THE RESCUE SQUAD TODAY
The South Orange Rescue Squad is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides free 911 emergency medical care to the residents and visitors of South Orange, New Jersey. We also provide our free services to Maplewood and other surrounding communities, including Seton Hall University, Orange, and Newark. We are staffed by volunteer members only and funded solely by contributions from our community.
The Rescue Squad operates four state of the art Ambulances out of our modern headquarters building at 62 Sloan Street in the heart of South Orange Village. Additionally, the squad utilizes bicycles, an EMS utility cart, and is over 70 members strong.
Our ambulances are always staffed with a minimum of two Emergency Medical Technicians and carry all of the available Basic Life Support medications and interventions allowed by the State of New Jersey. In fact, SORS was the first in Essex county to carry hemostatic gauze, aspirin, and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) on our ambulances. We were the first department in the RWJ-Barnabas system to obtain permissions to carry albuterol.
All of the revenue of the Rescue Squad is received through voluntary tax deductible donations and fund raising events. All operating costs are covered by these contributions, including medical supplies, medical equipment, building upkeep, vehicle maintenance and ambulance purchases. The Township of South Orange provides the Squad with vehicle insurance and fuel.