Ambulances in Chicago

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Does anyone know-is chicago fire the only emergency response for ambulances in Chicago? Or do they use private ambulance for emergencies? Thanks

[ACPD227]

Does anyone know-is chicago fire the only emergency response for ambulances in Chicago? Or do they use private ambulance for emergencies? Thanks

 

 

This may not be as simple and easy to answer. As far as I know Chicago Fire Ems is the only one that does 911 Ambulance response in the city of Chicago. But CFD Ems does not do transfers. Those are handled by private EMS. If CFD Ems runs out of Ambulances they can call on the private companies to back fill the system. So I guess the Private companies do 911 responses. 

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The Chicago Fire Department doesn't normally dispatch private ambulances on emergencies. Even when things get busy in Chicago the 911 center will just call or send an ambulance from further away in the city. For serious emergencies or disasters Chicago and neighboring suburbs do have a Mutual Aide Box Alarm response system which are called MABAS plans and they can call for a mutual aide box however that is very rarely used and it would be used for a large fire or accident but very rarely.

 Chicago currently is running with 75 ALS (advanced life support) ambulances which all run on 24 hour shifts or tours of duty. Additionally out of Chicago's 95 Engine companies 60 of them are ALS (Paramedic) Engine companies and 12 of Chicago's 61 Truck companies are also ALS (Paramedic) Truck companies. So if one of Chicago's ALS ambulances are coming from a longer distance  we can have one of our ALS Engines or Trucks on the scene treating the patient before the Ambulance arrives. If the patient or his family wishes to call for a private Ambulance it is up to them.