You dont have to blink. You saw the word free up there. I have been reading about ambulance brigades that charge not a single penny to anyone who cant afford it, will take a sliding payment scale for those who can only pay a little and get their equipment, gear, rigs and meds based on donations, which surprisingly, people are willing to contribute to in great amounts. Here is my vision:

A totally free/sliding scale medical rescue service with probably a maximum of two ambulances, a rescue rig and a rapid response vehicle to start with. Obviously, the two rigs are the most important. If they are in good shape, great. If not, I have folks that I know would donate everything from money towards to rigs, O2 cylinders, crates of bandages, combi-tubes, etc. Basically the stuff we would need to start a BLS/Intermediate Service to serve the many residents of my area in need. I live in Northern Illinois, just south of the Wisconsin border and ideally we would do short distance transfers as well. And Yes, I am probably crazy. But with the sky rocketing cost of EMS services these days, some people simply die from lack of medical care because they cant afford to call a rig.

Here are the kind of people I am looking for:

Illinois licensed EMT-B's, B/Ds, EMT-Is and Paramedics
Once we get up and running, I would also be looking for medical personnel skilled in extrication, confined space rescue, high angle, swift water, etc.

Yes...its sounds impossible. But people thought that getting sick and injured people to the hospital and treating them on the way was crazy too.

We would likely be operating out of a donated warehouse or factory type space. We would operate on donations and grants for uniforms, bunker gear, apparatus maintenance. NOW...the biggie. Obviously you would have to live in this area (about 90 miles west of Chicago). You would probably have to have another job, though when we get good donations or people pay for services, then our responders would get paid, probably by the call. If you are a MFR with EVOC certification, we could use you as a driver. No one wanting to participate would be turned away. And make no mistake...the standard of care we will provide has nothing to do with how much we charge. Another goal is that we would have our own dispatch "center" so people could call us directly.

I know of another service, I think in NY State that has done this successfully for 35 years. I know it can work

Please contact Steven (EMT-B/D), Ops Manager, at ForestCityMedicalRescue@hotmail.com