Kirby’s highly-trained emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics serve the community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through the Kirby Ambulance Service. Recognized by the Illinois Department of Public Health as an Advanced Life Support Service, our paramedic units are able to provide Advanced Life Support to adults, children, and infants. We also partner with AirLife to offer emergency air medical transportation services to those who need it.
This can sometimes seem like a difficult decision. On the one hand, you will have to wait for an ambulance to arrive before going to a hospital, which can be stressful. On the other, the paramedics can provide emergency care on the way to the hospital and will be able to navigate traffic much faster than you can.
Your first step should be to call 911 and, as calmly as possible, explain the situation to them. An operator can instruct you on what you can do to help the situation. They will ask for your location and immediately dispatch help.
The ambulance is almost always the best option for taking the patient to the hospital. Trained paramedics can best facilitate immediate care of the patient and inform the nearest hospital of the situation so they can prepare. Additionally, during an emergency you may not be in the best state of mind to operate a vehicle. Do not attempt to drive to the hospital unless the 911 operator instructs you to, or you do not have access to a phone.
Our ambulance service is involved in many public relations and teaching programs. These include, and are not limited to:
You can find more information on these programs under “Community Services.”
Explore career options with Kirby Medical Center.