Does the Madison County Rescue Squad charge for its services?
Absolutely Not. The Madison County Rescue Squad (MCRS)  currently does not have a Revenue Recovery (charge for ambulance service) plan in place. You will never be charged for services rendered by the Madison County Rescue Squad. There are also no plans or discussions for MCRS to enact such a plan.

The County of Madison does have a Revenue Recovery plan in place. ONLY charges for EMS services rendered by the Madison County Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) will be billed, as part of a cost recovery program for Madison County. For more information on this program click HERE.

When should I call 911?
Any situation deemed an emergency is a situation in which 911 should be called. Burns, falls, traumatic injuries, possible heart attacks, possible strokes, and other medical emergencies are what we know how to handle. Please call us if you feel like your loved one needs to go to the hospital in the care of trained medical technicians. If you start to drive your loved one to the hospital and the situation gets worse, please stop and call 911 or find the nearest public place and call 911. Try and tell the dispatcher what the last road you passed was or what landmarks you see or what public place you're at so we can find you in the quickest possible time.

What happens when I call 911 in Madison County?
If you call 911 in Madison by either landline or cell phone, you will be connected to a trained dispatcher who will take your call and decide which agencies in Madison need to respond. This may be the Sheriff's Office, Rescue Squad/EMS or Fire Department depending on the situation. They will then alert the correct agencies and monitor their response to you. If anything changes while we are en route, please call 911 back and tell them how the situation has changed. You can also contact the Madison County E-911 Center at their non-emergency number, 540-948-5161.

What happens if I see a Motor Vehicle Crash and no one is around to help?
The first thing that you need to do is to call 911. The fire department, sheriff's office, state police and Rescue Squad/EMS all need to respond to a MVC. When you call, try to tell the dispatcher exactly where you are. Think about what the last road you passed was or if there are curves ahead or behind you or other major landmarks in the area. All of this is pertinent to help us get to the MVC quickly. Time is important and if we can't find the wreck, then time is lost. Also, try to tell the dispatcher if anyone is in the vehicle or if they are out. If they are in, are they trapped? Are they talking to you? If they are trying to get out and seem trapped, tell them to stay in and stay still. We have a specialized extrication team and unit that can get the injured person(s) out without further harming them.

Who are they guys who come after the ambulance in the SUV?
If a MCRS duty crew's highest level is that of a Basic Life Support unit (BLS), Madison EMS (MEMS) will supplement the squad with a Advanced Life Support (ALS) provider to ensure that you receive the highest possible care. MCRS also has ALS providers, who may respond in Response 383.

What hospital is my loved one going to?
Your loved one may be transported to either Culpeper Regional Hospital, Martha Jefferson Hospital or The University of Virginia Medical Center. The patient and patient's family usually decide together which of the three hospitals they want the patient to go to. Ultimately, it is always the patient's choice first if they are in the correct state of mind to make such a choice. Severe Weather, hospital diverts, and MCRS protocols may override the preferred hospital choice.  

Why may my loved one be transported by a helicopter?
In cases that require immediate transport or transportation to a Level I trauma center, the University of Virginia's Pegasus Medevac Helicopter or Inova's AirCare 5 may respond to the scene to ensure a faster transport to the hospital. The helicopter is another tool that we use to ensure that your loved one is cared for in the best possible way. If your loved one is transported from the scene to a hospital, that hospital will be The University of Virginia Medical Center. If for some reason UVA is closed or is not the receiving hospital, the MEDEVAC crew will ensure that you know where your loved one is going.

Can I ride with my loved one in the ambulance?
Yes. One family member may ride with the ambulance to the hospital in the passenger seat of the ambulance. Parents of small children may also be permitted to ride in the back with the patient and the EMT's to help keep the child calm.

What about the Helicopter?
Due to weight and space constraints, no family members may ride in a MEDEVAC Helicopter with the patient.

Why did the ambulance go past my house?
Sometimes the house numbers on your house are not visible from the road. This causes confusion for the squad members looking for your house number. PLEASE-make sure you house number is visible from the road and is LARGE enough for us to see a 2:00 in the morning. Reflective numbers work great as well. Also, attract our attention by turning all of the lights visible from the roadway on. A house with all its lights on at 2 AM is rather recognizable and if it's the only house on the block that looks like it, chances are we won't pass it. Also people at the end of the road work well.

Can I follow the ambulance to the hospital?
Yes. But this does not make you exempt from traffic laws, especially if the ambulance is running lights and sirens. You must stay back 500 feet from the back of the truck. You also cannot speed or run stop signs and traffic lights like the ambulance may. Doing this, even though you are following our truck, still gives the sheriff's deputies and police officers legal cause to pull you over and ticket you. If we are not running lights and sirens, it may be easier to keep up with the ambulance. But in either case, remain safe and follow all traffic laws.  

Why did the ambulance not use lights and sirens on the way to the hospital?
Not all calls require us to use these tools to get to the hospital. If your loved one is stable, then we may not use these tools because they are not needed and just add to the stress that your loved one is already feeling. Additionally, they distract other drivers and cause them to move erratically and unpredictably. Also, because at higher speeds, the chance of a motor vehicle crash increases, it isn't worth being involved in a MVC in the ambulance if your loved one is stable.

How can I say thank you to the members who helped my loved one?
At the hospital it is unlikely that you will see us after we leave your loved one in the care of Emergency Department personnel. However, please feel free to send us notes of thanks, donations, etc. You can send these to

Madison County Rescue Squad, Inc.
PO Box 868,
Madison, VA 22727