How to Join LPEMS as a Volunteer

LPEMS (Lincoln Park Emergency Medical Services, also known as Lincoln Park First Aid Squad) is a 100% volunteer organization, and it recruits from the community it serves. If you are a Lincoln Park resident or someone in a surrounding area willing to train and respond to calls, the path to membership starts on the organization's website: go to the Join Us section and open the Membership Application. Before you apply, review the FAQs and Benefits of Volunteering pages, and use the contact information on the site if you need to confirm current requirements, since the site does not publish a detailed eligibility checklist.

What LPEMS Is and Who It's Looking For

LPEMS has served Lincoln Park since its incorporation on May 27, 1965, and describes itself as providing free emergency medical services — patients "never see a bill from LPFAS." The organization states it is 100% volunteers and frames recruitment directly around the community: "LPEMS relies on volunteers from our community - just like you."

Its own numbers give a sense of scale:

The site describes members as "44 of your neighbors, friends, and community members just like you," and says the organization pledges "up-to-date equipment and thorough educational and training opportunities" to its members. That training commitment is relevant if you have no prior EMS background — the site presents education as something the squad provides, not a prerequisite it advertises.

Steps to Apply

1. Go to the Join Us section. The site's navigation includes a Join Us entry and a Membership Application page. This is the official entry point for prospective volunteers.
2. Read the FAQs first. The FAQs page is listed in the site navigation and is the place to check before submitting anything, since the site does not spell out age, certification, or residency rules on the main pages.
3. Review Benefits of Volunteering. The Benefits of Volunteering page is also in the navigation; use it to understand what the organization offers members before you commit.
4. Complete the Membership Application. Fill out and submit the application through the site.
5. Confirm anything unclear by phone. For non-medical questions, the site lists (973) 694-3304. Note the site's own distinction: medical emergencies go to 9-1-1, and the phone number is for non-medical questions only.

What the Site Doesn't Tell You

The published pages do not state specific membership requirements — no age minimum, no residency boundary, no required certifications, and no application timeline or interview process are given. The site also does not describe a selection or rejection process, nor does it list dues, uniforms, or shift commitments.

Because of that, treat the application as the start of a conversation rather than a self-contained checklist. If you need to know whether you qualify before investing time, call the non-medical line and ask directly.

Other Ways to Get Involved

If you are not ready to apply as a responder, the site lists two other forms of support:

• Donate — "Lincoln Park EMS is always accepting donations," with a Donate link in the navigation.
• Challenge Coin — the squad sells a commemorative challenge coin through an Order Now link.

Neither is a substitute for membership, but both are options if you want to support the organization without taking on training or duty hours.

A Practical Note Before You Apply

Volunteering here means responding to emergencies in your own community — the site describes walking "into your home, office, or car" and serving neighbors, colleagues, and family members. That is the actual commitment being asked for. If you can meet the training schedule (the squad runs 14 training events per year) and the on-call demands of a service that answered 655 calls in 2025, the application is the right next step. If you are unsure about the time commitment, ask about it through the contact number before applying rather than after.