Dr. Stanley M. Zydlo, who served as the head of emergency medical services at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights for decades, was instrumental in establishing the nation's first multi-community system of paramedics and emergency medical technicians. Known as a visionary leader, Zydlo transformed emergency care by advocating for trained first responders to deliver critical medical assistance.
"Stan was ahead of his time," recalled former Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins. "He envisioned saving countless lives through this initiative, and he made it happen." Zydlo passed away at the age of 81 on June 3rd due to cardiac arrest at Northwest Community Hospital, where he had long been dedicated to his work. His wife mentioned that he had been battling declining health.
Born and raised on Chicago's West Side, Zydlo grew up with a father who was both a tavern owner and the 26th Ward alderman for 15 years. After graduating from Loyola University with a medical degree, Zydlo became a flight surgeon during the Cuban Missile Crisis, ensuring pilots and crew members were fit to fly nuclear missions.
In 1963, after completing his service, Zydlo began practicing medicine in Wabash, Indiana. By 1969, he had relocated to Chicago to join the emergency room at Northwest Community Hospital. It was here that he noticed a significant gap—ambulance attendants lacked proper medical training and often did not administer lifesaving interventions during transport. This realization spurred him to action.
Larry Pairitz, Mount Prospect’s fire chief from 1970 to 1986, collaborated with Zydlo to conduct EMT classes for firefighters. These sessions eventually expanded to cover neighboring areas. Inspired by this progress, Zydlo teamed up with Pairitz and activist Janet Schwettman to push for statewide regulations requiring fire departments to offer paramedic services.
Initially met with skepticism from fellow physicians, Zydlo remained steadfast. "Doctors opposed the idea of firefighters learning advanced medical techniques," he once remarked. "But my philosophy has always been simple: let us help people." During his advocacy efforts, Zydlo personally trained firefighters himself.
In 1972, Governor Richard Ogilvie signed legislation authorizing the paramedic system. Just a month later, Northwest Community Hospital launched its Mobile Intensive Care Service. Nine communities—Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich, Wheeling, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, and Rolling Meadows—implemented the new emergency medical services framework. Today, this collaborative network includes 25 participating organizations comprising 22 fire departments and three private ambulance services.
Throughout his career, Zydlo stayed involved as the project’s medical director, educating countless paramedics and EMTs. Ironically, he benefited directly from the very system he helped build when he experienced a heart attack at home in 1978. "My condition was critical," he recounted. "But thanks to those skilled paramedics, I survived."
In honor of his contributions, a Palatine fire station was named in his memory in 1997. Though gone now, Zydlo’s legacy lives on through the lives he touched and the enduring impact of his pioneering efforts.
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