Piedmont Emergency Rescue Squad

The Piedmont Rescue Squad was established in 1965. In the beginning all personnel were strictly volunteer. They were called at their homes when an emergency occurred. The ambulances were converted station wagons and there was minimal training among the personnel. These individuals provided the best they could with what they had available. Through the dedication of these individuals and the support of the community, the Piedmont Rescue Squad has grown to become a top-notch emergency medical services provider.

Currently,  Piedmont Rescue Squad has three stations, operates eight ALS ambulances, one rescue truck equipped with vehicle extrication equipment as well as other rescue equipment and several search and rescue vehicles. Four crews work 24 hours a day to serve as the primary EMS transport service for The city of Piedmont, the town of Ohatchee, the community of Alexandria as well as the surrounding communities. We are also the back-up provider for the City of Jacksonville. Coverage area extends into four counties - Calhoun, Cherokee, Etowah, and Cleburne. The squad has grown to over 60 members, including volunteers, full-time, and part-time paid personnel.

Along with providing EMS and Rescue coverage for emergency calls received through 911, the squad provides non-emergency transports for patients in extended care facilities and nursing homes. We provide service for all residents requiring transport from Piedmont Healthcare Center and are also primary call for all non-emergency transports from Jacksonville Health and Rehab. We also provide scheduled dialysis transports from both locations. Piedmont Rescue also provides inter facility transports from RMC to other facilities. The squad provides football game coverage ranging from pee-wee to high school games for five different schools. The squad averages approximately 700-800 calls per month.

The Piedmont Rescue Squad provides in-house training and continuing education for its employees and neighboring services. The squad has multiple providers that are certified instructors in various emergency and training applications. There are also several Paramedics that have attended the Critical Care Emergency Transport Program at UAB. As well as offering training, the squad serves as a rotational site for Gadsden State Community College EMT & Paramedic students transitioning through their training to become EMT's & Paramedic's.