Excerpts from the Chicago Tribune about Dr. Stanley M. Zydlo Dr. Stanley M. Zydlo, a pioneering figure in emergency medical services, was the visionary behind the first multicommunity paramedic system in the United States. As the longtime head of emergency medical services at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, he played a key role in transforming how emergency care is delivered across the country. "Stan was truly ahead of his time," said Rita Mullins, former mayor of Palatine. "He saw the potential to save lives and made it happen. His dedication and persistence changed the way we handle emergencies today." Zydlo, who passed away on June 3 at the age of 81 due to cardiac arrest at Northwest Community Hospital, had been in declining health, according to his wife. Growing up on Chicago’s West Side, Zydlo was the son of Stanley Zydlo Sr., who owned a tavern and later served as the 26th Ward alderman for 15 years. After earning his medical degree from Loyola University, he served as a flight surgeon during the Cuban Missile Crisis, assessing the physical and mental readiness of Air Force pilots and crew members flying nuclear-armed aircraft. After leaving the Air Force in 1963, Zydlo started a medical practice in Wabash, Indiana, before moving to Chicago in 1969 to work in the emergency room at Northwest Community Hospital. There, he noticed a critical gap in emergency care: ambulance personnel had no medical training and could not provide lifesaving treatment during transport. This realization led him to partner with local leaders like Larry Pairitz, then fire chief of Mount Prospect, to train firefighters in emergency medical techniques. Over time, this effort expanded into a broader initiative to establish state-wide standards for paramedic services within fire departments. Despite initial resistance from some medical professionals, Zydlo remained determined. “There was some strong opposition among doctors,†he once told the Tribune. “But my motto was: ‘Just try to stop us from helping people.’†In 1972, Governor Richard Ogilvie signed a bill that paved the way for paramedics to be part of local fire departments. The following year, Northwest Community Hospital launched its Mobile Intensive Care System, and nine communities joined the new multicommunity EMS network. Today, the system includes 25 agencies. Zydlo continued to lead and train paramedics for many years. He even became a beneficiary of the system he helped create when he suffered a heart attack in 1978. “The paramedics saved my life,†he recalled in 1994. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here.†In recognition of his contributions, a Palatine fire station was named after him in 1997. His legacy continues to influence emergency care across the nation. Metal Stamping Parts,Deep Drawing Steel Parts,Stamping Die Part For Light,Aluminum Deep Drawing Parts Foshan City Yuwei Aluminum Products Co.,Ltd. , https://www.wakfenn.com