When should I call 911? 

     Anytime you feel you have an emergency. If in doubt, call and let us help you decide if you or someone else will need to go to the hospital in an ambulance. However, keep in mind that 911 should only be used for emergencies.  

Who will respond when I call 911? 

     Depending on the type and the severity of a call, a decision will be made as to what type and number of units will respond to a call. A typical medical call will receive one ambulance. If the call turns out to be a severe emergency, it is very possible that additional resources such as the fire district and police department will be utilized to perform a vital function. At times, the call may be minor and reqiure less personnel. However, once on scene, it is the job of the paramedics to determine the needs of the patient(s).  

What can I do until help arrives?

     There are a few things you can do to help the ill or injured person(s) while you are waiting for help to arrive:

1. Stay calm and reassure the patient that help is on the way.
2. Do what the 911 emergency dispatcher tells you to do. You may also be instructed  to perform some basic life-saving skills that you can initiate while EMS/Fire/Police personnel are enroute.
3. Make the patient as comfortable as possible, but, don't place anything underneath their head, like a pillow, to make them more comfortable. This could cause further injury. Never move the patient unless they are in imminent danger where they are.
4. Try and secure any pets so they do not get away or interfere with any EMS/Fire/Police personnel.
5. Have someone available to direct the EMS/Fire/Police personnel to the patient. 

Is there an ambulance fee? 

     Yes, Middleton EMS is generally supported by two sources. These sources include tax levy and user fees. This means that a portion of the cost of operating this service is paid for by taxpayers. To help offset the taxpayers' cost, most services charge a user fee. This fee includes a base rate per call, as well as a mileage charge. Depending on the type of call, there may also be procedure charges and charges for any disposables used. These charges reflect only a small portion of the actual cost of providing these services. Middleton EMS  makes every effort to contain these costs.

Do all communities provide the same level of care?

      No, only a few communities in Dane County provide a  paramedic level of care. Those community services include the City of Middleton, City of Fitchburg/Verona, Town of Madison, City of Madison, and the City of Sun Prairie. The reasons behind the lack of paramedics vary with individual communities. Contact your local elected official to ask about your communities' level of care.

What is a paramedic intercept?

     A paramedic intercept is when a paramedic staffed ambulance meets up with a non-paramedic staffed ambulance to provide advanced life support. Advanced life support is warranted when a patient's condition and need for treatment  exceeds the basic life support level of care.

What do I do when approached by an emergency vehicle using lights and siren?

     Pull to the Right! Wisconsin state law says that you must yield the right-of-way to police vehicles, fire apparatus, ambulances or other emergency vehicles using a siren, air horn or a red or blue flashing light. Pull over to the right edge of the road or as near to the right as possible and stop when you see or hear an emergency vehicle approaching from any direction. Follow any instructions given over the emergency vehicle’s loudspeaker. If you are in an intersection, drive through the intersection before you pull over. If the emergency vehicle using lights or siren is on the other side of a divided highway, you do not need to pull over and stop. You must not pass an emergency vehicle that is about to back into, or is backing into, the driveway entrance of a fire and/or EMS station. It is illegal to pass or follow within 500 feet of a moving emergency vehicle with its' red or blue lights on and siren operating. This includes while driving on freeways or other limited access highways.

     When approaching law enforcement and other emergency vehicles, tow trucks, road machinery or highway construction or maintenance vehicles (that are stopped on or near a highway and are using flashing emergency lights), you must move into a lane not nearest the stopped vehicle and travel in that lane until you have gone by the stopped vehicle(s). If it is unsafe to move into another lane, slow down until you have passed the stopped vehicle(s).

 If you have questions, please contact us by the link provided. swunsch@ci.middleton.wi.us