Neighbors helping Neighbors
2027 Park Street
Cross Plains, WI
53528
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“Neighbors helping Neighbors” was the theme back in 1977 when Emergency Medical Services (EMS) districts were established. Local residents enjoyed giving back to the community by volunteering to be trained and volunteer in the EMS (ambulance) service. Prior to 1977, transports to the hospital for medical emergencies (whether due to an illness, injury, or accident) were performed by the local police or the Dane County Traffic police in the back of a station wagon. There were no additional medically trained personal to ride with the patient, provide patient care, or even contact the hospital with a report on the patient prior to arrival at the emergency department.
A lot has changed in the past 36 years: patient care is now provided by licensed Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who operate under a physician license with a minimum of two (2) attendants to treat and monitor the patient during transport. Additionally, Cross Plains Area EMS provides a higher level of care than the Basic EMT level. Cross Plains Area EMS is licensed at the Advanced EMT level which allows the members to start IVs in the field and administer additional medication than the basic level of care. Cross Plains Area EMS is required to submit a State of Wisconsin-approved operational plan, along with approved patient care protocols as part of our service. Volunteer EMT’s licenses are valid only for two years, after which they are required to have completed over 50 hours of refresher training and certification through our local medical director and Madison College (MATC).
Cross Plains EMS is in need of additional volunteers to staff the ambulance, for both weekday and weekend coverage. We understand that EMT training is time-consuming and demanding, especially for people who are already very busy with work, their personal lives, and additional activities outside the home; however, as part of our operational plan required by the State of Wisconsin, we are required to provide emergency medical services 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Medical emergencies happen at any time: day or night, holidays, weekends, and during birthday parties. A minimum of two (2) licensed crew members are required to respond to treat and transport the patient. We prefer to have three (3) members on a call so two (2) can treat the patient and one can drive the ambulance.
