One Cedar Bluff Town Councilmember says he has an issue with the Fire Department running a large volume of medical assist calls with Floyd EMS

During Monday’s Town Council meeting, Councilman Jerry Sprayberry expressed his concerns about the matter.

More than half the fire department membership has either an Emergency Care Provider Certification through the Alabama Fire College and or an Emergency Medical Responder Certification through Floyd EMS which allows firefighters to perform a number of Basic Life Support duties.

These courses only equate to a small amount of training volunteers across the county receive with most taking additional courses on their own time and dollar.

The Emergency Medical Responder certifications were received through a 45 hour course hosted by the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency and taught by Floyd EMS Medics, training included bleeding control, bandage and splinting, oxygen administration, patient assessment and other topics. Those that completed the course were presented with ‘jump kits’ by Floyd EMS. Those kits include basic first aid items and assessment equipment.

Mayor Pro-Tem Norman Burton had this to say –

Firefighters are paid a $10 per call stipend and the council voted in 2018 to revoke that pay for medical calls.

WEIS Radio News has reached out to Cherokee County EMA/911 Director Shawn Rogers and Floyd EMS Captain of Operations Andy Fairel for an official statement regarding the situation.

We will have an update as soon as we receive a response.