The Wanamassa First Aid Squad began serving the Township of Ocean’s sick and injured in 1928. Volunteers manned our ambulances for response 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.  This was a savings to the tax payers of millions of dollars over those 85 years.

Seven years ago (March 2012), paid EMT’s had to be hired to cover the daytime hours from 6am to 6pm as volunteers grew scarce, due demands on time,  increase in training requirements, and time available to respond due to most households having two persons working full time. The few and dedicated volunteers continued to respond from 6pm to 6am, with individuals often responding several nights a week.

In early to mid-2018 volunteer numbers continued to dwindle, and reliable night time response became an issue.  As result Wanamassa First Aid began paid night time service, with paid EMT’s which meant responding EMT’s were paid by the squad as with their daytime counter parts    This additional service assured our ambulance could respond to 911 emergencies around the clock.  

Tax dollars have always paid for our ambulances, repairs, supplies, equipment, liability insurance, and workman’s compensation for our responders. There was no charge to patients until five years ago because there were no salaries to be paid for staffing. Now, paid EMT’s requires a need for billable charges for patient assessment, treatment, and or transport to our local hospitals. We transport to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.

Insurance companies recognize these charges and reimburse accordingly to patients’ coverage. When a patient receives the bill, Wanamassa First Aid urges patients to reply promptly to the billing company with insurance information.  If there is a patient responsibility for a balance due, the billing company will work with patients. 

While the insurance reimbursements and patient responsibility fees go directly to EMT payroll, the Wanamassa First Aid still relies on donations to help offset salaries and payroll expenses.   Needless to say a paid staff if a very expensive to maintain.  

Our squad was chartered in 1928 to provide an ambulance emergency service to the residents and visitors to our community.  We are still fulfilling this mission albeit our very capable paid EMT staff.  You cannot put a price on the benefit of keeping our ambulance responding and saving lives.  We have continuously been responding for the past 90 years from the corner of Wickapecko Drive and Sunset Avenue, and will continue to do so for years to come.