VOLUSIA, Fla. — Three paramedics with more than 30 years collective experience were fired for violating a no-smoking policy, a spokesman confirmed on Saturday.
“I was terminated for something I do at home and is perfectly legal,” Mike Stone told the News-Journal.
He had worked as an EVAC paramedic for 5 1/2 years.
Volusia County took over privately owned EVAC in October and required its employees to pass a blood test for nicotine, according to the article.
“I think it’s a little unfair,” said Henry Roverano, who had worked with EVAC for 21 years.
“I know I broke the rules, but I think I should be given a second chance.”
Roverano told the New-Journal he quit smoking in September so he could pass the blood test, but family problems in November saw him fall off the wagon. He quit again using nicotine lozenges.
County spokesman Dave Byron said the EVAC employees were still on workplace probation until April, so the terminated paramedics cannot appeal the decision with the county.
Erin Blezinski was an EVAC paramedic for 6 1/2 years and said she quit smoking in July.
After she smoked a cigar at a bachelorette party, she was called in for a test. Several days later, she was fired, according to the article.
“I love my job and I love my patients,” she told the News-Journal.
“But I don’t think I’ll ever get it back now.”