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Fla. county EMS seeks higher wages, schedule changes in larger recruitment effort

Escambia County EMS is ramping up recruitment efforts amid rising demand for paramedics, offering incentives like a $10,000 sign-on bonus and flexible scheduling

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Escambia County Public Safety/Facebook

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — Escambia County continues to face a shortage of emergency responders. In October, WEAR News reported 11 paramedic openings — a number that has since risen to 17 as of Feb. 13.

Officials say call volumes are already higher than usual for this time of year, and with spring break approaching, demand is expected to increase even further, putting additional strain on an already stretched staff.

Escambia County EMS Chief Christopher Watts said progress is being made in filling the gaps. They recently hired three new paramedics even before receiving approval to add four more positions.

Additionally, they are working on reassigning roles to better distribute resources.


ANALYSIS | $10K sign-on bonus — quick fix or deeper issue?


Escambia County paramedics earn $25.32 per hour, but Watts says the shortage goes beyond pay, even as negotiations for higher wages continue.

“You could work other jobs for the same or even better pay, in some cases, and have much less responsibility than people’s lives,” said Watts. “So that’s a contributing factor, and unfortunately, it’s just, we’re not recruiting enough people in the field to begin with.”

Watts said the county is still offering a $10,000 sign-on bonus, which comes along with a three-year commitment. He says the agency is modifying its schedule so paramedics have more shifts to choose from. He is hopeful these incentives will attract more paramedics to the field.

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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.