About First Responder KS

Our Passion

We are extremely passionate about saving lives, and we want to empower YOU to do the same.

You don’t need to have a career in life saving, like founder, Duane Billinger, to do this. You need the right equipment in the right places.

What is at stake?

• Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, even those who are seemingly healthy.
• SCA causes more deaths than breast cancer, colon cancer, motor vehicle accidents and diabetes, combined (300,000 and 400,000 per year outside of hospitals).
• The average time for paramedics to arrive once 911 is called is 8 to 12 minutes. For each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival is reduced by about 10%. YIKES! In 8 minutes, that is an 80% reduction in chance of survival.

Do you want someone at your school, church or business to die because you are not prepared to save them?

Let’s partner together to save lives!

The #1 thing you need to do:

• Install AEDs, as per all federal and local guidelines.
• Maintain your AEDs so that they are always in life-saving order. Did you know? 75% of the AEDs that we examine in onsite consultations have expired pads (2-5 years) or dead batteries (4 years).

Here is where we come in:

• We know the laws.
• We know life saving.
• We come to you to do a location assessment.
• We come to you to assess your current AED equipment for life-saving readiness.

Go here to schedule your onsite assessment.

Why do business with First Responder KS?

You cannot find another company that is more invested in making sure your school, church or business is in compliance with federal and local laws and ready to save lives.

Our owner, Mike Flaherty, began his healthcare career in 2000, working in various hospital roles throughout the state. He earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees from Southwestern College. After years of experience performing CPR and defibrillator use in a hospital setting, Mike now works to ensure schools, businesses, and communities have the necessary AED access and training to become everyday heroes.

Our History

First Responder KS was built on a legacy of passion, service, and life-saving education. For over four decades, founder Duane Billinger has dedicated his career to advancing emergency medical services — training hundreds of EMTs, advocating for better preparedness, and helping schools, churches, and businesses get the tools they need to save lives.

Duane’s impact can be felt across Kansas and beyond, and we’re proud to continue that mission under new ownership. We’re grateful for Duane’s leadership and excited to carry his legacy forward — equipping everyday people with the tools and confidence to become everyday heroes.

Here is what one of our clients has to say: