Gadsdens new ambulance service begins friday

Gadsden’s newest ambulance company has opened its doors and on Friday morning will begin providing service.  Advantage Emergency Medical Services will serve East Gadsden, North Gadsden and a few locations west of the Coosa River. The company will serve all of Etowah County in addition to its area of operation within the Gadsden city limits.  Advantage is taking over for Gadsden Etowah EMS, which in February filed for bankruptcy and handed in its medical transport license.  Advantage’s ambulance service permit was unanimously approved Tuesday by the Gadsden City Council after being recommended by Gadsden Fire Chief Steve Carroll. Carroll said the company will bring in four ambulances to be used throughout the area, including one that will be directly dispatched by the Gadsden Fire Department for 911 calls. Advantage will receive its radios Friday morning from Rural/Metro Ambulance, which took over for GEEMS when it closed its doors.