Six graduate from Albemarle’s in-house paramedic program

As Albemarle County continues to expand its fire and rescue operations with paid positions, one obstacle is finding qualified personnel.

To help overcome that issue, Albemarle County has created an in-house program to existing fire and rescue receive more training as parademics. Employees go through over 1,000 hours of training to provide Advanced Life Support care. According to an information release, that includes administering dozens of medicines, cardiac monitoring, and advanced airway management.

“Completing this program is a significant accomplishment that reflects countless hours of dedication, resilience, and hard work,” Fire Chief David Puckett is quoted in the release. “We are incredibly proud of these six individuals and their commitment to serving our community at the highest level.”

The program dates back to 2019 and this is the sixth class. Enrollment is limited to people already hired by Albemarle.

“To be eligible, individuals must have a minimum of two years of experience as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and at least one year of service with the county,” said Reagan Samuels, a public information officer with Albemarle County. “Paramedic education builds upon the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience gained as an EMT, which is the entry-level certification for all operational personnel who complete Recruit School.”

Samuels said that as of today Albemarle County Fire Rescue currently has 205 full-time personnel including administrative staff.

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