Manatee County Public Safety Department

Ready to take the next step in your EMS career? 🚑

Manatee County EMS is hiring Charge Paramedics to help lead in the field, support crews during critical incidents, and play a key role in delivering exceptional patient care across our community.

If you're looking for an opportunity to grow as a leader while continuing to make a difference on the front lines, we'd love to hear from you.

✔ Competitive pay
✔ Shift differentials
✔ Special Risk FRS Retirement
✔ Comprehensive benefits package

Applications close June 15.

Apply today: mymanatee.org/jobs

For more information, contact 941-749-3500

Today marks the start of hurricane season, which runs through November 30.

If you haven’t made your hurricane plan yet, now is the time. Visit mymanatee.org/storm to find preparedness information, know your evacuation level and learn what steps you can take before a storm is on the horizon.

Be sure to follow our social media channels throughout the season for preparedness tips and important updates.

Want to learn more in person? Our Emergency Management team will be hosting another Hurricane Preparedness Presentation and Tour of the EOC on Saturday, June 13 at 9 a.m. Register here: https://bit.ly/4lIExdq

As Water Safety Month comes to a close, there’s one reminder we can’t say enough: swim lessons can save lives. 🏊‍♀️💙

Teaching children how to swim helps build confidence and important water safety skills, but swim lessons are just one layer of protection. Active adult supervision remains one of the most important ways to help prevent drownings.

Water Safety Month may be ending, but water safety is a year-round responsibility. Keep learning, keep practicing, and keep watching.

Looking for swim lesson resources? Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3Rt30bP

🚑 EMS Call Volume Snapshot: May 11-17 & May 18-24, 2026 🚨

⚠️ Featured Calls: Confusion and Dizziness

Sudden confusion or change in mental clarity is a red flag 🚩🚩🚩This could indicate low blood sugar, a stroke, or a severe underlying infection (Sepsis). Dizziness is one of the leading causes of dangerous falls and can be a symptom of a hidden cardiovascular issue, dehydration, or low blood pressure.

💡 EMS Safety Tip: If you or someone is suddenly "out of it," slurring words, acting completely out of character, or feeling dizzy, sit or lie down immediately to prevent a fall.

🚨 Call 911 immediately, especially if confusion or dizziness is accompanied by:

Chest pain or a racing heart
Sudden numbness/weakness in the face, arm, or leg
Fainting (loss of consciousness)

🚑 When in doubt, let EMS check it out.

Please join us in congratulating Amy Kemp and Teague Fordis on their promotion to District Chief of Operations with Manatee County EMS. 🚑

For nearly 28 years, Amy has been a familiar face within Manatee County EMS, earning the respect of her peers through her leadership, experience, and dedication to this profession. In just under three years with our team, Teague has already made a lasting impact through his work ethic, leadership, and commitment to the crews and community he serves.

Over the years, both have earned the trust of their crews not just through leadership, but by being the people others can count on during difficult calls, long shifts, and the everyday challenges that come with this profession. Their experience as Specialty Charge Paramedics and Field Training Officers has helped shape and support newer team members grow and learn along the way.

These promotions reflect the trust they’ve earned throughout their careers and the impact they continue to make across our organization. Congratulations Amy and Teague on this well-deserved next chapter.

Hurricane season officially begins in just a couple of days, and throughout the month, our Emergency Management team has been helping our community prepare well before the season starts.

Earlier this month, we were grateful to join local media partners for their hurricane preparedness special to talk about what residents should know heading into the season. This week, we also welcomed other media outlets to our Emergency Operations Center for a behind-the-scenes look at how our teams prepare and respond during emergencies.

Thank you to our media partners for helping us share important preparedness information with our community. Now is the time to make your plan, know your evacuation level, and familiarize yourself with mymanatee.org/storm.

Hurricane season begins in less than a week.

One thing many people forget to prepare? Important documents. Take time now to gather and protect items like insurance policies, IDs, medical records and other important paperwork in a safe, waterproof place.

Now is also a great time to familiarize yourself with mymanatee.org/storm and build your hurricane plan before a storm is approaching.

Keep important documents protected so you’re not scrambling when disaster strikes.

Consider saving:
👤 IDs
🗂️ Insurance papers & medical records
☁️ Usernames, passwords & digital backups

A little prep now can save a lot of stress later. Check out the tips below & visit FloridaDisaster.org/PlanPrepare to learn more!

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. 🇺🇸

As you gather with loved ones this weekend, please stay safe.

Not for celebration, but for remembrance. For the men and women who left everything they knew—families, futures, ordinary days—and did not return.

Memorial Day is not measured in barbecues or long weekends. It is measured in empty chairs at dinner tables, in folded flags, in names etched into stone and carried quietly in the hearts of those who remember.

We honor those who gave their lives not with noise, but with gratitude. Not with spectacle, but with reflection.

As EMS Week comes to a close, we want to thank the EMTs, paramedics, chiefs, training staff, logistics, and EMS professionals who continue serving our community every day with professionalism, compassion, and teamwork.

We also extend our appreciation to our hospital partners and community organizations, and everyone who helped make this week special for our crews.

Thank you for helping us continue Improving Outcomes, Together. 🚑

Not every part of EMS happens with lights and sirens.

Some moments happen before the radios go off, between responses, during preparation and training, or while connecting with the community beyond the emergency itself.

This EMS Week, we’re highlighting some of the moments behind the scenes that reflect the people and professionalism behind EMS every day across Manatee County.

Improving Outcomes, Together. 🚑