Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did I receive a bill from Wanamassa First Aid Squad?

The Wanamassa First Aid Squad is fully staffed with full-time EMTs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This allows Wanamassa First Aid Squad to provide prompt, professional emergency medical services without delays in patient care and transport. As with all professional services, there are operational costs associated. Regardless of the cost, if you need emergency help, don't hesitate to call 911 for an ambulance. The most important thing is to get you to the hospital quickly and safely.

Q: Are Wanamassa First Aid Squad ambulances always on-duty?

Yes. Wanamassa ambulances are staffed by full-time EMTs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Wanamassa First Aid Squad employs 15 paid EMTs. Full-time EMTs are assigned to 4 squads of 2 EMTs, working 24 hours on duty and 72 hours off duty. A secondary truck is also in service, as well as a power truck during high call volume hours to provide prompt, professional pre-hospital care and enhance response times.

Q: Will I have to wait long if Wanamassa First Aid Squad is busy?

No. Wanamassa First Aid Squad has standing mutual-aid agreements with surrounding jurisdictions to dispatch available ambulances to emergencies. We do not delay response to medical emergencies and your call will be promptly assigned to an available unit from Wanamassa First Aid Squad or a neighboring agency for the fastest response possible. If no Wanamassa ambulance is available, an ambulance from Oakhurst EMS, Asbury Park Fire EMS, or another agency will be dispatched to your emergency.

Q: Which hospitals does the Wanamassa First Aid Squad transport to?

Click on the link Hosptials that Wanamassa First Aid Squad transports to

Q: Which advanced life support (ALS) paramedics respond to Wanamassa?

Click on the link Advanced Life Support (ALS) Units Serving Wanamassa

Q: Can a family member or a friend ride along for a transport to the hospital?

Yes. This is always the preferred instance for any minor age patients.  For adult patients, family members or friends riding in the ambulance during patient transport to the hospital is allowed on a case by case basis.  Depending on the crew's judgement related to patient care or visitor restrictions at hospitals, crews may decline a family member or friend to ride along during patient transport to the hospital.

Q: Does the Wanamassa First Aid Squad provide non-emergency transportation services?

Yes. The Wanamassa First Aid Squad provides non-emergency transportations for Ocean Township residents only. Click here for information about non-emergency transportations

Q: If my child experiences a medical emergency when I am not present, will Wanamassa First Aid Squad treat and transport to prevent any delay in care?

Yes. Emergency Care If a Minor arrives or is brought to a hospital’s emergency department with a life threatening emergency or an “Emergency Medical Condition” (see below), or otherwise requires emergency treatment, a hospital or health care provider may provide all necessary medical care and treatment to the Minor, even without the consent of the Minor’s Legal Representative. State law expressly states, 

“The inability of the treating physician, hospital or clinic to locate or notify the parents or guardian shall not preclude the provision of any necessary emergency medical or surgical care to the minor” (emphasis added) (see N.J.S.A. 9:17A-4).

Further, New Jersey Hospital Licensing Standards require that treatment for any lifethreatening emergency must be initiated immediately (see N.J.A.C. 8:43G-12.7(b)). The Hospital Licensing Standards give a patient at a general hospital the right to give informed, written consent prior to the start of any nonemergency procedure or treatment. N.J.A.C. 8:43G-4.1(a)(7). 

In addition, any individual who arrives at a hospital’s emergency department with an Emergency Medical Condition (defined below) must be evaluated by a physician and provided with such medical treatment as is necessary to assure that the condition has been “stabilized”  (defined as to “assure within reasonable medical probability, that no material deterioration of the condition is likely to result” see N.J.A.C. 8:43G-12.6.) and N.J.A.C. 8:43G-12.7(d)). 

"Emergency Medical Condition" is defined as:

 A medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms or sufficient severity (including severe pain, psychiatric disturbances and/or symptoms of substance abuse) such that absence of immediate attention could reasonably be expected to result in: (i) placing the health of the individual (or, with respect to a pregnant woman the health of the woman or her unborn child) in serious jeopardy; (ii) serious impairment to bodily functions; or (iii) serious dysfunction of a bodily organ or part; or with respect to a pregnant woman who is having contractions: (i) that there is inadequate time to effect a safe transfer to another hospital before delivery; or (ii) that transfer may pose a threat to the health or safety of the woman or the unborn child. (see N.J.A.C. 8:43G-12.6).

Click here to see more about New Jersey Law governing consent of Minors during medical emergencies

Q: I was treated and/or transported by Wanamassa First Aid Squad or I am an attorney representing a patient that was treated and/or transported by Wanamassa First Aid Squad. Can I obtain a copy of the patient care report?

Yes. To obtain a copy of a patient care report

Q: Is my personal information provided to the Wanamassa First Aid Squad safe and protected?

Yes. Click here for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) information 

Q: Can a service dog ride with a patient in the ambulance during transport to the hospital?

Yes. In accordance with the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq., seeing-eye dogs, service dogs, hearing ear dogs, companion dogs and/or guide dogs trained by a recognized agency or school to assist a blind, handicapped or hearing impaired person shall be permitted on any MAV or BLS ambulance where their presence is necessary to perform the duties for which they are trained.  Regardless of the purpose of the animal, if the animal is a potential threat to health or safety of anyone involved in response, the animal may be excluded from transport.