ALS ambulance with paramedic crew

Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance is the highest level of ground pre-hospital emergency care. An ALS unit is staffed by at least one paramedic certified to NYS EMT-CC or NREMT-P standard, backed by an EMT as the second crew member. Paramedics are trained to perform advanced assessments and interventions that go beyond BLS: cardiac rhythm interpretation, 12-lead ECG acquisition and transmission, advanced airway management including RSI where authorized, vascular access, and medication administration per physician-approved protocols.

Hatzolah EMS ALS units carry a full BLS complement plus: cardiac monitor-defibrillator with 12-lead capability, IV and IO vascular access supplies, advanced airway equipment (bag-valve-mask, supraglottic airways, laryngoscope, RSI medications where authorized), capnography (end-tidal CO2 monitoring), and a formulary of cardiac, respiratory, and analgesic medications approved by our medical director.

ALS dispatch is prioritized for calls where clinical presentation suggests a patient may need medication administration, cardioversion, or advanced airway management en route to the hospital. When our dispatch receives a call, the system evaluates call type and assigns BLS or ALS crew based on chief complaint and available resources.