PASCACK VALLEY—When you call for an ambulance in Westwood, the local ambulance corps volunteers — many who are trained as emergency medical technicians — are likely to be there in about 10 minutes or less to answer your call.
And they’ve been doing that for nearly 90 years, since their founding in 1935.
Now the corps’ 30 members, with 20 active riding members, is hoping you will consider answering their call for volunteers as the squad begins its 2023 outreach for new members.
“We’re all struggling for members. We’re trying to make sure that our efforts are front and center for people who would like to join,” said Rush Sherman, an emergency medical responder and business vice president with Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
Unlike their neighboring Tri-Boro Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which is seeking $100,000 cash infusions from Montvale, Park Ridge and Woodcliff Lake to start a volunteer stipend program to retain volunteers, the Westwood corps needs more volunteers to expand its hours of service to residents.
Those three towns also provide a $20,000 annual contribution each to help fund the all-volunteer squad. (See “Tri-Boro EMS asks $100K infusions,” Michael Olohan, Jan. 2, 2023.)
Emerson, too, has banners up seeking volunteers, and the Township of Washington is always recruiting — its corps will soon be moving to more prominent headquarters in a multimillion-dollar new building shared with the town volunteer fire department, on Washington Avenue.
Sherman said funding is not an immediate concern but recruiting new members is critical. In Westwood, volunteer corps funding comes from three sources: donations of residents and businesses, the corps’ annual summer carnival, and a donation from the Borough of Westwood, notes the website.
The Westwood corps also assists surrounding towns with mutual aid calls. In 2021, the corps responded to 636 emergencies in Westwood and nearby towns.
Sherman said the corps’ goal would be double the number of active riding members, from 20 now to 40, if possible. He said two people can staff an ambulance to a call, but he much prefers three people, and if possible, four people.
He said the Westwood ambulance is in service about 51% of the time for residents and a goal they would like to get to is local coverage 80% of the time.
Sherman said the corps hopes to be “proactive” with banner ads, community events, and feature articles that entice potential recruits into finding out more about the public service rewards of volunteering.
Sherman said interested residents should come to an upcoming open house or rig checking event to learn more about joining the corps. He said volunteers must be trained in CPR to join the squad. Volunteers can decide to move up the ranks, starting first as an EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) and going for additional certifications on their way to become an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician).
Sherman said he had completed his second year as a corps’ volunteer and noted “people can contribute in different ways” including as an EMR and an ambulance rig driver.
He said sometimes if the local volunteer ambulance corps is not available, a nearby mutual aid volunteer ambulance corps will respond. If not available, the service must rely on private ambulances, which may lead to a delayed response and a charge for services. The Westwood corps does not charge for its medical emergency response services.
Sherman said on average a crew, when paged, can get to the ambulance headquarters in several minutes and respond to a local emergency call in under 10 minutes.
Upcoming open houses, recruitment events, and opportunities to learn more about volunteering with the Westwood corps will be publicized soon, Sherman said.
“Our goal is to reach out to the community and create awareness of the services we provide and make an effort to recruit new members,” Sherman said.
For more information on getting involved write the corps at Join@WestwoodVolunteerEMS.org or call (201) 664-0003.