By Les Ong on November 24, 2025
How one EMT’s nine years of experience and a life-changing encounter inspired her to create Balati EMS, a business dedicated to bridging emergency preparedness and community involvement
When Hillary Fajardo responds to an emergency call, she brings more than just medical expertise. She brings nine years of experience as an EMT, a deep commitment to community service, and a vision for how emergency medical services should truly operate. As the founder and CEO of Balati EMS, Hillary is building something unique in the Bronx: an emergency services company that puts people first and emphasizes the human connection at the heart of healthcare.
For Hillary, the decision to start Balati EMS wasn’t just about launching a business. It was about creating the kind of workplace and service environment she had always wanted to see in the EMS field. After years of working on ambulances, at construction sites, and in various emergency medical settings throughout New York, she recognized a gap in the market and a need in the community.
“I really wanted to create an environment that I and so many of my colleagues wanted in this space,” Hillary explains. “I wanted it to be a potential solution to a lot of people’s work problems. I’ve noticed issues in places I’ve been at, and I figured, why not create a new environment that people could understand?”
That vision led to the creation of Balati EMS approximately a year ago, with a clear mission: to bridge the gap between emergency preparedness and community involvement. The company’s tagline, “Putting the Care in Healthcare,” isn’t just marketing speak. It reflects Hillary’s fundamental belief that being part of a community means truly helping the people you serve.
Balati EMS offers a range of services designed to meet the emergency preparedness needs of individuals and organizations throughout New York. The company specializes in emergency services training, including CPR certification and first aid courses. Hillary herself teaches these classes, bringing her extensive field experience directly to her students.
What sets Balati EMS apart in the crowded training market is their commitment to accessibility and value. Hillary charges $100 per person for CPR classes, but she’s not rigid about pricing. When she learned that potential students wanted to take the class but couldn’t afford the full fee, she immediately ran a promotion, reducing the cost to $85 for the month of October. The promotion was a success, allowing more people to gain potentially life-saving skills.
“I really feel like you get a lot of bang for your buck compared to a lot of other training centers,” Hillary notes. Students receive same-day certification and even get goodies for attending the class, benefits that many competitors don’t offer. The company’s Google reviews reflect this commitment to customer service and value.
Beyond training, Balati EMS provides on-site event medical support for small venues throughout the city. Whether it’s a community gathering, a corporate event, or a local festival, Hillary and her team ensure that professional medical support is available when needed. The company is also preparing to launch a new service: non-emergency medical transport, expanding their ability to serve the community in multiple ways.
For Hillary, emergency medical services isn’t just a job. It’s a calling that was reinforced by an extraordinary experience that occurred within the past year. While working on an ambulance, she responded to a cardiac arrest call on a New York street. When she arrived, bystanders were already performing CPR on the patient, demonstrating the kind of community response that inspired her business model.
Hillary jumped into action, working with her partner to continue CPR and transport the patient to a nearby hospital, which was fortunately just a block away. The last she saw of the patient that day, he was being intubated in the emergency room.
Then, a month later in January, something remarkable happened. Hillary received what seemed like a routine call: transport a patient from the hospital back to their home. When she arrived, she immediately recognized the patient. It was the same man whose life she had helped save during that cardiac arrest call.
“I asked him what brought him to the hospital, and he said he’d had a heart attack,” Hillary recalls. “And I said, ‘Yeah, because I’m the one that brought you here.’ He looked at me with awe and was shocked.”
The patient, who had been unconscious during the initial emergency, hadn’t known who his rescuers were. When he realized Hillary was one of the people who saved his life, he began to cry. So did Hillary. He looked her directly in the eye and said something she’ll never forget: “Because of you, I am here. Thank you for that.”
During the ride to his home, they talked about his recovery. Despite three broken ribs from the CPR compressions (a common and accepted side effect of effective chest compressions), he had survived with all his neurological faculties intact. He was walking, talking, and going home to continue his life.
“It really showed me that humanity still exists in the world,” Hillary reflects. “There were people that helped him, including myself. To find out that he survived and was doing well, it felt good.”
That encounter crystallized everything Hillary believes about emergency medical services: the importance of community involvement, the value of proper training, and the profound impact that preparation and quick response can have on human lives.
Hillary doesn’t run Balati EMS alone. Her husband works alongside her, providing crucial support for the business operations. He helps with CPR classes, managing equipment, transportation, and countless other tasks that keep the business running smoothly.
“He is a great ally and a great partner,” Hillary says. “I know he covers my back on things that I tend to miss here and there.”
The couple currently operates the business as a two-person team, though they’re in talks to hire additional staff in the coming weeks. Their collaborative approach reflects the community-focused values that drive Balati EMS.
Hillary has lived in New York her entire 29 years, and the city’s character deeply influences her business philosophy. When asked what keeps her in New York, she points to the diversity that defines daily life in the city.
“You never know who you’re going to come across and who you just may encounter or help that day,” she explains. “That’s what keeps me going, what keeps me staying. It’s the variety of things.”
That appreciation for diversity shapes how Balati EMS serves its community. The company’s primary clients are healthcare workers seeking emergency services training, typically aged 30 and up, with a predominantly female demographic. But Hillary’s vision extends beyond any single group. She sees Balati EMS as a resource for the entire community, a place where anyone can learn life-saving skills or access emergency medical support.
Hillary is also involved beyond her business, serving on a community advisory board for one of the local hospitals. This involvement keeps her connected to healthcare needs and community concerns throughout the Bronx.
Looking ahead five years, Hillary has clear goals for Balati EMS. The company currently rents an office space, but she dreams of owning their own building with a storefront presence in the community. More than physical expansion, though, she envisions Balati EMS becoming a true staple of the community.
“I really hope that we’ve become a resource that the community can depend on for help,” Hillary says. “I will make it happen, but I really hope that it thrives fully in the next five years.”
That determination comes through in everything Hillary does. She’s not just building a business. She’s creating the kind of emergency medical service she believes the community deserves: one that emphasizes customer service, accessibility, proper training, and genuine care for the people being served.
One of Hillary’s core beliefs is that emergency preparedness training should be accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford premium prices. Her willingness to adjust pricing and run promotions demonstrates this commitment. She’s open to developing additional discounts and programs to ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent people from learning potentially life-saving skills.
The company maintains an active presence across multiple social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok, where they can be found under the handle @prettymedic_ceo. This digital presence helps Balati EMS connect with community members, share important safety information, and make their services known to those who might benefit from them.
In a city full of training centers and emergency service providers, Balati EMS stands out through its emphasis on customer service and community connection. Hillary and her team work with clients to find solutions that fit their needs and budgets. Students receive same-day certifications, valuable training materials, and instruction from an experienced EMT who has spent nine years in the field.
For event organizers, Balati EMS provides professional on-site medical support that ensures safety without overwhelming small venues with unnecessary costs or complexity. As the company expands into non-emergency medical transport, they’ll offer even more ways to serve the community’s healthcare needs.
Most importantly, when you work with Balati EMS, you’re working with people who genuinely care. Hillary’s encounter with the cardiac arrest survivor exemplifies the impact that skilled, compassionate emergency medical professionals can have. That same level of care and commitment extends to every CPR class, every event, and every interaction with the community.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional seeking certification renewal, a business owner wanting to ensure your team is prepared for emergencies, or a community member who wants to be ready to help in a crisis, Balati EMS is here to serve you.
Contact Balati EMS today to schedule your CPR training, inquire about event medical support, or learn more about their expanding services:
Balati EMS
1339 East Gun Hill Road
Bronx, NY 10469
Phone: 929-460-8543
Email: info@balatiems.org
Website: www.balatiems.org
Connect with them on social media:
Don’t wait until an emergency happens. Get trained, get certified, and be ready to make a difference. As Hillary’s story proves, you never know when you might be in a position to save a life. With Balati EMS, you’ll have the skills and confidence to act when it matters most.
Remember their tagline: they’re putting the care back in healthcare, one training session, one event, and one community connection at a time.
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