Montclair Ambulance Unit invites kids: Find ‘Rescue Roz’
The Montclair Ambulance Unit has introduced its new image — Rescue Roz — and invites community members to take part in a scavenger hunt to find her around town. It's also introducing its emblem, the "Star of Life," which guides the work of emergency medical services.
The star is a six-barred cross representing the systems and functions of EMS: detection, reporting, response, on-scene care, care in transit, and transfer to definitive care.
"We are proud to provide professional, responsive, patient-first care," the unit wrote in an announcement this month. "MAU is proud to provide professional, responsive,
patient-first care. As independent first responders MAU is dedicated to being a community- based, emergency medical service organization."
Because the Montclair Ambulance unit is not a municipal entity funded by taxpayers, it needs to fundraise constantly to ensure the public is cared for, it said.
The unit was incorporated as a non-profit organization nearly 70 years ago. Its headquarters is a 1906 building on Walnut Street via a lease with the township.
Fundraising efforts are being put toward items that range from small equipment like automated external defibrillators and uniforms to a new ambulance, which currently cost upward $275,000, the unit said in its announcement.
"Priority expenses are obviously our EMT crews, skilled individuals who truly want to
help people. The COVID-19 pandemic reminded all of us just how important it is to have access to quality, compassionate, and reliable emergency medical care in our town," it said. "Montclair is an amazing community that is proud and thankful to have its own ambulance unit performing rescues since 1953."
Rescue Roz is a family-friendly character created to help make conversations with
children about health, wellness and being safe a bit easier for parents and caregivers, the ambulance unit said.
For April, the ambulance unit created a month-long, town-wide scavenger hunt to find Rescue Roz. Kids are able to download clue cards at montclairems.org/rescue-roz, search around town, and find Rescue Roz hidden in business merchant windows. They can find all the Rescue Roz images to crack the code.
It’s free to participate, though the ambulance unit asks participants to consider helping fundraise as they take part.
Then, on April 30, from noon to 4 p.m., the ambulance unit invites the public to join it at Edgemont Park for a festive jubilee, complete with music, food, activities and fun.
The event's presenting sponsor is The Gregg Peters Monsees Foundation. Supporting sponsors are Sotheby’s International Realty, The Episcopal Church of St James and Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center.
More information is at MontclairEMS.org/events.