At the latest meeting of the Coffee County Ambulance Authority it was voted to pass the approved budget onto the county commission. The budget does include a 9% increase over the ($2M) 2012 budget. This would include a raise for employees.
In comparison Coffee County ambulance personnel are some of the lowest paid in the area. Here are some of the reasons for asking for the increase:
Reasons for Adjustment to Pay
(EMS is a risky occupation)
· Highly competitive field (cannot compete with other counties salaries)
· Highly stressful job (involving life or death situations and suffering patients)
· Risk factors
· Licensed Professional by the State EMS
· Works 896 hours more than a 40 hour week employee
· Away from family 24 hours a day or longer
· Contact with a wide variety of diseases and illnesses (Hepatitis B&C, AIDS, violence from drug over addiction, etc.)
· Can come in contact with Hazardous materials such as Meth Labs
· Domestic Violence, assault, etc.
· Exposed to extreme weather, hot and cold.
· 2012 Statistics show as many EMS personnel die from disease and hazards as Fire and Police personnel.
** Coffee County EMS – Population 52,796 (2010)**
Paramedic – $9.71 start
EMT-IV – $7.85 start
Vacation / Sick – 24 hours per month
Personnel – 30 full time
5 Ambulances
Survey
Bedford County EMS – Population 45,058
Paramedic – $11.24 start
EMT-IV – $9.48 start
Vacation / Sick – 24 hours per month
Personnel – 30 full time
5 Ambulances
Giles County EMS – Population 29,485
Paramedic – $11.12 start
EMT-IV – $9.48 start
Vacation / Sick – 24 hours per month
Personnel – 27 full time
4 Ambulances
Lawrence County EMS – Population 39,926
Paramedic – $11.88 start
EMT-IV – $10.00 start
Vacation / Sick – 24 hours per month
Personnel – 30 full time
4 Ambulances
Cannon County EMS – Population 13,801
Paramedic – $11.17 start
EMT-IV – $9.26 start
Vacation / Sick – 5 days / 12 month period
Personnel – 13 full time
3 Ambulances
Dickson County EMS – Population 50,000
Paramedic – $15.32 start
EMT-IV – $14.20 start
Vacation / Sick – 24 hours per month
Personnel – 36 full time
6 Ambulances
Lincoln Medical Center EMS – Population 33,361
Paramedic – $11.00 start
EMT-IV – $8.50 start
Vacation / Sick – 5 days / 24 hours per month
Personnel – 18 full time
4 Ambulances
Warren County EMS – Population 38,276
Paramedic – $12.40
EMT-IV – $9.00
Vacation / Sick – 8 / 8 hours a month
Personnel – 32
5 Ambulances
Roane County EMS – Population 51,910
Paramedic – $12.50
EMT-IV – $9.50
Vacation / Sick – 24 hours per month
Personnel – 32
6 Ambulances
Grundy County EMS – Population 14,500
Paramedic – $12.00 start
EMT-IV – $9.50 start
Vacation / Sick – 24 hours per month
Personnel – 20 full time
5 Ambulances
