Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
The EMS/ambulance service has its own enterprise fund supported by user fees and county interlocal agreements. The Miles City Fire and Rescue employees, full and part-paid, volunteer their own time to receive EMS training. One hundred percent of the full-time Miles City Fire Rescue employees have earned the ECP (Emergency Care Provider) certification, which means some can provide advanced life support (ALS) services for critically injured patients. In addition, one full -time Miles City Fire Rescue employee serves as the EMS training coordinator.
EMS provided by Miles City Fire Rescue to the community includes:
- 24-hour emergency ambulance service to the City of Miles City
- 24-hour emergency ambulance service to Custer County
- Staff for one fully-equipped ALS ambulances (these ambulances contain equipment for responding to major medical emergencies)
- Stand-by EMS provided for special events (i.e., rodeos, motocross races, sporting events, Bucking Horse Sale, etc.)
- Stand-by EMS provided for school sporting events (i.e., football, wrestling, etc.)
- Perform medical transfers of patients between health care facilities (such as from Holy Rosary in Miles City to Billings Clinic in Billings, MT)
- Perform public assists for the physically disabled and the elderly
- Respond to surrounding counties when called, especially in relation to ALS service
- Maintain and perform daily, weekly, monthly, and annual checks on ambulances and ambulance equipment
- Provide weekly EMS training for continuing education hours (forty-eight hours are required every 2 years)
- Provide a 36-hour EMT refresher course once a year
- Provide EMS training for surrounding communities
- Attend specialized trainings at locations other than Miles City and Custer County
- Grant writing for EMS funding
- Provide Paramedic-level response on a limited basis
- Transitioning to be a full Paramedic-level EMS service