MANATEE COUNTY (WSNN) – It’s National EMS Week, and we’re recognizing our Suncoast heroes.
Manatee County was the first county in the state of Florida to have a transport, related to COVID.
The county paramedics say COVID created a mental and physical battle for them; from dawning the PPE to dealing with the COVID isolation.
Plus, the county’s acuity level of calls are higher now since people are not going to the hospital as much as they used to.
But, through the uncertainty of COVID, and the daily challenges of working as an EMT, it’s a rewarding job for the paramedics.
“Even when times get tough, they have the ability to be someone’s hero,” Manatee County EMS Chief James Crutchfield said. “They get to be that hero every single day. It’s so cliche, but people call 911 because they want something. So it’s a perceived emergency. And our employees have the opportunity to fix that problem.”
Nearby hospitals are celebrating their EMT partners this week. And the Manatee County EMS staff is hosting a cookout and doing other special events to show their appreciation for the team.
