The all-volunteer Atlantic Highlands First Aid & Safety Squad was formed in 1929 and has been a vital part of the fabric of the Borough of Atlantic Highlands ever since.

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The founding members of the organization were also the pillars of our community. Today, the volunteers of the AHFAS hold that same stature. We are your friends, family and neighbors, who all come together to help their community.

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Every day of the year, the all-volunteer organization provides free emergency medical services to the community.

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The commitment today is the same as it was when in 1929. To be there when a resident gets hurt or doesn’t feel well. On average, the AHFAS responds to 500 calls for help each year. Our professionally trained volunteers respond to emergency calls whether on land or on the water.

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During its history, the AHFAS has responded to virtually every major disaster in our region ranging from the crash of the Hindenburg, to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, to Superstorm Sandy and so much more.

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In 2008, the squad was named the Volunteer EMS Organization of the Year by the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services, Office of Emergency Medical Services. In 2009 it was named a Gold Award winner by EMS World magazine. And readers of the Asbury Park Press have often voted it as one of Best Ambulance Squads in Monmouth County.

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Our members have also been honored as leaders in the EMS community.

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The AHFAS is a proud member of the New Jersey EMS Task Force, a state-wide organization of trained responders who are mobilized to provide EMS services for natural and man-made disasters, as well as large-scale pre-planned events. Our members have provided quality EMS care during such deployments following Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene, as well as at such large-scale events as the New Jersey Marathon, Bamboozle, The Warped Tour and the Atlantic City Air Show.

As part of its commitment to helping others around the state, the AHFAS is home to a Monmouth County Mass Casualty Incident response unit and partners with Keyport First Aid on a NJ EMS Task Force Medical Ambulance Bus.

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In addition to responding to calls for help, the AHFAS is an active member of the community.

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For more than 20 years the squad has operated the annual Santa Runs trips, where Santa visits each portion of town to share the holiday season with our residents. A decade ago, the Squad incorporated a food drive into the Santa Runs, which has resulted in thousands of food items and thousands of dollars being donated to the Food Pantry at the United Methodist Church, which has helped our community.

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Today, more than 90 years after it began, the squad is a critical part of the community that operates on the generous donations from our residents and the borough.