$14,000 in annual scholarships awarded to local volunteer fire departments

Shoals Ambulance has awarded eight $1,000 scholarships for local firefighters to receive training to become Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT).

The current class of the Florence Lauderdale EMS Academy has 14 students, eight of whom are members of area volunteer fire departments who received the Shoals Ambulance scholarships for their training. Shoals Ambulance donates $14,000 annually for a total of 14 scholarships for firefighters to attend EMT training.

“We’re proud to offer scholarships that encourage continuing education and training for the first responders in our communities,” Shoals Operations Manager Blake Hargett said. “It’s important to have EMTs stationed at our local volunteer fire departments. Whether we respond to a call separately or together, we are partners in our dedication to providing fast, effective response and raising the standard of care in Alabama.”

Each of the 14 current class members who complete the training will be eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam to become certified EMTs. The training is provided by Florence Lauderdale EMS Academy, where Shoals Ambulance employees also serve on the board of directors and as non-paid volunteer instructors.

“Our goal is to increase the number of EMTs who will be able to assist at any given scene and to enhance the quality of care available,” Hargett said. “That’s why Shoals Ambulance supports the Florence Lauderdale EMS Academy and offers these scholarships each year. We look forward to working with and alongside these future EMTs.”

About Shoals Ambulance

Shoals Ambulance has provided excellent medical transport services to communities in the state of Alabama since 2012. Shoals Ambulance is the exclusive non-emergency and emergency 911 ambulance service provider for Lauderdale County and the City of Florence in North Alabama, as well as Franklin County. Shoals Ambulance also provides emergency medical service to several communities in Western Jefferson County, including Bessemer, Hueytown and Fairfield. Shoals Ambulance also provides non-emergency ambulance transport services in Muscle Shoals and Birmingham, specializing in the highest level of comfort and patient safety. Shoals Ambulance is a regional branch of Priority Ambulance.

About Priority Ambulance

Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Priority Ambulance provides the highest level of clinical excellence in emergency and nonemergency medical care to the communities it serves. Throughout its national service area, more than 1,000 highly trained paramedics and EMTs staff a fleet of more than 250 state-of-the-art vehicles with the latest medical equipment and technology.

Priority Ambulance provides emergency and nonemergency medical transport options to communities in Tennessee, Alabama, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Georgia. Operating as Priority Ambulance, the company serves Knox, Loudon and Blount counties in East Tennessee. Priority Ambulance operates as Kunkel Ambulance in Utica, New York; Trans Am Ambulance in Olean, New York; Shoals Ambulance in Alabama; Seals Ambulance in Indiana; and Central EMS in Georgia.