TOMS RIVER – Increasing concerns over lags in response times and a lack of volunteers to service residents as members of Emergency Medical Services squads has resulted in the Ocean County Board of Commissioners taking a look at how it might be able to help.
"It's important that as a Board we do something," said Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Gary Quinn. "Anyone can need an ambulance at any time. No one should have to wait an hour for that life-saving service."
Quinn noted that the findings of a 133 page report commissioned by the Board of Commissioners to review what actions the County might take states that following a extensive review, it is indisputable that a County-wide EMS gap service would benefit Ocean County residents and visitors.
"There is a clear need for a sustainable, reliable, strategically deployed prehospital ambulance service," according to the report prepared by RB Emergency Consulting LLC.
Quinn said the southern part of the County in addition to the barrier islands are affected more by EMS gaps in service than the municipalities in the northern part of Ocean County. He noted the northern area is serviced by several paid squads and also the non-profit rescue squad Hatzolah.
Quinn said Ocean County is not interested in taking over the emergency medical services for all 33 municipalities, rather it would be more of a support agencies to help those areas that need it.
"Far too often our emergency dispatchers are spending time trying to find mutual aid rigs to respond to calls," Quinn said.
He added that the coronavirus pandemic appears to have exacerbated the decrease in getting volunteers to help with first aid squads.
"Working with all these factors we felt it imperative to take the step to have a study completed on the current EMS situation and what some options may be for the County in the future," Quinn said.
Quinn said Ocean County has the largest senior population and veteran population in the state.
"And while we always speak about how proud we are of this distinction, because of the current EMS situation we don't have the ability to take care of them," he said. "We have a population of more than 650,000 which more than doubles during the summer months. We have to start looking at this situation and we have to start addressing it now."
Quinn said the biggest problem in the County is the response time. Nationally, the response time for EMS is around 8 minutes.
"Some of our residents have waited an hour," Quinn said. "I know four families that have lost loved ones because they had to wait that long."
Quinn said cost will play a factor in whatever the County may decide to do in the future.
"I am confident our residents would want this service," he said. "If we can save one life, it's worth the money. Every elected official in this County should realize this is a crisis."
Quinn said that the County is not sitting idly by and doing nothing regarding the current situation.
He said the County was working with the Ocean County Vocational Technical Schools to provide courses in EMS so when high school students graduate from the vo-tech they will do so with the skills to work in emergency medical services.
He added that EMS courses continue to be taught at the Ocean County Training Center in Waretown and there is an interest from the public.
"These are stepping stones to help get us to the future," he said.
Quinn said that while he will not be a Commissioner on the Board in the New Year, the new Commissioners-elect will be tasked with looking at solutions for the growing EMS concerns.
"Ocean County is one of the largest counties in the state when it comes to land mass," Quinn said. "Just as we have an obligation to make certain our infrastructure is well maintained and our other services are provided, this too is our obligation."
Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Barbara Jo Crea stressed the importance of having a robust EMS service available to residents and visitors.
"Where would we be if the EMS was not available to us," she asked. |