Montgomery EMS - Squad 47 Rescue

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Montgomery EMS - Squad 47 Rescue

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The official page of Montgomery EMS - a 24x7 all-volunteer EMS squad serving Montgomery Township, NJ

Montgomery Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) (formerly Montgomery Township First Aid Squad) is an all volunteer member organization which provides 9-1-1 emergency basic life support ambulance service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to the 22,254 residents (2010 census) as well as visitors to the the township of Montgomery, NJ, and does so with absolutely no charge due to voluntary contributions from local residents and businesses. In addition, MEMS will provide non-emergency ambulance transport service for Township residents. MEMS also performs standbys at fire scenes, community events, and serves as back-up (known as mutual aid) to neighboring towns. In 2018, our 70+ professional volunteers donated more than 35,000 hours of being on duty, waiting to respond at a moment's notice, and covering 99.9% of our 1,433 calls. MEMS maintains three ambulances at our headquarters on Harlingen Road. One ambulance is kept at Station 46 Fire in Blawenburg on Route 518 for quicker responses to the southern part of the township. Furthermore, 2 First Response vehicles are available for the Crew Chief/Senior EMT to take home for their shift, ensuring quick response to emergencies (current average response time is 6.1 minutes.)

10/06/2026

At 10:49pm last night, MEMS was dispatched alongside the Montgomery and Rocky Hill fire companies for a smoke condition that was quickly upgraded to a first alarm structure fire. As our duty crew was responding to the scene, MEMS scrambled additional manpower to staff our fire rehab unit as well as multiple additional ambulances. MEMS treated and transported multiple patients from the incident, in addition to treating and releasing a few firefighters. EMS crews remained on scene for 5 hours providing rehabilitation services throughout the duration of the incident. In total, MEMS staffed 3 ambulances, 3 first responder vehicles, and 1 rehab unit at the incident.

Our squad prides itself on being 100% volunteer, 100% of the time. The MEMS members who responded to this fire are your friends, family, and neighbors who drop everything to serve our community. We are always looking for new members to join our all-volunteer team. Visit our website at www.mems47.org or stop by our station any night at 7pm to learn more!

Some images sourced from Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 2.

10/02/2026

Join us for our annual Open House!

📅 Sunday, November 1st | 1 PM – 4 PM
📍 Montgomery EMS, 8 Harlingen Road

At our Open House, you can:
🚑 Take a tour of our station, ambulances, and life-saving equipment.
🚨 Watch engaging live demos of our crews responding to simulated emergencies.
💬 Learn about volunteer opportunities and meet our dedicated members.
🍕 Enjoy free food and drinks.

This event is family-friendly — bring your kids and experience what it’s like to be part of Montgomery EMS!

09/27/2026

🚨Read about our First Responder of the Month, Sahaana Rangaraj!🚨
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When Sahaana Rangaraj joined Montgomery EMS as a cadet in 10th grade, she was primarily looking for a way to experience medicine firsthand. What Rangaraj found was something much broader: a chance to serve her community, learn from people she might never otherwise meet, and develop skills that continue to shape her life. “I didn’t really understand how much of an impact Montgomery EMS had on the community when I first joined,” Rangaraj recalls. “I just wanted to experience medicine in the best way I could. But I learned that every patient influences my life in some way. Those are experiences I carry with me.”

One of her most memorable calls was also her first. While transporting a patient who had suffered a mini-stroke, Rangaraj was surprised when the woman’s immediate concern was not the ambulance ride, but her lipstick. “She looked at me and said, ‘Do you have my lipstick?’ Then she told me she wasn’t leaving without it,” Rangaraj remembers with a laugh. The moment stuck with her because it was a reminder that behind every medical call is simply a person going through an unexpected and often frightening moment. Other calls have been far more difficult, including her first experience with a patient who had died before the crew arrived. Those experiences, Rangaraj says, made the responsibility of being an EMT very real.

EMS has also taught her lessons that extend well beyond medicine. “I learned to listen a lot more than I talk,” Rangaraj says. “You have to really listen to someone, absorb what they are saying, and then respond.” She also credits EMS with teaching her empathy, quick decision-making, and how to work effectively as part of a team.

Now a student at Boston University, Rangaraj continues to ride with Montgomery EMS whenever she is home during school breaks. Her EMS experience has helped her pursue hospital and research opportunities in Boston, and she hopes eventually to attend medical school and become a physician, perhaps a surgeon.

For Rangaraj, what began as an interest in medicine has become something more: an education in people, service, teamwork, and life.

09/11/2026

25 years ago today, 2,977 people were killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93, including 39 people from Somerset County. Among them were 411 emergency responders consisting of 343 FDNY firefighters, 60 police officers, and 10 EMTs and paramedics.

On the morning of 9/11, the call went out for New Jersey EMS squads to help move patients being ferried from Manhattan to Liberty State Park. More than 1,000 volunteers in 400+ ambulances from 300+ NJ agencies responded. Montgomery EMS was one of the squads that joined this effort. MEMS members Barbara Vaning, Colette Fox, Bill Forbes, and Teri Peterson were on that assignment.

Before they left, the crews staged at the Bridgewater mall to join the rest of the Somerset County convoy. Once the group was together, they drove into New York City. One of the most vivid memories of the MEMS crew that responded that day was when they were driving along Route 78 towards the city. As they approached, they suddenly realized they could not see the Twin Towers after the collapse. All they could see were smoldering heaps from 12 miles away. As they entered into the city the crew remembers the eerie feeling of seeing no other traffic at the Lincoln Tunnel toll plaza except for the column of ambulances heading into Manhattan. The convoy eventually assembled at Liberty State Park waiting for patients who never came.

Over the next two weeks, FDNY EMS asked NJ squads for continued help, and MEMS sent ambulances and crew into the city three more times:

9/14 — 5 members, standby at station, 6 hrs
9/15 — 5 members, Ground Zero, 18 hrs
9/20 — 2 members, Ground Zero, 14 hrs

Rick Kozaryn, Barbara Vaning, Bill Forbes, Teri Peterson, Rob Giguere, Heather Berry, and Peter Jozwick were just a few of the members who made up those crews. Three of those members, Peter, Barbara, and Bill, continue to ride and contribute to MEMS to this day, 25 years later.

09/02/2026

At 8:30pm last night, Montgomery EMS was dispatched to a multi-family residential building for a smoke condition that was quickly upgraded to a first alarm structure fire. Our duty crew immediately assembled and responded to the scene to provide initial care for any potential patients. Meanwhile, additional fire rehab and transporting crews consisting of off-duty members were assembled to provide support at the scene. Firefighters from Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Montgomery Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 2, and Rocky Hill Fire Department worked to put the fire out, with support from 8 mutual aid fire companies, the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management , the Montgomery Township Fire Marshalls, and the Montgomery Township Police Department.

Thanks to the rapid containment of the fire and coordinated evacuation of building residents, there were no reported injuries. The fire, believed to be initiated by a direct lightning strike during yesterday’s storm, caused enough damage to displace the residents of three involved apartments. Local officials are now working to secure temporary housing for the displaced residents.

Our crews remained on scene for several hours, providing rehabilitation services to the firefighters and emergency personnel at the scene. In total, MEMS staffed 2 ambulances, 1 rehab unit, and 1 first responder vehicle at the incident.

The coordinated response of emergency crews at this incident, almost all of whom were volunteers, reflects the professionalism and commitment of our town’s emergency services. Montgomery EMS is always at the ready, at any hour, under any circumstance.

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We are always looking for new members to join our all-volunteer team. Visit our website at www.mems47.org or stop by our station any night at 7pm to learn more!

08/25/2026

🚨Read about our First Responder of the Month, Jasmin Patel! 🚨
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For years, Jasmin Patel saw Montgomery EMS as a familiar presence in the community. She noticed its ambulances and first responder vehicles around town and saw members providing support at local events. A first responder vehicle was also regularly parked outside the home of her neighbor, Montgomery EMS member Prasad Potluri. As Patel grew older, that familiarity developed into curiosity—and eventually a desire to serve. “I wanted to be part of something that mattered,” Patel said. “I liked how community-oriented Montgomery EMS was. When someone was having a difficult day, I wanted to be part of the team that could help.”

Patel joined the Montgomery EMS cadet program as a high school sophomore. She recently graduated and will attend Rutgers University this fall. Balancing school, EMS shifts, training, meetings and patient-care reports required discipline. Patel said the experience helped her become much more organized and taught her to complete assignments before reporting for a shift. She also found a strong support system within the squad. “Everyone was always willing to help,” Patel said. “It wasn’t only help with schoolwork. People gave me advice about life in general. Some of that advice has stayed with me, and I still use it today.

Patel said the cadets formed an especially close bond. They attended EMT classes together, participated in drills and shared the experience of responding to calls. “When you go through something like EMT class together and then begin riding on the ambulance, you become very close,” she said. “The cadets became another group of friends and a second family.

One patient interaction remains particularly meaningful. Patel was helping care for a frightened pediatric patient when she learned that the child loved fairies. During the ambulance ride, the two talked about fairies, helping the child become calmer. Seeing her daughter relax also helped reassure the child’s mother. Months later, the mother sent Montgomery EMS a thank-you note. Patel still remembers it vividly. “The medical care was important, but what stayed with the family was that someone took the time to talk with her and comfort her,” Patel said. “Receiving that note meant so much to me. It reminds me why we do this and motivates me to keep helping people.

Patel believes empathy is one of the most important skills she gained. “People often meet us during one of the worst moments of their lives,” she said. “Sometimes they need someone who will simply listen and be there for them. Her enthusiasm also inspired another volunteer. After hearing Patel describe how enriching and rewarding her Montgomery EMS experience had been, her father became increasingly curious about the organization. He began asking about the different ways he could contribute and ultimately joined the squad himself.

Although Patel is leaving for Rutgers, she does not plan to leave Montgomery EMS behind. She hopes to volunteer during school breaks and whenever she returns home on weekends. “I can’t imagine Montgomery EMS not being part of my life,” she said. “It has become a second home.”

08/22/2026

MEMS recently hosted a continuing education lecture focused on recognizing and managing abdominal emergencies in the field. The session drew nearly 35 attendees from 6 different squads, who spent the morning refreshing core skills and learning new ones.

Abdominal pain and problems remain the second most common reason for EMS activation nationally. Making sure our members can confidently assess and manage these situations means we're better prepared for the next call we get dispatched to. Continuing education remains a priority for our squad, and we are always proud to extend these training opportunities to our neighboring squads whenever we can!

07/21/2026

🚨Read about our First Responder of the Month, Ellen Robbins!🚨
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When Ellen Robbins joined Montgomery EMS as an associate member during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was looking for a practical way to help her community at a difficult time.

“At that point, everyone was trying to figure out what they could do,” Robbins said. “For me, it was about helping make sure the crews had what they needed to stay safe.”

Robbins began organizing donations of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies for Montgomery EMS ambulance crews. She reached out to friends, neighbors, and community contacts, using social media and word of mouth to coordinate weekly supply pickups during some of the most uncertain months of the pandemic. Her efforts helped ensure that crews had access to masks, disinfectants, and other supplies needed to continue responding safely. Robbins also secured funding that enabled Montgomery EMS to become the first agency in Somerset County to purchase a barrel of isopropyl alcohol, which was used to disinfect ambulance interiors and help keep crew members safe.

“I was not an EMT then, but I knew there was still work I could do,” Robbins said. “Every person at Montgomery EMS has a role, and I found a way to contribute.”

Robbins later became an ambulance driver for Montgomery EMS in 2020. After several years of service, she completed 240 hours of training over three months and earned her EMT certification. Today, she continues to serve as both a driver and an EMT.

“What I enjoy most about being a member of the squad is comforting people during a crisis,” Robbins said. “Every call is different. You have to be ready for the unknown, but you also have to remain calm, be present for the person in front of you, and serve them with compassion and professionalism.”

Robbins also enjoys working with the cadets, the high school students who join Montgomery EMS. She said she values the chance to encourage younger members as they gain confidence and begin to understand what it means to serve their neighbors.

Outside of Montgomery EMS, Robbins has also been active with the Princeton Elks in Skillman, where she helped launch the Monty Food Bank during the pandemic. That experience, she said, reinforced the importance of neighbors helping neighbors.

As a volunteer with the squad, Robbins says she has found a meaningful way to continue serving locally.

“I’ve learned that when you care about something, you make time for it,” she said. “Helping people in my town is something I hope to keep doing for as long as I can.”

07/15/2026

Montgomery EMS is grateful to have received a $1,000 donation from Nassau Tennis Club. Since 2012, the club’s annual fundraiser tournament has supported Montgomery Township’s first responder agencies, including both fire companies and police, raising over $25,000 to date. For every dollar donated by tournament participants, Nassau Tennis Club matches two times the total. It is because of generous partners like Nassau Tennis Club that Montgomery EMS is able to continue providing 24/7, high-quality emergency medical care to our residents and visitors at no cost to our patients. Thank you, Nassau Tennis Club, for your continued support of our mission!

07/11/2026

On July 4th, Montgomery EMS was requested by the Somerset County EMS Coordinators to fill a strike team assignment for an emergency evacuation of a nursing home in Voorhees, NJ. An AC failure forced 214 residents to evacuate in almost 100° heat to other healthcare facilities across the state. Despite being busy with other calls throughout town, MEMS quickly assembled a crew to assist as part of the strike team. Our crew, along with crews from Martinsville Rescue Squad, Somerville Rescue Squad, and Basking Ridge Fire Co. No 1 & EMS, responded to Voorhees as part of the Somerset County mutual aid assignment.

Our MEMS crew, sacrificing time away from family and friends on the 4th of July, spent a total of 9 hours on the detail, transporting several patients to other facilities well into the night.

We’re proud to have such dedicated members who drop everything at a moment’s notice to help others in need. We take pride in answering the call for mutual aid as quickly and consistently as we can, helping our neighboring towns and counties when they need assistance.

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We are always looking for new members to join our all-volunteer team. Visit our website at www.mems47.org or stop by our station any night at 7pm to learn more!

Address

8 Harlingen Road
Belle Mead, NJ
08502

Website

https://linktr.ee/montgomeryems

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