Borough Clears Up Chester EMS Confusion

CHESTER, NJ — With several residents not being sure exactly what Chester’s EMS model change means, officials have provided some clarity on the new system.

Over the last several months, Chester’s First Aid Squad had been going back and forth on whether it would become a billing model, rather than a free volunteer service it had been for 80 years.

Earlier this month, the first aid squad said that after “careful consideration and extensive discussions,” the agency will operate as it has been. In other words, residents will continue to not have to pay for its services.

However, it was decided during a recent council meeting that the first aid squad would now be working alongside Atlantic Health’s EMS team, in what Township Mayor Tim Drag is calling a “win-win” scenario.

What that means is Atlantic Health’s EMS Team will serve as the area’s main first aid squad through a dual-dispatch model.

Under the new system, Morris County Dispatch will send a notification to Atlantic Health for calls between 5:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. If Atlantic Health cannot respond, dispatch will contact the Chester First Aid Squad. If neither entity is available, a mutual aid service will be contacted from a nearby town.

Since Chester Township has a 24/7 contract with Atlantic Health, but Chester Borough does not, the Chester First Aid Squad will be notified of all Borough calls between 7 p.m. and 5:45 a.m. The Borough will continue to rely on the Chester First Aid Squad on nights and weekends.

Officials said that services from either entity will not result in any billing. In other words, Chester residents will continue not to have to pay for EMS services as they haven’t had for eight decades.

Following the loss of $40,000 in funding from Chester Township, Borough officials are giving the Chester First Aid Squad its own discretion on whether it will continue to operate in the future.

“Seven years ago, the CFAS made the tough decision to ask AH to cover both municipalities during the weekdays as they determined that they did not have enough members to cover that time,” Borough Mayor Janet Hoven said. “We trust that if the CFAS determines that it cannot provide the service we have all been used to for the last 80 years for nights and weekends in Chester Borough, they will let us know, and we will make changes to coverage as necessary.”

Click here to learn more about the Chester First Aid Squad and how to volunteer.

The Chester First Aid Squad provides services to both Chester Township and Borough, as well as mutual aid to Mendham Township and Borough, Washington Township, and Harding Township.