Emergency/Hospitals

South Orange Rescue Squad
Local Hospitals
Substance Abuse

South Orange Rescue Squad

The South Orange Rescue Squad is an all volunteer organization established in 1952. It is responsible for providing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the Township of South Orange Village 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Occasionally, the Squad responds to mutual aid calls in Maplewood and West Orange. The Rescue Squad maintains two fully equipped ambulances with the most modern life-saving equipment, including two cardiac defibrallators, which were purchased with donations to the Rescue Squad.

As an ambulance service, residents depend on the Rescue Squad for any medical emergencies. As a volunteer ambulance service, the Rescue Squad depends on the community in two crucial ways:

1. Volunteers are needed to become members of the Squad to ride on the ambulances and to become Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). Previous training is not required. Residents will be trained in CPR, first aid and assistance will be rendered in helping individuals in EMT Certification. The South Orange Rescue Squad is not an in-house squad. All members are issued pagers that are activated any time there is a medical emergency. This means residents can volunteer and not give up precious family time.

The senior squad is open to all capable adults over the age of 17 1/2. There is also a Cadet Corp for high school students between the ages of 15 1/2 and 17 1/2. If you are interested in serving on the South Orange Rescue Squad, please call the answering service at 763-1933 or stop by the building, which is located at 4 Third Street, any evening around 7:30 p.m. Keep in mind, there is no greater satisfaction than saving a life.

2. Donations enable the Rescue Squad to purchase the most technologically advanced ambulances and medical equipment which enable it to provide the best medical care. There is never a fee for the Squad's services. The members of the Rescue Squad are volunteers who are dedicated to helping the community and neighbors.

The following hospitals serve our area:

East Orange General Hospital East Orange, NJ
- 300 Central Ave - (973) 672-8400
- 86 S Harrison St - (973) 674-3500

Hospital Center at Orange Orange, NJ (973) 266-2000

Charter Behavioral Health Summit, NJ (908) 522-7000

Irvington General Hospital Irvington, NJ (973) 399-6000

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Newark, NJ (973) 926-7000

St. Barnabas Medical Center Livingston, NJ (973) 533-5000

Overlook Hospital Summit, NJ (908) 522-2000

University of Medicine & Dentistry Newark, NJ (973) 956-4300

Substance Abuse

(973) 763-HELP (4357) provides referrals for drug and alcohol related issues. 763-HELP is a free service provided by trained volunteers in the South Orange-Maplewood community to assist those individuals of any age in need of referral as well as those affected by substance abuse. The anonymity of all callers is respected and all information given to the hotline remains confidential.

For information regarding self-help groups for a particular problem whether it be an addiction, disability, chronic illness, parent/family problems, call the New Jersey Self Help Clearing House, 1 - 800-367-6274.