years old. Regular members are 18 and above.
"But I can't stand the sight of blood!"
VERY FEW calls involve blood. There are a wide variety of first aid calls where no physical symptoms are evident.
What equipment will I need?
You will be issued a squad pager, as well as a couple of squad t-shirts.
Can squad members use emergency lights on their car?
Junior members and Probationary members cannot use emergency lights in their vehicles. Regular members may choose to display emergency blue lights when responding to emergency calls, providing they hold the appropriate permit.
Can I give donations to members on a call?
While we prefer that you mail your donations, you may certainly choose to submit your donation in an envelope to the senior member of the responding crew.
How do I know there is no charge when I call 911? I thought 911 was for a hospital ambulance.
If you live in Wall Township and you dial 911 for a medical emergency, a First Aid Squad ambulance is dispatched to you. We provide care and transportation to an appropriate local hospital at no charge. However, some critical emergencies also require the response of a Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU), also known as Paramedics. This is provided by a company called MONOC, and is associated with the hospitals. If they transport you in their ambulance, or even treat you onboard our ambulance en-route to the hospital, they charge a fee that is billed to your insurance company. This is why you sometimes see two ambulances at a scene or following each other to a hospital; one is the First Aid Squad ambulance (carrying the patient), and the other is the MICU/paramedics ambulance. Trained personnel from both services are taking care of the patient.
Do you carry epinephrine in your ambulances? I just found out my son/daughter has a life-threatening food allergy.
Per New Jersey State EMT-B regulations, we do not carry epinephrine in our ambulances. However, paramedics would also be dispatched to any allergic reaction. They act as a mobile "emergency room" and can deliver medications like epinephrine at the scene. You may want to consider getting your son/daughter an "epinephrine pen" auto-injector, which is a safe and effective way of combating the sudden onset of a serious allergic reaction. Our ambulance personnel (EMT-B's) can perform this task with a patient's subscribed EpiPen in case of emergency.
Have a question we didn't answer? Feel free to email us!