Tybee Island Fire Department has license reinstated, can perform basic life-saving procedures

The state of emergency surrounding the Tybee Island Fire Department seems to be coming to an end, as its license to perform basic life-saving procedures has been reinstated.

The lapse in the license was caused by turnover in the department in late July, according to then-interim city manager Michelle Owens. The license was activated in 2022 by former fire chief Jeremy Kendrick before expiring in July. The renewal paperwork began prior to Kendrick's termination in April but was never completed.

In an update posted to its Facebook Tuesday, the department now is able to immediately resume providing EMS care at a basic level, due to council approving a new medical director and the coordination efforts of paramedic Austin Michel.

According to the statement, basic lifesaving care includes all the tasks that can be performed by emergency medical technicians (EMTs), including taking vitals, administering CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) , delivering oxygen, measuring blood sugar, administering non-IV medications, bandaging and splinting. The license is valid for the next two years.

"We can't do some advanced life (ALS) care stuff, like drug therapy and things like that," said Assistant Fire Chief Greg Socks during a recent city council workshop. "We're looking at an option to get that back. We just have to up our hiring standard from basic EMTs to paramedics, and we could possibly get our ALS back."

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During the workshop, Socks emphasized that the island was never without ambulance coverage, which was provided by Chatham Emergency Servies.

"We work hand in hand with them, they're only about maybe 60 to 90 seconds behind us," Socks said. "They're right behind us. A lot of them monitor our channel so they come out pretty quickly."

Shortly after the lapse in license, the interim fire chief and then-assistant fire chief Jason Waterfield had been reassigned and swapped positions due to certification issues. Socks mentioned during the workshop that issue had been cleared up as well. The city is still on the hunt for a permanent fire chief and has completed an initial round of interviews with seven candidates, which has been narrowed down to three. The interviews for the remaining three are expected to be conducted in-person in October.

Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for Chatham County municipalities for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach her at dambus@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tybee Island Fire Department has license reinstated, can perform basic life-saving procedures