Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

The Princeton Fire Department has been the sole provider of emergency ambulances to the area since 1975.
Emergency Medical Technician - Basics undergo a six month training program covering the following topics:

• Medical Ethics and Legal Issues
• Scene Size-up
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Patient Assessment
• Basic Airway Management
• Assessment of the Medical Patient
• Respiratory Emergencies
• Cardiac Emergencies
• Pediatric, Adolescent and Geriatric Care
• Poisoning and Overdose
• Environmental Emergencies and Burns
• Behavioral Emergencies
• Obstetric and Gynecological Emergencies
• Bleeding and Shock
• Trauma to soft tissues, skeletal system, head and spine
• Lifting and Moving of Patients
• Communications
• Documentation
• Ambulance Operations
• Triage
  

Emergency Medical Technician - Basics undergo a six month training program covering the following topics:  

• Comprehensive patient assessment
• Advanced airway management including intubation, needle cricothyrotomy and surgical cricothyrotomy
• Pulse Oximetry, End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Monitoring, and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
• Fluid and Electrolyte Balance including intravenous therapy
• Pharmacology
• Chest Decompression
• Care for the Cardiac Patient including EKG interpretation, Defibrillation, Cardioversion, Transcutaneous Cardiac Pacing
• Anaphylaxis
  

		Each ambulance is also equipped with a folding "stair chair" for ease of moving patients up and down flights of stairs
		Patients involved in a fall or a motor vehicle accident are placed on a backboard, along with a neck brace and head immobilizer. This equipment is used to prevent further injuries to the neck or spine and is frequently used as a precaution until a patient can undergo an x-ray at the hospital to rule out a spinal injury.   Smaller backboards are also carried to immobilize pediatric patients..
		All ambulances and engines carry a portable suction unit to help protect the patient's airway from vomit, blood or secretions.
		Ambulances are equipped with cardiac monitors capable of reading the heart's electrical currents as well as providing electric shocks to a heart that has stopped pumping blood.  The monitors also have external pacemaker capabilities, will monitor blood pressures, blood oxygen saturations and exhaled carbon dioxide levels.
		The ambulance cot is designed to hold a patient weighing 650 lbs, as well as portable oxygen and initial airway care equipment. The cots can be raised or lowered to a variety of positions.

Princeton Fire Department has a comprehensive cost recovery ordinance which allows patients to be charged for emergency medical services. Costs are as follows:

	Resident	Non-Resident
BLS Non Emergency	$275	$450
BLS Emergency	$400	$500
ILS Non Emergency	$350	$525
ILS Emergency	$450	$575
ILS 2	$600	$675
Mileage	$15	$15
Oxygen	$75	$75
Wait Time Per Hour	$50	$50
Exra Attendant Per Hour	$50	$50
Treat No Transport	$100	$100
ILS Intercept	$100	$100
Local DOA for Coroner	$100	$100

Extrication Charges per Hour per Vehicle	$125
Charges per Man per Hour	$35

No current charges have changed

Any billing questions should be directed to:
Northern Illinois Ambulance Billing
P.O Box 260
Mendota, IL 61342
Phone 866-570-2468
815-539-2468