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Officials investigate NJ volunteer EMS shortage

Administrators say it’s been a struggle to staff the volunteer ambulance squad, because of demanding training requirements

WABC

HASBROUCH HEIGHTS, N.J. — An elderly woman critically was hurt and waiting for help, so why did it take more than a half hour for an ambulance to come?

It happened in a New Jersey suburb at 6:30 in the morning. An elderly woman falls down the stairs, fractures her skull and injures her spine. But it takes 34 minutes for the ambulance to arrive, not because of some mix-up, but because of a shortage of volunteers.

“We haven’t been able to get an ambulance here, which is totally unacceptable,” said Francisco Reyes, the victim’s son-in-law.

Full story: Investigation into volunteer EMS shortage in New Jersey