Antioch Fire Department Seeks to Replace Antioch Volunteer Rescue Squad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) October 3, 2011 -- In the small, quiet village of Antioch, Illinois, there are rumblings of significant changes that threaten to disrupt quality emergency response services for Antioch and the surrounding area. Behind closed doors, away from the public spotlight, and possibly in violation of public disclosure laws, local lawmakers have been making plans to dismantle the 70 year-old volunteer rescue organization to accomplish what repeated failed public referendums could not.

The Antioch Rescue Squad (ARS) is the only ambulance service in Antioch and is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year by highly qualified, well-trained volunteer paramedics and EMTs. The Squad also operates out of a second station on Deep Lake Road, which is also staffed by a minimum of two personnel 24 hours a day. The Antioch Rescue Squad is staffed and coordinated by professional paramedic volunteers who commit to regular 12-hour and 24-hour shifts.

For over 70 years, all emergency medical needs of the people of Antioch have been well-served by the Antioch Rescue Squad. And for over 70 years, the people of Antioch and the surrounding area have rallied to support the Antioch Rescue Squad and their incredible volunteer force.

The Antioch Rescue Squad was the first organized paramedic unit in the State of Illinois. To recognize such a historic achievement, Illinois Governor James R. Thompson paid tribute to the Squad in 1982 as he wrote, “I am proud…of the outstanding work that you have done. Your innovative techniques lead the way for the entire State, and indeed, the whole country. You have saved the lives of many people…and I salute all of you for your dedication to this voluntary duty.”
A minority group of politicians and vocal adversaries have been actively seeking ways to dismantle the Antioch Volunteer Rescue Squad. Some seek to replace the Antioch Rescue Squad by expanding the Antioch Fire Department. Additional fire department expenses would result, as well as a dramatic tax increase to Antioch community residents for services already provided at no charge to local taxpayers.

As a non-profit organization, the Antioch Rescue Squad is a non-taxing organization, operating without placing a tax burden on the residents of Antioch. While the Village of Antioch has periodically covered fuel costs, the Squad is funded completely by the generosity of donors, benefactors, service fees and successful fund-raising efforts.

In short, The Antioch Rescue Squad is a model of efficient, community-supported and community-focused service that exists because people care. Everyone associated with the Antioch Volunteer Rescue Squad completes regular 12-hour and 24-hour shifts without receiving a single dollar of tax payer money. The Antioch Rescue Squad is staffed and regularly reviewed by local hospitals, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and a local medical director. Additionally, ARS is governed by a state EMS act to ensure complete adherence to all state EMS regulations.

Some local politicians have circulated misleading explanations for their desire to disband the Antioch Rescue Squad. Some have commented falsely that eliminating the Rescue Squad will allow the community to modernize the fire department. Others have even falsely asserted that no new taxes would be needed to fund the huge increase in paid fire department services required to replace the volunteer rescue squad.

Local businessman and Antioch Rescue Squad Chief Wayne Sobczak is disheartened by the desire of some local politicians to dismantle a respected and valuable community service only to replace it with a more costly, less effective model. “The Antioch Rescue Squad has 56 volunteer members that don’t cost taxpayers a single penny. As a business owner and local taxpayer, I cannot imagine a scenario that would allow the fire department to add 56 new employees without increasing taxes.” says Sobczak.

Sobczak voices a concern shared by many local residents. “The volunteers at the Antioch Rescue Squad provide this service because they want to be there, not because they're paid to do this job. Every member of our 56 person team is an active volunteer Paramedic or EMT serving a 12 hour shift every week. The Antioch Fire Department is simply not equipped to staff ambulances. Any decision to disband the Antioch Rescue Squad will result in a lack of quality care for our community and would increase local taxes at a time when few can afford it. The fire district tried to push this issue in our community twice before with a failed tax increase referendum. It didn’t pass for one simple reason. The community doesn’t want it. Nothing has changed. The community of Antioch stands behind our volunteer rescue squad.” says Sobczak.

The Antioch Rescue Squad holds an annual fundraiser that generates a large portion of the funds needed to support this volunteer service. “It’s the support of our incredible community that has kept the Antioch Rescue Squad strong for more than 70 years.” says Brian DeKind, a local business owner and Deputy Chief of the Antioch Rescue Squad. “I’m proud to be a part of an organization that provides critical care to those in need at no cost to our taxpayers. Our volunteer team has been operating without exception since 1940. With 56 volunteer members, we have significantly more volunteers than the Antioch Fire Department; whose members are paid…and we have all of the necessary equipment and state licensing to operate ALS (advanced life support) emergency medical transport vehicles. The Antioch Fire Department is not licensed to serve our community in the same way. The fact that the Village would entrust the medical care of our residents to another group with insufficient licensing is truly discouraging….and to say ‘it will not cost taxpayers’ is an outright lie.”

As evidenced in the rejected referendums, a majority of Antioch community residents believe that the Antioch Fire Department is fighting to take over a job that's already being done by the Antioch Rescue Squad with great community satisfaction. “It seems that if there were legitimate service concerns with the Antioch Rescue Squad, the Village board, its trustees, or the fire chief would have reached out to the Rescue Squad management team to discuss a solution.” says Antioch resident Phil Delany “This just looks like the fire department is trying to expand their budget and increase their control while trampling on a respected community institution. It appears that some community leaders are trying to push this idea through quickly and without public input. If they succeed, the residents of the Village and Township will suffer as a consequence. This is a politically motivated action and an example of government becoming larger at the expense of the taxpayers.”

For more information or to schedule an interview with a representative of the Antioch Rescue Squad, please contact

Patrick Goodness at 312-205-6424 or email patrick@goodnesscompany.com

Press release developed by The Goodness Company: Public Relations

More information can be found online at http://wwww.antiochrescuesquad.com

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