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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I take a CPR course locally?

American Heart Association Courses
College of Western Idaho (CWI) – BLS (CPR/BLS only)

Link: Course Overview and schedule

Phone: 208-562-2700


BLS Rules – BLS (CPR/BLS only)

Link: AHA Classes

Phone: 208-789-7405


Emergency Medicine Academy (CPR/BLS only)
Note: This Company will bring the CPR to you. For more info contact the following

Link: CPR Schedules

Phone: 208-996-9245


ICEMT (CPR/BLS, ACLS, PALS and skills exams)

Link: AHA Courses class schedule/registration

Phone: 208-463-7880


Health Solutions (CPR/BLS Only)

Link: AHA Courses class information

Phone: 208-571-9068


St. Luke’s AHA Heartsavers (For babysitters, daycares, adult care)

Link: AHA Courses class information

Phone: 208-361-2222


Saint Alphonsus AHA Heartsavers (For babysitters, daycares, adult care)

Link: AHA Courses class information

Phone: 208-367-2121


AHA HeartCode BLS/ACLS/PALS Certification
Online – Courses

Link: https://www.onlineaha.org


Course Cost: BLS-$28.50, ACLS-$132.00, PALS-$132.00

Skills costs are separate from course cost.

Approximately the cost of Skills checkoff: BLS- $50.00, ACLS-$75.00 and PALS-$75.00 (depending on the qualified AHA Training Center.

Note: Contact the one of the above agency for your skills check off

What happens when I call 911?

When you have a medical emergency and dial 911, the first thing you will be asked is “What’s your emergency?” Ideally, you should tell the 911 dispatcher exactly what your emergency is. For example, if you witnessed a car accident, you would say: “There’s a car accident at…” and provide location details. Based on what your responses are to the dispatcher’s questions, they will determine whether to send an ambulance, a fire truck, the SWAT team or the police.

Your phone number will be verified in the event that the dispatcher needs to reach you after you hang up. If you ever dial 911 by mistake, do NOT just hang up. It’s very important to tell the dispatcher that it was a mistake. All 911 hang-up calls are called back to ensure it is not a situation where someone is truly in trouble, but was interrupted (like in a hostage situation or a domestic violence case.) If the dispatcher calls again and is unable to reach you, an officer will be sent to the location showing on the dispatcher’s screen.

How many emergency calls does Ada County Paramedics respond to each year?

Ada County Paramedics responded to over 31,000 calls in 2020.

What other services does Ada County Paramedics provide?

  • Specialty Teams, including a Tactical Medical Team and a Haz Mat Medical Response Team.
  • Community engagement, including health fairs, school visits, emergency preparedness presentations and many other community services.

What is the Community Paramedic Program?

Ada County Paramedics Community Paramedic Program offers in-home patient follow-up with recently discharged hospital patients, mobile vaccine clinics, patient care coordination, and patient activation, biometric screenings and a system-wide program to decrease the unnecessary utilization of the county emergency medical service department as a whole. The theory is to provide responsive in-home health care for patients who once frequently called 911. By offering a Community Paramedic to these patients, 911 calls are diminished and patients receive the best level of care available.

How are ambulance bills calculated?

Ambulance bills are calculated based on a few different variables, including the patient’s level of severity and whether he or she requires basic or advanced care. There is also a small $13.50 per-mile fee. Additionally, if patients require medications, oxygen or other advance treatments, these items are billed to the patient. Our VitalRide Ambulance Membership is a cost-effective way to offset unexpected emergency ambulance bills. Learn how VitalRide can save you money on your ambulance bill today!

How is Ada County Paramedics funded?

Ada County Paramedics is a property-based ambulance tax district which generates approximately 30% of our budget. Patient fees for emergency ambulance transport and our VitalRide Ambulance Membership dues generate the remainder of our revenue. The majority of Ada County Paramedics’ funding comes from Ada County residents who use our emergency ambulance transport service, which significantly minimizes the costs to Ada County taxpayers. Many are surprised to learn that taxpayers pay only $17.40 per $100,000 for emergency medical services.

How soon will an ambulance show up after I call 911?

Ada County Paramedics’ goal is to respond to all emergency calls within 9 minutes or less.

How many paramedic stations does Ada County Paramedics have?

Ada County Paramedics has 14 stations.

How many hours do EMTs and Paramedics work per week?

Fulltime EMTs and Paramedics work 48 hours per week with varying shift schedules. Some work two 12-hour shifts and one 24-hour shift weekly and others work two 24-hour shifts per week.

What are the eligibility requirements for becoming an EMT or a Paramedic in Idaho?

Visit how to become a paramedic for information about how to become an EMT or Paramedic in Idaho.

What do EMTs and Paramedics do, exactly?

Both Paramedics and EMTs provide pre-hospital care to sick or injured people. Paramedics and EMTs respond to 911 calls to assist in situations like accidents, heart attacks, poisonings, animal attacks, gunshot wounds, burns and strokes, just to name a few.

What is the difference between an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and a Paramedic?

An EMT provides basic life support (BLS) in pre-hospital settings when a medical emergency occurs. BLS includes CPR, oxygen administration, airway obstruction help, spinal immobilization and bleeding control. A Paramedic provides advanced life support (ALS) in pre-hospital settings. Paramedics receive advanced training and can administer medication and perform other more-invasive procedures in medical emergencies.