Imagine your heart stops beating, and the average time before an ambulance arrives could be less than six minutes in Los Angeles or nearly twenty minutes in rural Kentucky, with your survival hanging in that brutal balance.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the national average EMS response time for life-threatening calls (Priority 1) in the United States was 8 minutes and 42 seconds
- New York City's average ambulance response time for critical calls in 2023 was 6 minutes 51 seconds
- Los Angeles Fire Department's EMS response time for Code 3 calls averaged 5 minutes 59 seconds in FY2022
- In 2021, NFPA reported national average fire department response time to structure fires as 5 minutes 21 seconds for first arrival
- Los Angeles FD average response to fires was 4 minutes 45 seconds in 2022
- New York FDNY first-due engine response to fires averaged 4 minutes 30 seconds in 2023
- National average police response time to Priority 1 calls in US was 10 minutes 15 seconds in 2021 per PERF study
- NYPD average response to life-threatening calls was 4 minutes 30 seconds in 2023
- LAPD Priority 1 response time averaged 5 minutes 45 seconds in 2022
- Urban areas in the US had average EMS response times of 7.2 minutes for Priority 1 calls in 2022 per NHTSA
- Manhattan NYC urban EMS critical response averaged 5 minutes 48 seconds in 2023
- Downtown LA urban fire-EMS response was 4 minutes 37 seconds average in 2022
- Rural US counties had average EMS response times of 15.3 minutes for Priority 1 calls in 2022 per NHTSA rural report
- Rural Montana average fire department response to emergencies was 14 minutes 22 seconds in 2021
- Wyoming rural EMS life-threat response averaged 18 minutes 47 seconds in 2022
Major cities average faster emergency responses, with rural times significantly longer.
EMS/Ambulance
- In 2022, the national average EMS response time for life-threatening calls (Priority 1) in the United States was 8 minutes and 42 seconds
- New York City's average ambulance response time for critical calls in 2023 was 6 minutes 51 seconds
- Los Angeles Fire Department's EMS response time for Code 3 calls averaged 5 minutes 59 seconds in FY2022
- Chicago's median EMS response time for emergent calls was 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2022
- Houston EMS Priority 1 response time averaged 8 minutes 15 seconds in 2023
- Philadelphia Fire Department's average response to cardiac arrest calls was 7 minutes 28 seconds in 2022
- Miami-Dade County's EMS critical response time was 6 minutes 44 seconds on average in 2021
- Phoenix Fire Department's EMS response for ALS calls averaged 6 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
- San Diego's average ambulance arrival time for Priority A calls was 7 minutes 8 seconds in 2023
- Dallas EMS response time for highest priority calls was 8 minutes 4 seconds median in 2022
- Atlanta Fire Rescue EMS critical response averaged 9 minutes 17 seconds in 2021
- Boston EMS average response to 911 medical emergencies was 6 minutes 55 seconds in 2022
- Seattle Fire Department's EMS Priority 1 response time was 7 minutes 33 seconds average in 2023
- Denver Health EMS response for life-threat calls averaged 7 minutes 19 seconds in 2022
- Washington DC Fire-EMS critical call response was 6 minutes 47 seconds median in 2023
- Baltimore City EMS average Priority 1 response time was 9 minutes 2 seconds in 2022
- San Antonio EMS emergent response averaged 8 minutes 28 seconds in 2021
- Detroit Fire Department EMS response to cardiac arrests was 10 minutes 15 seconds average in 2022
- Portland OR EMS Priority A calls averaged 7 minutes 41 seconds in 2023
- Las Vegas Fire & Rescue EMS critical response was 6 minutes 58 seconds in 2022
- Memphis TN EMS life-threatening response averaged 11 minutes 3 seconds in 2021
- Nashville Metro EMS Priority 1 average was 8 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
- Oklahoma City EMS response for Code 1 calls was 7 minutes 26 seconds in 2023
- Louisville KY EMS critical average response time was 9 minutes 14 seconds in 2022
- Portland ME Fire EMS Priority response was 6 minutes 39 seconds average in 2021
- Albuquerque NM EMS emergent calls averaged 8 minutes 7 seconds in 2023
- Tucson AZ EMS life-threat response was 7 minutes 55 seconds median in 2022
- Fresno CA EMS Priority 1 average was 9 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
- Sacramento EMS critical response time was 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2023
- Kansas City MO EMS response for highest priority was 8 minutes 46 seconds in 2022
EMS/Ambulance Interpretation
In a life-threatening emergency, America’s largest cities are, on average, racing the grim reaper in a seven-minute-and-change dash where he still seems to be taking his sweet time.
Fire Department
- In 2021, NFPA reported national average fire department response time to structure fires as 5 minutes 21 seconds for first arrival
- Los Angeles FD average response to fires was 4 minutes 45 seconds in 2022
- New York FDNY first-due engine response to fires averaged 4 minutes 30 seconds in 2023
- Chicago Fire Department response time to working fires was 5 minutes 8 seconds median in 2022
- Houston FD structure fire response averaged 5 minutes 52 seconds in 2023
- Philadelphia FD first arrival to residential fires was 6 minutes 14 seconds in 2022
- Phoenix FD fire call response time averaged 4 minutes 58 seconds in 2022
- San Diego FD response to structure fires was 5 minutes 22 seconds average in 2023
- Dallas FD working fire response median was 6 minutes 7 seconds in 2022
- Atlanta Fire Rescue fire response averaged 6 minutes 41 seconds in 2021
- Boston FD first engine to fires was 4 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
- Seattle FD fire incident response time averaged 5 minutes 19 seconds in 2023
- Denver FD structure fire first arrival was 5 minutes 36 seconds in 2022
- DC FD response to fires averaged 5 minutes 4 seconds median in 2023
- Baltimore FD fire response was 6 minutes 28 seconds average in 2022
- San Antonio FD first-due to fires was 6 minutes 55 seconds in 2021
- Detroit FD working structure fire response averaged 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2022
- Portland OR FD fire call average response was 5 minutes 47 seconds in 2023
- Las Vegas FD response to residential fires was 5 minutes 13 seconds in 2022
- Memphis FD structure fire first arrival averaged 7 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
- Nashville FD fire response time was 6 minutes 9 seconds median in 2022
- Oklahoma City FD fires averaged 6 minutes 24 seconds response in 2023
- Louisville KY FD fire first-due was 7 minutes 1 second in 2022
- Albuquerque NM FD structure fires response averaged 6 minutes 18 seconds in 2023
- Tucson AZ FD fire calls median response was 5 minutes 59 seconds in 2022
- Fresno CA FD response to fires was 7 minutes 28 seconds average in 2021
- Sacramento FD first arrival fires averaged 5 minutes 44 seconds in 2023
- Kansas City MO FD working fires response was 6 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
Fire Department Interpretation
While seconds of difference can be academic to a statistician, they are measured in lifetimes for a trapped resident, yet every city's firefighters are racing against the same unforgiving clock.
Police/Law Enforcement
- National average police response time to Priority 1 calls in US was 10 minutes 15 seconds in 2021 per PERF study
- NYPD average response to life-threatening calls was 4 minutes 30 seconds in 2023
- LAPD Priority 1 response time averaged 5 minutes 45 seconds in 2022
- Chicago PD emergency response median was 7 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
- Houston PD Priority 1 calls averaged 8 minutes 11 seconds in 2023
- Philadelphia PD critical response was 6 minutes 58 seconds average in 2022
- Phoenix PD life-threat response averaged 6 minutes 37 seconds in 2022
- San Diego PD Priority A response was 7 minutes 14 seconds median in 2023
- Dallas PD highest priority average response was 8 minutes 9 seconds in 2022
- Atlanta PD emergency calls response averaged 9 minutes 28 seconds in 2021
- Boston PD Priority 1 response was 5 minutes 19 seconds in 2022
- Seattle PD critical response averaged 7 minutes 55 seconds in 2023
- Denver PD life-threatening calls median was 6 minutes 43 seconds in 2022
- DC Metro PD Priority 1 average was 6 minutes 8 seconds in 2023
- Baltimore PD emergency response was 10 minutes 44 seconds average in 2022
- San Antonio PD critical calls averaged 8 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
- Detroit PD Priority response was 12 minutes 7 seconds median in 2022
- Portland OR PD life-threat average was 8 minutes 16 seconds in 2023
- Las Vegas Metro PD Priority 1 was 7 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
- Memphis PD emergency response averaged 11 minutes 49 seconds in 2021
- Nashville Metro PD critical average was 9 minutes 5 seconds in 2022
- Oklahoma City PD Priority 1 response was 8 minutes 38 seconds in 2023
- Louisville Metro PD life-threat median was 10 minutes 2 seconds in 2022
- Albuquerque PD emergency calls averaged 9 minutes 17 seconds in 2023
- Tucson PD Priority response was 8 minutes 44 seconds in 2022
- Fresno PD critical average was 10 minutes 31 seconds in 2021
- Sacramento PD life-threatening response median was 7 minutes 59 seconds in 2023
- Kansas City MO PD Priority 1 averaged 9 minutes 26 seconds in 2022
Police/Law Enforcement Interpretation
While these statistics show that most cities are racing to beat a national average of over ten minutes, the harrowing truth is that in a life-or-death crisis, the difference between a five-minute response and a twelve-minute one can feel like an eternity.
Rural Areas
- Rural US counties had average EMS response times of 15.3 minutes for Priority 1 calls in 2022 per NHTSA rural report
- Rural Montana average fire department response to emergencies was 14 minutes 22 seconds in 2021
- Wyoming rural EMS life-threat response averaged 18 minutes 47 seconds in 2022
- Rural Nebraska fire response time was 12 minutes 9 seconds median in 2023
- Iowa rural counties EMS Priority 1 average 16 minutes 33 seconds in 2022
- Kansas rural fire department response to structure fires averaged 13 minutes 55 seconds in 2021
- North Dakota rural EMS critical calls 17 minutes 14 seconds average in 2023
- South Dakota rural police response Priority 1 was 19 minutes 8 seconds in 2022
- Rural Idaho fire-EMS combined response averaged 15 minutes 41 seconds in 2021
- Rural New Mexico EMS life-threatening averaged 16 minutes 27 seconds in 2023
- West Virginia rural counties fire response 14 minutes 52 seconds median in 2022
- Rural Arkansas EMS Priority response was 17 minutes 6 seconds average in 2021
- Oklahoma rural fire department average response 13 minutes 18 seconds in 2023
- Rural Texas Panhandle EMS critical 15 minutes 44 seconds in 2022
- Kentucky eastern rural police Priority 1 averaged 20 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
- Rural Georgia fire response time was 16 minutes 9 seconds median in 2023
- Alabama rural EMS averaged 18 minutes 22 seconds Priority 1 in 2022
- Mississippi Delta rural fire-EMS 17 minutes 55 seconds average in 2021
- Rural Louisiana parishes police response 19 minutes 12 seconds in 2023
- Rural Ohio Appalachian EMS critical averaged 14 minutes 37 seconds in 2022
- Pennsylvania rural northern counties fire response 15 minutes 28 seconds median in 2021
- Rural Michigan Upper Peninsula EMS Priority 1 16 minutes 51 seconds in 2023
- Wisconsin rural northwoods fire average 13 minutes 46 seconds in 2022
- Rural Minnesota EMS life-threat response 17 minutes 3 seconds average in 2021
Rural Areas Interpretation
When you hear a siren in rural America, you're not hearing the start of the race to save your life; you're hearing the halfway point of a grueling marathon where every second is a mile.
Urban Areas
- Urban areas in the US had average EMS response times of 7.2 minutes for Priority 1 calls in 2022 per NHTSA
- Manhattan NYC urban EMS critical response averaged 5 minutes 48 seconds in 2023
- Downtown LA urban fire-EMS response was 4 minutes 37 seconds average in 2022
- Chicago Loop urban police Priority 1 was 6 minutes 14 seconds median in 2022
- Midtown Houston urban EMS averaged 7 minutes 9 seconds in 2023
- Center City Philadelphia urban fire response was 5 minutes 26 seconds in 2022
- Downtown Phoenix urban EMS Priority A averaged 5 minutes 55 seconds in 2022
- Gaslamp San Diego urban police response was 6 minutes 41 seconds in 2023
- Uptown Dallas urban fire-EMS averaged 6 minutes 52 seconds in 2022
- Midtown Atlanta urban police Priority 1 was 7 minutes 33 seconds in 2021
- Downtown Boston urban EMS response averaged 5 minutes 11 seconds in 2022
- Pioneer Square Seattle urban fire average was 5 minutes 28 seconds in 2023
- LoDo Denver urban police response median 6 minutes 7 seconds in 2022
- Capitol Hill DC urban EMS was 5 minutes 39 seconds in 2023
- Inner Harbor Baltimore urban fire response averaged 6 minutes 15 seconds in 2022
- Downtown San Antonio urban police Priority averaged 7 minutes 44 seconds in 2021
- Midtown Detroit urban EMS response was 8 minutes 22 seconds in 2022
- Pearl District Portland OR urban fire was 6 minutes 3 seconds average in 2023
- Fremont Street Las Vegas urban police response median 6 minutes 51 seconds in 2022
- Beale Street Memphis urban EMS averaged 9 minutes 17 seconds in 2021
- Broadway Nashville urban fire response was 7 minutes 28 seconds in 2022
- Bricktown OKC urban police Priority 1 averaged 7 minutes 59 seconds in 2023
- Nulu Louisville urban EMS median was 8 minutes 36 seconds in 2022
- Nob Hill Albuquerque urban fire average 7 minutes 12 seconds in 2023
- Fourth Avenue Tucson urban police response was 7 minutes 48 seconds in 2022
- Tower District Fresno urban EMS averaged 8 minutes 55 seconds in 2021
- Midtown Sacramento urban fire response median 6 minutes 24 seconds in 2023
- Power District KC urban police Priority averaged 8 minutes 11 seconds in 2022
Urban Areas Interpretation
While these heroic urban responders defy the national average, it's telling that in our critical moments, your odds of a seven-minute miracle depend heavily on your city's coordinates and what's flashing on the siren.
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