08/22/2026
🚨 EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT 🚨
Meet Paramedic Gary Aldridge! 🚑🔥
This week, we’re putting the spotlight on Gary and giving you a chance to get to know one of the faces behind EAFD. Here’s a little about the person behind the uniform!
——Why did you choose to become a paramedic?
“I was the Chief of a volunteer fire department out of Chilton County and ran ALS rescue service. And that’s when I got EMT license and decided to continue working to become a paramedic. I have been a paramedic 20 years ago”
——What’s your favorite part of the job?
“The times when you genuinely help somebody. There was a guy a while back pulled over with chest pain. Actually was having a heart attack. When you’ve got someone with a STEMI there’s protocols and medications and all kinds of things I need to do. And this guy was pretty upset thought he was fixing to die. He was emotional and scared. I was able to ease his mind talk to him, talk him down. I was able to ease his pain. We got him to the hospital and to the cath lab. The cardiologist did what he had to do and he is still alive today and doing well as far as I know.”
——Coffee, energy drink, or neither?
“Coffee decaf and it’s black.”
——Who makes the worst coffee?
“There’s too many to chose from around here…. But I’d say Ryan.”
——When you aren’t being a paramedic what are you doing?
“God blessed me with a farm so I’m usually busy working on it. But most importantly I’m serving the Lord in some capacity. Working at the church serving the church either as a pastor or some event with the church. My wife gets on me sometimes about not having a day to rest but it’s hard to just rest I always feel like I need to be doing something.”
——What church do you serve?
“I am a Pastor at Huguley church of the Nazarene. I would tell the community, if you’re not already attending a church we would love to have you come visit. We are growing fast. We’re in the midst of a renovation with the church. We’re would love to have you come be part of our community.
One of my favorite parts of Sunday morning is Sermon in the Sack with the children. I call all the children up front and one of the children has a bag and they can put anything in the bag they want. What they’re trying to do is stump the preacher. I’ve got to give an impromptu sermon on whatever is in the bag.”
——What’s the weirdest thing they’ve brought?
“A cicada. The sermon was actually easy for that one. I told the story of the plagues on Egypt. Locusts were sent eat all the crops.
But I always try to relate it back to the little ones to encourage them to keep their eyes on the Lord, and wherever life takes them in the next couple months/years don’t let the world be such an influence on them.”
——Describe working at EAFD in three words.
“Serving The Community. That’s the whole thing if we’re doing this for any other reason we don’t need to be doing this. It’s not for the paycheck. I could be doing something else for a lot more money. But I’m here to serve the community”
We are so proud to have Mr Gary on our team, our city is in good and caring hands with this experienced paramedic.
