How EMS Standby Services Work at BCMH
Keeping Events Safe and Putting Emergencies First
You will probably see our EMS teams at community events this summer handing out water at a 5K, taking part in a parade, or standing by at local July 4th events in case they’re needed. You may have also wondered: how do we decide where and when to be on site?
Here’s a look at how our Ambulance Services team provides event coverage and what guides those decisions.
Standby vs. Dedicated EMS Coverage
We’re proud to support a wide range of community events from school football games to local fundraisers. Here’s how our coverage breaks down:
- For nonprofit or community events, like high school games, festivals, or benefit runs, we do our best to attend when staffing allows. These are standby events, meaning our team is nearby and ready to help, but may be called away for an emergency elsewhere in the county.
- For events run by for-profit businesses, such as rodeos or racetrack activities, our ambulance services are available for dedicated coverage at a rate of $175 per hour, which includes an ambulance and a paramedic/EMT team. These arrangements are often required for insurance purposes. When we’re hired for these events, we typically schedule a third team to avoid interrupting primary emergency coverage. Event planners are informed that the team could be called away in a true emergency, though it’s rare — and this understanding is part of our service agreement.With our current staffing, it would be difficult to consistently dedicate a third team to unpaid or frequent standby requests. That’s why we prioritize careful planning, clear communication, and balancing countywide needs in every decision.
For both types of events, it’s made clear up front: our county’s emergency needs always come first. If our team is at an event and a serious call comes in, they will leave to respond.
Serving All of Bates County
Our EMS team normally staffs two full-time ambulance crews, each made up of a paramedic and an EMT working 48-hour shifts. That staffing covers all emergency calls across Bates County, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When major weather changes hit, such as recent heat advisories, both our EMS and Emergency Department teams see a significant increase in calls and visits. While we do our best to support local events, patient care must always remain our top priority.
We’re proud to be a county hospital. Our campus may be in Butler, but our services and our commitment extend across Bates County. That includes being present at events in Adrian, Hume, Rich Hill, and beyond, whenever we can. While we may not make it to every high school game or gathering, our team evaluates each request based on staffing, location, and anticipated call volume. Our goal is always the same: to keep our neighbors safe.
Where You’ll See Us This Summer
Our EMS teams are out and about this season, even while staying busy with emergency calls and patient care. You’ll find them:
- Handing out water at the Glow Run 5K (benefiting the BCMH Cares Mammogram Fund)
- Attending Rich Hill’s 4th of July festivities with other first responders
- Participating in parades and fireworks events across the county
- Providing education for our young ones at festivals and other programs, like Safety Village
- Responding 24/7 to emergencies from every corner of Bates County
Want to Request EMS Coverage at Your Event?
We’re happy to share more about how standby or dedicated EMS coverage works.
Contact Russell Whisenand, Paramedic and Ambulance Services Supervisor, at:
Email: rwhisenand@bcmhospital.com
Phone: 660-200-7000 ext. 7107
At BCMH, our EMS teams do more than respond, they show up. In emergencies, in celebrations, and in service to this county, we’re proud to be part of what keeps our hometowns strong.
