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                                                                   Exhibit 3.252

State of Alabama

For-Profit Corporation
Articles of Incorporation

Instructions:


       
Step 1:   CONTACT THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT (334)242-5324 TO
          RESERVE A CORPORATE NAME.

Step 2:   TO INCORPORATE, FILE THE ORIGINAL, TWO COPIES OF THE ARTICLES OF
          INCORPORATION AND THE CERTIFICATE OF NAME RESERVATION IN THE COUNTY
          WHERE THE CORPORATION'S REGISTERED OFFICE IS LOCATED. THE JUDGE OF
          PROBATE'S FILING FEE IS $35 AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S FILING FEE IS
          $50.


PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE ALABAMA BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT, THE
UNDERSIGNED HEREBY ADOPTS THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.


           
Article I     The name of the corporation:
              EmCare of Alabama, Inc.

Article II    The duration of the corporation is perpetual, unless otherwise
              stated.

Article III   The corporation has been organized for the following purpose(s):
              to transact any lawful business for which corporations may be
              organized under the provisions of the Alabama Business Corporation
              Act.

Article IV    The number of shares which the corporation shall have the
              authority to issue is 1,000.

Article V     The street address (NO PO BOX) of the registered office: 57 Adams
              Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104 and the name of registered agent at
              that office National Registered Agents, Inc.

Article VI    The name(s) and address(es) of the Director(s): Leonard M. Riggs,
              Jr., M.D., 1717 Main Street, Suite 5200, Dallas, TX 75201 William
              F. Miller, III, 1717 Main Street, Suite 5200, Dallas, TX 75201

Article VII   The name(s) and address(es) of the Incorporator(s): William F.
              Miller, III 1717 Main Street, Suite 5200, Dallas, TX 75201


Any provision, not inconsistent with the law, for the regulation of the internal
affairs of the corporation or for the restriction of the transfer of shares may
be added.



     IN WITNESS THEREOF, the undersigned incorporator executed these Articles of
Incorporation on this, the 9 day of April, 1998.

THIS DOCUMENT PREPARED BY:


                                        William F. Miller, III
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Type or Print Name of Incorporator


                                        /s/ William F. Miller, III
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Signature of Incorporator


                                        2



                                    EXHIBIT A

Mandatory Redemption of Shares of Deceased. in the event that a shareholder of
the corporation dies or becomes no longer qualified to own shares in the
corporation, the corporation shall redeem all of the shares of Common Stock
owned by said shareholder for a purchase price of $1.00 per share.

Preemptive Rights. No share shall bear any preemptive right of its shareholder
to acquire additional shares.

No Cumulative Voting Rights: The holders of shares of each and every class and
series in the corporation shall not be entitled to cumulative voting rights in
the election of directors of the corporation, in any and all circumstances.