1. WHAT NUMBER DO I CALL TO GET THE AMBULANCE SERVICE?
For the fastest service, call +52 612-159-0468. This number will connect you directly to our paramedic team here in La Ventana/El Sargento, or call 911.
2. WILL YOU STILL ANSWER TO AN EMERGENCY CALL IF I’M NOT A MEMBER OF THE AMBULANCE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM?
Yes, of course. If you aren’t a member, you will be charged accordingly for the ambulance service. See Cost of Medical Services and Supplies.
However, by becoming a member of the Program, you not only receive a discount for being a member, you receive two emergency trips to the hospital during the year with the purchase of your annual membership. Details on the membership programs and benefits will be available for you to review and sign up after we launch the membership program (scheduled for May 2024). By becoming a member, you are also helping us guarantee the ambulance service will be here when it is needed.
3. WHAT DO I SAY WHEN I CALL? DO THEY SPEAK ENGLISH?
The paramedic team is made up of Mexican nationals. At this time, only a few of our paramedics understand very basic English. They do not speak English.
The association has initiated a program to teach the paramedics basic English. This will enable the team to better serve the non-Spanish speaking community.
We have also put together a list of Spanish phrases to assist non-Spanish speaking users to communicate with the team in cases of emergency. Please refer to the Spanish phrases for Emergencies.
4. WHAT DO I NEED TO HAVE WITH ME TO BE ADMITTED INTO THE HOSPITAL IN LA PAZ
Major credit or cash, and some form of government issued ID.
5. HOW DO I SEND A PIN OF MY LOCATION USING WHATSAPP?
WhatsApp is the most popular application used in Mexico, so we recommend you downloading it and learn how to use it. It is a free app.
Learn how to pin your location with Whatsapp before you have an emergency. To learn how to pin your location using Whatsapp please use our helpful links below.
6. WHO IS GRUPO SIERRA PARAMEDICS?
Grupo Sierra is a paramedic team started here in El Sargento more than 12 years ago.
The team was originally a volunteer team that was funded by donation. Unfortunately as the community grew and inflation rose the possibility of running a volunteer team is no longer a viable option.
The team consists of a group of professionally trained paramedics the majority of whom have many years of experience. There are currently 6 staff members that make up 2 teams which is the minimum number of paramedic staff necessary to run a 24 hour service.
7. WHAT IS THE AMBULANCE PROJECT?
The Ambulance Project was established by a group of volunteers from the community to assist Grupo Sierra Paramedics to raise funds necessary to sustain the local paramedic service and to assist with the transition from a volunteer group to a professional paramedic service.
The Ambulance Project is a Civil Association which was registered April 2023. Being a Civil Association allows the group to legally fundraise to support the ambulance service, it also requires regular government reporting and financial transparency.
Being a Civil Association allows us to charge for the Ambulance Service and raise funds as a not for profit. The local paramedics service is not a free service. That being said, the service does provide free or discounted services to many people in the community that cannot afford to pay for this service. Your donations helps support the Paramedics in helping the less fortunate, with transportation and in home medical services.
8. WHAT IS THE PROJECTED YEARLY BUDGET?
All money raised through services and donations go to wages, fuel, supplies, equipment, maintenance and training. Please see our budget.
9. HOW MANY EMERGENCY CALLS DO WE GET A YEAR?
We are averaging over 275 calls a year, with 150 of those calls actually getting transported to the hospitals or medical centers in La Paz. The ambulance service also attends to many calls that don’t require transport to La Paz.
When the paramedics are called to a scene, they will assess whether the patient needs to be transported to the Hospital. If not, they charge a local service fee, collect payment and return to the station. They also attend to elderly patients and ill patients in the community with at home services, that may need assistance.
10. HOW IS THE AMBULANCE SERVICE FUNDED?
We have 5 main ways we raise money for this service:
- Membership Program
- Fundraising Events
- Donations
- Charging for Services
- Farmers Market
11. HOW MANY AMBULANCES DO WE HAVE IN LA VENTANA?
Currently we have 2 ambulances, but unfortunately we only have enough money to have one unit staffed and in service 24/7.
Our goal for the future as our community grows, would be to have two fully staffed and available ambulances at all times.
WHITE ONE – Small truck style, 4×4 is on loan from the Ministry of Health, can be taken away at any time. We do not own this one, but are responsible to maintain it.
RED ONE- This is the one we purchased last year with the money so generously donated by our community. We purchased the ambulance in April of 2023. We raised 34,000 USD. The purchase of the unit cost $29,970 USD, $1500 USD in transport fees and $776 USD for insurance.
12. WHAT DOES THE GOVERNMENT GIVE US?
Civil Protection is the agency that helps contribute to the cost of our Oxygen by paying a small percentage towards the Oxygen we use.
The Government pays the gas station in Los Planes for 64 liters a week, which we receive each Monday. That is approximately $1500 pesos. It costs us $5,000 pesos to fill up the Red Ambulance.
13. ARE THE PARAMEDICS PAID OR ARE THEY VOLUNTEERS?
Unfortunately maintaining a volunteer ambulance service was no longer viable. The 6 paramedics on staff receive a small wage at this time. See the budget for more information.
We are currently paying for 6 paramedics. To fulfill the requirements given to us by the Ministry of Health, we are required by law to have 3 crew members on each shift. Each shift is 24hrs, and they are currently working one day on and one day off.
14. HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE WE RAISED WITH OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS?
2023 – $70,541 USD
2024 – $29,876 USD from January 1 through March 31, 2024 (includes proceeds from our three fund raising events at Marlin Azul, Jazz in the Desert, and the Mezcalaria).
15. HOW MANY OF THE SERVICES CALLS ARE FROM MEXICANS?
80% are Mexicans and 20% are non-Mexicans
16. WHAT KIND OF NON RECURRING SUPPLIES OR EQUIPMENT DO YOU STILL NEED?
We are in the process of determining all the non recurring supplies and equipment that are needed. However, as of March 2024, we know we still need radios for the paramedics and summer uniforms.
17. IF WE ARE PRIMARILY FUNDED BY DONATIONS, WHY ARE YOU CHARGING ME FOR SERVICE?
While we do our best to raise enough funds through donations and fundraising to fully fund the ambulance service, the current reality is that we do not have enough coming in from those sources to provide a 24/7 service for the community.
18. ARE THE PARAMEDICS TRAINED AND CERTIFIED?
Training and certification are through a BLS Provider associated with the American Heart Association. All of our paramedics have been trained and are certified by CEC AP, Conocer, or SEP.
As a emergency service, our paramedics are required to have continuing training and education. Our lead paramedics are licensed and are required to renew annually.
19. WHO PAYS FOR THE TRAINING?
The Ambulance Project pays for training through its fundraising efforts.
20. WHO PAYS FOR THE COST OF MAINTENANCE?
The Ambulance Project pays for all costs related to the maintenance of the ambulances. We do not get any help from the government. The vehicles go in for maintenance every quarter or when needed to keep them functioning properly.
21. WHY DON’T WE GET ANY HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT?
We are hoping that with the election coming up in June 2024, the new President, will change the current policy and start allocating money to Civil Associations that are trying to help their communities. If this happens, we will apply for assistance.
In the meantime, we are in close contact with the Ministry of Health in La Paz, and have meetings with them to see how they can further assist us with the cost of running the service for our community. We will keep you posted when we hear anything.
22. WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF SERVICES?
23. WHAT IS THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM?
The ambulance project membership is a sustainable program counting on our entire community of regular visitors, residents and citizens to maintain an annual household membership. The membership has many benefits, please see details in the membership store and purchase your membership today! For those of you that have already pledged to join, you will be able to honor your pledge.
We are looking forward to having all of you as members of this community program. We can not do this without you!
24. WILL YOU STILL BE FUNDRAISING ONCE THIS MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM IS ESTABLISHED?
The answer is YES!
The fundraising events are not only a great way for the community to get together to help support the Ambulance Project, but also a lot of fun!
For now and in the foreseeable future. we will need to supplement the money raised from services from the membership program, donations and revenue raised during fundraising events.
We hope that at sometime in the future enough households will purchase memberships and, that combined with monies raised at community fundraising events, we will be able to fully cover the cost of the service.
25. HOW WILL THE PARAMEDICS KNOW THAT I HAVE A MEMBERSHIP?
We maintain a master list of all active memberships along with the names, phone number and location information provided to us during registration. The paramedics can search this information to find you. A membership card is not needed (and would be a lot of work and cost to implement and maintain). Your membership order email and credit card transaction is proof of your membership.