The Hinckley Fire District has operated an ambulance service since the mid 1970's. Until around 2001, the ambulance service provided Basic Life Support (BLS) care. This consists primarily of providing oxygen, splinting broken bones, and providing supportive care. Since 2001, the ambulance service has provided Advanced Life Support (ALS), which allows paramedics to start intravenous therapy, insert breathing tubes, provide advanced cardiac care and administer many life-saving drugs. Also, in May 2005, the service began performing 12-lead EKG heart monitoring, with the ability to transmit the result directly to our resource hospital. This will greatly improve our ability to care for the heart attack patient. We currently operate one ALS ambulance, and one BLS ambulance that can be upgraded to ALS if need be.

Currently, the ambulance transports to the patient’s choice of three area hospitals: Valley West Community Hospital in Sandwich (our closest), Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb, and Provena-Mercy Center Hospital in Aurora. Patients who wish to be treated in other hospitals must arrange for transport by another agency, usually a private ambulance service.

The Fire District Ambulance service is subsidized by the Fire District tax funds. To help alleviate the burden of this service to the tax payers, the Fire District began billing for ambulance service in late 1999. Fees are charged to patients when the Hinckley Fire District ambulance transports the patient to a hospital. 

Ordinance 24-O-2 sets the billing rates for services as follows:

Response Charge (ALS Treat - no transport): $75.00

ALS 1 Transport, ALS 2 Transport, BLS Transport: $2,850.00

Loaded Mileage Charge: $25.00 per mile

There is no charge for residential lift assists.

The District does NOT balance bill for residents

For rescues, the District charges $250.00 per vehicle and $70.00 per firefighter, per hour and a fixed fee of $375 for extrication. The extraordinary expenses for Hazardous Material include the aforementioned in addition to any other costs associated with the reimbursement for materials used, or damage/destruction/loss of use/cleaning of such.