EMS Award Winner
The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Emergency Ambulance Service has been named the winner of the first Emergency Medical Service of the Year Award. Along with the award goes a $1000 grant from The Horton Co. for library and educational materials.
The selection was made from emergency medical services from all over the country. Nominees were judged on competency of medical care, community image and involvement and public awareness.
The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills unit provides emergency medical services for the residents of the Algonquin Fire Protection District, located 50 miles northwest of Chicago. The district includes the villages of Algonquin and Lake in the Hills and surrounding rural areas, with a population of 13,000 persons. Service was begun on July 1, 1974 and to date volunteershave responded to over 1000 calls.
The service is nonprofit. No tax monies are received, nor is there a charge for services or transportation. Income depends entirely on donations. The 36 volunteers who work on a shift system 24 hours a day, seven days a week, include 33 EMTs with eight certified paramedics and three registered nurses.
