Beginning of the end of volunteer EMS in NJ

Sad as it is, another volunteer squad in NJ has closed its doors.

See the article here.

I could have predicted this when I was living in northern New Jersey earlier this decade. With the reduction of volunteerism comes the end of volunteer ambulance squads. Many squads in Bergen County and throughout New Jersey will face tough questions about consolidation in upcoming years. The idea of home rule that is rampant in NJ will be trumped by the reality that each little town, village, or borough doesn't need its own BLS ambulance squad running less than 1,000 calls per year. I predict that larger regional squads running a few thousand calls would be much more efficient. The counter-argument would say that a regional system might lack the down-home neighborly feel the current system provides, but I'd rather have a reliable and cost-effective ambulance service than an unreliable "home town" squad that might not get out the door when the pager tones sound.