Join Us

The Chester First Aid Squad is always seeking willing candidates to fill our roles. We currently enjoy a diverse cross section of membership. Some of our members are professional EMT’s or Paramedics, business executives, students, retirees, stay at home parents, etc. We have several different types of membership categories:

OPERATIONAL MEMBERS:

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): These members complete an intensive New Jersey EMT-Basic course and their primary role is to respond to emergency calls and render care. NJ OEMS recently increased the hours of the course to approximately 220.

Emergency Responder: These members are trained in basic pre-hospital care and their primary role is to initiate care and support the EMT’s in caring for patients.

Driver: These members are trained in ambulance operations and maneuvers as well as CPR. Although their primary role is to drive, they also assist the EMT’s with lifting and moving patients as needed.

Cadet: These members are between the ages of 16-18 and must enroll in and complete a NJ EMT-Basic course.

For those that are interested in a start in the medical field, the Chester First Aid Squad can be a great jumping off point. We have several past members who are now paramedics, nurses and doctors.

NON-OPERATIONAL MEMBERS:

Associate: These are members who do not participate in the response to emergency calls, but rather provide behind the scenes support, either helping to maintain the building and grounds, or providing Administrative support to the organization.

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TRAINING

Approved training for operational members is provided at no cost, through the NJ State EMT Training Fund and the squads own training funds. We simply ask for a minimum two year commitment.

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BENEFITS

Clearly, the single most important benefit to membership is the feeling of satisfaction you get, knowing you have helped someone on what may be the worst day of their life.

"Oh you're an EMT, that's cool. I wanted to do that when I was a kid. What do you make?"

"What do I make? I make holding your hand seem like the biggest thing in the world when you’re being cut out of a twisted car in the middle of the night. I make those annoying sirens sound like angels coming when you’re watching your loved one suffer. I make your child breathe when they stop. I make surviving a heart attack more likely. I make my way to your house in the worst weather imaginable when you call for help. I make myself get out of bed at 3am and risk my life to save people I have never met. Today I might make the ultimate sacrifice to save your life. I make a difference. What do you make?"

Other benefits include tuition reimbursement at County College of Morris, full workers compensation and liability insurance, and LOSAP (length of service awards program) which provides a certain amount of money per year deposited in a tax deferred income account for each member who earns the required number of points.

Please scroll down below the video to contact our Membership Committee.