Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
About the Division
Our duty is to protect and preserve human life in the event of a trauma-related incident or serious medical condition. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responds by assessing, treating, stabilizing, and transporting patients. This continues until definitive medical care is available at an appropriate facility.
The Division places its Medical Intensive Care Ambulances in fire stations throughout the city. These ambulances carry state-of-the-art equipment. Our highly trained team members turn them into an emergency room on wheels. They can handle a variety of life-saving procedures. Besides full-time ambulances, the division can activate Peak Period units during times of high call volume.
An Assistant Fire Chief leads the EMS Division. The team includes:
- 30 supervisory officers
- 899 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) - Paramedics
- civilian support staff
Training
Certified EMT-Paramedics staff each EMS unit. The staff of the University of Texas Health Science Center's Emergency Medical Technology Department trains and monitors them.
Initial training for EMT-Paramedics meets Texas Department of Health standards. It covers areas such as advanced cardiac life support, basic pediatric care, and pre-hospital trauma life support.
Building on this initial 1,400 hours of training, EMT-Paramedics also receive 40 hours of continuing education each year. As members of the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD), EMS personnel must also take continuing education classes on structural firefighting. These are approved by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.
Programs
The EMS Division offers other special programs that provide high-quality, immediate medical care, including:
- Medical Special Operations Unit
- Two teams of specially trained paramedics provide advanced medical life support. They respond to situations like Weapons of Mass Destruction events, SWAT operations, hazardous materials exposure, and helicopter rescues.
- Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH)
- The San Antonio Fire Department/Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program aspires to provide and improve the wellness and healthcare delivery to our citizens.
- Paramedics on Bicycles Program
- Responding to emergencies for large-scale events, such as:
- Fiesta Week
- New Year's Eve Celebration
- Fourth of July Celebration
- The Alamo Bowl
- Final Four Games
- Spurs Championship Celebration
- Taxi Voucher Program
- Provides transportation for citizens in need of non-emergency care. This helps keep EMS units available for critical care calls.
An Assistant Fire Chief leads the EMS Division. The team includes 21 supervisory officers, 371 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) - Paramedics, and civilian support staff.
Medical & Billing Reports
A City ordinance requires EMS services be billed directly to the patient. This ordinance helps ensure the availability of special services, such as EMS, by making them self-sustaining.
Learn more about fees and how to order reports:
Quick Facts
- 391 EMS team members
- 33 full-time ambulances
- Up to 8 peak-period ambulances
- Over 130,000 calls for service