Madewell named permanent EMS director
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Madewell, who took over as temporary director when former director George Roberts resigned in October, was selected by the Safety Committee from three candidates who applied earlier this year.
Madewell has more than 12 years experience as EMS director, having held the job for a short time prior to the county’s selling the service in the early 1980s. When the county bought it back in 1988, he ran the service until Roberts took over in 1999.
“I feel like we got a good director,” Safety Committee chairman Dennis Waggoner said during the commission meeting Monday. “Leonard has 27 years of EMS experience and has been ambulance director in the past. I think the county got a good one.”
Madewell supervises 24 full-time and 10 part-time employees, the majority of whom are full-fledged paramedics. He is responsible for the maintenance of three ambulances located in three stations around the county.
Madewell says he plans to work with the Safety Committee on ways to improve service and public relations for EMS.
“Getting out in the community and letting the community know what we do, why we’re doing what we do, and why they see an ambulance going down the road at four o’clock in the morning with the lights and sirens blaring.”
Madewell says he plans to keep equipment up to standards.
“As far as equipment, we’re looking down the road at what equipment we need and the county can afford for us to have,” he said.
Madewell plans to introduce some high-angle rescue procedures, including training some of the EMS personnel in rapelling techniques, as well as swift-water rescue methods.
“There’s not that much of that in Warren County, but when we need it, we need it,” he said.
He also says EMS is doing studies to improve response times based on the locations of the current stations.
“Also, I’d like to initiate again at the county community centers to try to have some CPR classes and try to have some first-responder classes,” Madewell said. “I think the citizens of Warren County should know the responsibilities we have, what we’re trained to do, and what they can be trained to do. At little or no cost to them, they can be trained in first aid and CPR and to recognize the signs and symptoms of medical emergencies. They might have to give up three hours of their TV time, but most of the time a three or four hour class is all you’re going to have to go to.”
He also says he intends to continue looking into grants to improve equipment and technology as well as money for training. Madewell is proud of his team and their performance.
“The ambulance service, as far as I’m concerned, is one of the best in the Upper Cumberland, which is a 15-county region. It’s an A-rated service, and we have some of the best equipment, which is not to say we couldn’t use some more.”