Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ambulance Service Begins Membership Drive

How much is the life of a loved one worth?

Can anyone actually measure this in dollars and cents? No!

Because of this, and to make sure residents of Prescott and Nevada County are protected, the Nevada County Ambulance Service is holding its annual membership drive.

For $50, a family is covered by the NCAS, while an individual membership will be $40.

For this one-time annual fee, area residents can have the peace of mind knowing their loved ones or themselves will be taken to a nearby hospital and not have to worry about the ambulance fee on top of the exorbitant hospital bills.

According to NCAS owner Chad Cornelius, the service will accept whatever a person or family's insurance pays toward the ambulance fee, considering this paid in full.

The NCAS makes about 80 runs per month on medical emergencies, transporting patients to and from the hospital and to and from nursing homes.

However, Cornelius said those who don't take advantage of the membership drive, which runs from April 1 to May 31, don't have to worry. They, too, will be taken where needed as their condition requires.

But, those who aren't members of the NCAS are responsible for paying the ambulance bills.

There were 75 members of the NCAS in 1995. Cornelius said he hopes more will join the service this year.

The NCAS is a paramedic service, meaning it's basically an emergency room on wheels. There are five full-time paramedics and five part-time paramedics on staff. In addition, there are five full-time emergency medical technicians, and three part-time EMTs.

The service's three ambulances are fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.

For more information on the NCAS, or to become a member, call 887-2339, or drop by 237 Hale Ave.