Community Paramedic Program

Cocoa Beach Fire Department also offers a Community Paramedic Program. The program will offer services to our citizens with a focus on the elderly, home-bound, limited mobility, and those with chronic health conditions. Our Community Paramedic/RN will be available to provide free in-home health and wellness screenings looking for ways to assist and improve the quality of life of our elderly.

Here are a few examples of what resources may be available:

  • Transportation to the Doctor's office or grocery store
  • Wellness checks, health promotion, home care
  • Daily living needs 
  • Meals on wheels 
  • Home medical and safety equipment

Our goal is to keep our citizens safe, healthy, and independent so they can enjoy a high quality of life!

Couple on the beach during sunrise

Meet Your Community Paramedic Staff

Sherry Mahaffey, Firefighter & Paramedic

Sherry began her career as a volunteer Firefighter with the Cape Canaveral Volunteer Fire Department in 1988, where she received her Emergency Medical Technician certification and fire standards qualifications. Soon after, she was hired by the City of Cocoa Beach Fire Department in 1990 and in 2003 she received her Paramedic certification. Over the years, her responsibilities were many including oversight of the fire prevention program for children, maintaining the city’s residential Knox Box program, maintenance and repair of the department's MSA air packs, and maintaining the city’s AED’s along with teaching CPR to its residences. She also established the get-well card program that is sent to city residences after their transport to the hospital.

Sherry continued her career as a Firefighter/Paramedic with the city of Cocoa Beach until her retirement in March of 2022, after a total of 34 years in the fire service. Then, after eight months of retirement, she was offered the opportunity to return to the City of Cocoa Beach to continue providing services for its citizens by leading the Community Paramedic Program; a program that was first established by Chief James Schindler of the Cocoa Beach Fire Department.

Sherry Mahaffey, Community Paramedic Program

On a personal note, Sherry was born and raised in Cocoa, Florida and is a lifelong resident of Brevard County. She is married to her husband, Bryant, and has two daughters, Megan (Matthew) and Madeleine (Seth), one stepdaughter, Casey (Brian), and one step-grandson, Oliver. Outdoor activities she enjoys are biking, hiking, and kayaking. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and, of course, helping others