Our History

The South Orange Rescue Squad was established in 1952 by a group of local residents and business owners as an all-volunteer organization. At that time, a single ambulance was housed in a garage across Sloan Street from the Fire Department.

Our service today

The Rescue Squad operates out of its headquarters at 62 Sloan Street.

The Rescue Squad has four ambulances and a first response vehicle, which respond to medical emergencies primarily within South Orange, including Seton Hall University. We also assist when called to Maplewood, Newark, and other neighboring communities through regional mutual aid agreements.

All of our modern ambulances and the medical equipment they carry meet the requirements of the New Jersey Department of Health. The South Orange Rescue Squad is incorporated in the State of New Jersey. Its assets are wholly owned by the membership.

No member of the Rescue Squad is compensated for his/her medical or administrative time and there is never a fee charged for our services. We are a community-based organization that is dedicated to serving our neighbors when they need us most.

All of the revenue of the Rescue Squad is received through voluntary donations and fund raising events. All operating costs are covered by these contributions, including building, equipment, and vehicle maintenance and purchases.

Governance

A nine-member Board of Directors manages the Rescue Squad. Each director is elected by the active members and serves a one-year term.

The Board officers are:

• President – the chief executive of the organization, who focuses on administration and our relationship with the community.
• Captain – the operations chief, who is responsible for ambulance operations, personnel and the organization of each crew.
• Corresponding Secretary – serves all notices to members of the Rescue Squad, responsible for distribution of the mail, acknowledgment of donations.
• Treasurer – the finance manager, who is responsible for all financial transactions and financial record keeping.
• Recording Secretary – official custodian of records, responsible for preparing and filing minutes of board meetings, government filings, run sheets, etc.
• Four at-large board members who do not hold an officer position.