A red fire truck parked in the parking lot.
A red and white ambulance parked in the street.
Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services

Saylor Township medics provides both basic and advanced life support services. EMS staff are trained and certified to the following levels.

EMT, Advanced EMT, or Paramedic.

Heart Attack & Stroke Warning Signs

Heart Attack Warning Signs

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense "movie heart attacks," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.

Often, people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

  • Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure squeezing, fullness, or pain.
  • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath. This feeling often comes along with chest discomfort. But can occur before the chest discomfort.

If you or someone you're with has chest discomfort, especially with one or more of the other signs, don't wait longer than a few minutes (no more than 5) before calling for help.

CALL 9-1-1... Get to a hospital right away.

Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services staff can begin treatment when they arrive -- up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. The staff is also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped.

If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you have no other option.

Cardiac Arrest Strikes Immediately and Without Warning

Here are the signs:

  • Sudden loss of responsiveness. No response to gentle shaking.
  • No normal breathing. The victim does not take a normal breath when you check for several seconds.
  • No signs of circulation. No movement or coughing

If cardiac arrest occurs, call 9-1-1 and begin CPR immediately. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available and someone trained to use it is nearby, involve them.

Stroke Warning Signs

The American Stroke Association says these are the warning signs of stroke:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
  • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don't delay! Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number so an ambulance.

(ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for you. Also, check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared. It's very important to take immediate action.

If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.

EMS Billing Info

Patient Portal to add insurance info: www.insupdate.com

Patient Portal to make payments: https://usapayx.com/insupdate

Saylor Township is partnering with Municipal Collections of America to assist in collecting delinquent EMS billings. If you receive a call or a letter from MCOA, please do not ignore it.

Municipal Collections of America
3348 Ridge Road
Lansing, IL 60438

Toll Free 1 (877) 751-7115 or 1 (708) 455-4046

www.municollect.com

Delinquent invoices turned over to MCA may also be provided to the state of Iowa's Income Offset Program, which diverts state payments, such as tax refunds, from individuals who owe money to the state or other state agencies such as a city, county, or township.

If you have questions or concerns about your experience with MCA, please email Saylor Township at [email protected], and we will research the call and conduct a client experience assessment. Please include in your email a brief description of your issue as well as your name, phone number, the phone number used to contact MCA (if different), citation number, and the date you talked with MCA.