Vernon Emergency Medical Services

04/28/2026

Today, we proudly celebrate a truly remarkable woman — Edna A Troast Deacon — on her 90th birthday.

An honorary member of Vernon Emergency Medical Services, Edna is far more than a name, she is a cornerstone of EMS, not only in our community but across New Jersey. Her decades of dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to emergency medical services have helped shape the very foundation of what we do today. From her long-standing service in EMS leadership roles to her continued support of volunteers, her impact is immeasurable.
Her legacy is one of service, compassion, and inspiration. A true example of what it means to give back to others.

It is with great honor and deep appreciation that we wish Edna a very Happy 90th Birthday. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for EMS and the communities we serve.

Happy Birthday, Edna! 🎉🚑

04/27/2026

Join Vernon Township High Schools HOSA Club on Sunday, May 3rd for their 5k at High Point State Park!

Scan the QR code in the corner or register online: https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Wantage/vik5k

04/26/2026

Within the last 7 days, Vernon Emergency Medical Services has responded to several high priority calls for service, including 2 house fires, an injured hiker on the Stairway To Heaven, and lost ATV riders behind Lake Panorama. All of these calls were answered by our volunteers on top of our normal call volume for medical & trauma emergencies.

Our members got to work side by side with local law enforcement, New Jersey State Park Police, New Jersey Forest Fire, our volunteer firefighters and with local search and rescue teams. We staffed multiple ambulances, deployed our special operations team and staffed our logistical support unit (rehab) for each of these calls.

As you can see, EMS does more than just help the sick and injured. We have a spot for everyone's skills, and we need YOU to help continue providing FREE emergency care to our residents and visitors. Do these types of calls interest you? Do you have an interest in helping others when it matters most? Check out our website www.vernonems.com to learn more about how you can jump right into the action today!

Vernon Emergency Medical Services, New Jersey

04/13/2026

Today marks the first day of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2026!

Public Safety Telecommunicators, more commonly known as Dispatchers, are the publics first point of contact when calling 9-1-1 for help. This week is dedicated to the men and women who gather critical information, provide life saving instructions and coordinate the emergency response for first responders every single day.

Did you know when you call 9-1-1 in Vernon, your call is answered by local, experienced Dispatchers right at the Vernon Township Police Department? These men and women answer all 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls for police, fire, EMS, animal control and DPW responses and then dispatch and coordinate the response. They are also the first people you see and speak to when walking into the police department lobby! Tasked with a very difficult, high stress job, our Vernon Police Dispatchers are the absolute best of the best, and we would not be able to do our jobs without them.

Our agency would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the men and women of the Vernon Police Communications Division, and all dispatchers for their service and sacrifice.

To add, several of our members work as Dispatchers at several different police departments across Sussex, Passaic & Morris Counties, with 3 of them working at Vernon. We thank them for all their hard work as well!

03/22/2026

Vernon Emergency Medical Services is actively seeking new volunteers to join our ranks. Currently, we have a heightened need for Drivers and EMT's.

We are a 100% volunteer organization, and in order to continue providing FREE ambulance services to Vernon Township, we need your help!

Why should you volunteer? Let us tell you! Volunteering gives you the opportunity to:

- Learn real, hands on skills in an emergency medical setting
- Help the sick and injured when needed
- Be part of a tight-knit community
- Use your experiences as a career stepping stone into the medical or first responder field
- Boost your confidence in handling high stress situations
- Make lifelong friends and memories

Many of our members that started by volunteering have gone on to have careers in medicine, law enforcement and firefighting.

All training is free, and scheduling is flexible. Currently, our requirement is just 12 hours a week. If you have an extra 12 hours a week to spare to help your community, consider joining Vernon Emergency Medical Services.

More information and our membership application can be found on our website www.vernonems.com

Come join the team and be part of our family!

02/05/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of EMT Valentin Hunsicker. While he was only a part of our agency for a brief time in 2024, many members still remember him for his warm personality and his willingness to help. We would like to extend our condolences to his family, friends, and the Milford FD during this difficult time.

01/26/2026

The morning after the storm...

Throughout the duration of the storm, Vernon Emergency Medical Services had 3 ambulances staffed (81-51, 81-53 & 81-55) as well as our first responder unit (81-45) and strategically placed them throughout town to ensure the fastest possible response to any emergencies.

In total, from 6am Sunday morning to 6am Monday morning, our ambulances responded to a total of 8 medical emergencies during the storm with patients being transported to Newton Medical Center and St. Anthony's Community Hospital.

As the storm winds down, and people start to head out to start their clean ups, we want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of some important "post storm" safety tips:

- Assume roads are still hazardous. Black ice and snow covered roadways are still possible.

- Give plow trucks some space. State, County and Local road crews are still working hard to get the roadways clear. Be patient - they will eventually get to you. Main roads take priority.

- At home, clear vents and exhaust pipes immediately. Blocked furnace, dryer or generator vents can cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.

- Use generators OUTDOORS ONLY.

- Pace yourself when shoveling. Take breaks, push the snow rather than lift and stay hydrated.

- Be extremely cautious with snowblowers. NEVER stick your hand into a clogged snowblower.

- Treat any down powerlines as live and call your local police department or utility company if you see wires down.

- Check on elderly neighbors.

- Most importantly, especially with shoveling, DO NOT DELAY MEDICAL CARE. Chest pain, shortness of breath, confusion or falls should not wait. If you experience any of these symptoms or falls, call 9-1-1 immediately.

We would like to thank our ALS partners at St. Clare's Health for their response in the storm to several emergencies in town, our Vernon Police officers for their assistance and Vernon Township DPW for keeping the roads clear and responding with us to medical calls to make sure our ambulances could make it.

Lastly, we would like to thank Vernon Police Communications Operators (Dispatch) for their help and professionalism throughout the storm and making sure everything we needed got to us at exactly the right time.

We hope you all continue to stay safe and stay warm. Thank you all for your support.

01/24/2026

Good afternoon, Vernon!

With the incoming winter storm, we would like to take this opportunity to remind our community of some important safety tips to keep yourself and your loved ones safe throughout (and after) the storm.

- Before the storm, make sure all of your electronic devices are fully charged in case of loss of power. Make sure your vehicles have a full tank of gas rather than trying to find an open gas station during the storm if you need to go somewhere. Take a trip to the grocery store and stock up on non perishable food items, batteries and candles.

- During the storm, if you need to be outside, dress in layers. Watch for signs of hypothermia and frost bite. If you lose power during the storm, DO NOT RUN YOUR GENERATORS INDOORS. Try to clear any snow from vents and exhaust pipes and watch for signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you feel a headache, nausea or dizziness, call 9-1-1 immediately.

- After the storm, watch for icy and snow covered surfaces. While shoveling, take frequent breaks and do not overwork yourself. Use caution while driving as there may still be icy roadways. Stay alert for delayed injuries or signs of illness from any slips or falls.

Some key points from V.E.M.S:

- Falls are the most common call type after a storm. Falls are high risk for head injuries, bone fractures and loss of consciousness. Please use extra caution and use handrails when possible.

- DO NOT overwork yourself when shoveling. Take frequent breaks and STOP IMMEDIATELY IF YOU START EXPERIENCING CHEST PAIN, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, DIZZINESS OR NAUSEA and call 9-1-1. These are all signs of a cardiac related emergency, and shoveling is cardiac exertion.

- Do not push, shovel or plow snow into the roadway. State, County and Local DPW's will be working extremely hard to keep the roadways clear and they cannot do that with you adding to their workload.

- Stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Give the plow crews space to work and make every effort to stay out of their way. It makes their job easier, and it keeps you safe.

- If at any moment you feel you are experiencing a medical emergency that may be storm/cold related, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Vernon Emergency Medical Services will have several ambulances staffed and strategically placed across town to ensure a rapid response during the duration of the storm.

The Vernon Police Communications Center is fully prepared for the expected call volume, so if you have an emergency, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1. For non emergency matters, questions or concerns, Vernon Police can be reached at 973-764-6155.

Vernon Township Fire Dept.. Co # 1, McAfee Fire Department, Highland Lakes Fire Department and Pochuck Valley Vol Fire Dept are also prepared to respond to any fire and rescue related calls. If you suspect a fire, carbon monoxide or rescue emergency, call 9-1-1 to request a response from the fire department.

We hope you all stay safe and stay warm. Rest assured that the emergency services of Vernon Township are prepared and ready to assist you if the need arises.

01/21/2026

On behalf of all of us at Vernon Emergency Medical Services, we extend our sincerest condolences to Andover Township Police Department on the unexpected loss of 911/Police Dispatcher Kim Brown.

Kim was very well known to the emergency services of Sussex County and her loss will be felt by everyone. Our thoughts remain with Andover Township Police, her family and all those who knew and loved her.

01/09/2026

Today, January 9th, is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

We thank the brave men & women of Vernon Police, and police officers across the country, for their service & sacrifice today and every day.

12/14/2025

Some photo's from last weekends Santa Parade with our friends at McAfee Fire Department!

♥️🎄🚑🚒

12/14/2025

Operation Toy Train in motion! Spreading smiles, one toy at a time! 🚂♥️

Stay warm everyone!