Ambulance Districts
McKenzie County is served by a network of 7 ambulance districts and 4 Quick Response Units (QRUs) to provide emergency medical care:
- Alexander QRU
- Arnegard QRU
- Grassy Butte QRU
- Keene QRU
- McKenzie County Ambulance
- Williston Ambulance Service
- Mandaree Ambulance Service
- Richland County Ambulance Service (Fairview & Sidney, MT)
- New Town Ambulance Service
- Killdeer Ambulance Service
- Beach Ambulance Service
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) play a crucial role in delivering emergency medical care to individuals facing sudden or severe injury or illness, as well as those who have experienced major trauma. This is particularly important in rural areas like McKenzie County, where providing EMS can be challenging due to geographical factors.
Challenges in Rural EMS
- Geographical Size and Population Density: Rural EMS often serve large, sparsely populated areas. This can require longer travel distances and navigating difficult terrain during emergency responses or patient transports to hospitals.
- Adverse Weather Conditions: Weather can further complicate response and transport times, especially when combined with the longer distances and geographical obstacles inherent in rural settings.
- Volunteer-Based Services: Many of the individuals involved in EMS and ambulance services in rural areas are volunteers. Despite the lower frequency of emergency runs compared to urban areas, these volunteers are often on-call, handle inter-facility and non-emergency transfers, and participate in ongoing training to maintain their skills and certifications. Balancing these responsibilities with full-time jobs and family obligations places a substantial burden on these dedicated volunteers.
For more information on rural EMS challenges, visit ruralhealthinfo.org.