## Position Summary
Firefighter/Paramedics are tasked with the responsibility of life safety, incident stabilization, and property conservation through fire suppression, hazardous materials mitigation and emergency medical services. Firefighter/Paramedics are also trained to perform certain medical procedures, transport patients via ambulance and provide pre-hospital care in preparation for getting a patient to the next point of care.
## Qualifications
- Education - High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Experience - One (1) to two (2) years of experience in advance emergency medical service work, plus any required certification or training
- Or any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required competencies to perform the job.
- Minimum eighteen (18) years of age at time of appointment
- Certifications:
- Florida Fire II Certification
- Florida Paramedic License
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Healthcare Professionals
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- 16-hour Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC). The employee is responsible for the ability to drive all vehicles, not just Medic units.
- Valid Driver License
## Essential Job Functions
This list of functions, duties, responsibilities, skills, and physical abilities is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employer reserves the right to assign additional functions and responsibilities as deemed necessary.
- Performs emergency rescue operations in preserving life and property including, but not limited to, responding to 911 calls as part of team/unit; extricating persons from entrapments; stabilizing victims for transport; administering basic and advanced cardio life support (PALS / ACLS); administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); assessing extent of illness/injury and determining appropriate medical protocol(s); notifying dispatch of patient condition); and managing time constraints and environmental conditions in expediting victim transports.
- Prepares patients for transport; moves patients from where found into ambulance and transports to hospital.
- Responds as part of a unit/team to emergency scenes, natural disasters or other critical incidents including, but not limited to, hazardous materials spills, hurricanes, and vehicle accidents, building collapses, weapons of mass destruction, civil disturbances, explosions, water incidents, and aircraft crashes.
- Conducts telemetry recognition and evaluation of EKG strips; evaluates patient's vital signs and status; recognizes color coded pills and illegal drugs and narcotics.
- Carries out doctor's orders regarding administration of drugs and administers other related pertinent treatment.
- Lays, connects and places hose lines in operation. Raises and climbs ladders. Enters buildings and other hazardous areas. Uses extinguishers, bars, hooks, lines, axes and other hand and power tools. Ventilates buildings, throws salvage covers and removes debris.
- May drive apparatus to the scene; operates fire department pumps, including making all needed connections.
- Performs routine maintenance and inspection of station and equipment.
- Attends and participates in training drills.
- Assists with building inspections and public education assignments.
- Any general duties that the direct supervisor may need completed in relation to the Fire Department.
- Functions as a Paramedic as directed by Medical Director approved medical protocols.
- Abides by all laws and regulations regarding storage and handling medications and generating reports.
- Participates in training and mentoring new employees as needed.
- Responds to emergency calls as required by Sheriffs Office General Orders.
- Performs necessary rescue work in accordance with established protocols for Basic Life Support.
- Responds to non-emergency calls, such as requests to transport patients from hospital to their homes or from a local medical facility to a specialized medical center.
- Participates in a continuous training program to improve competence in fire/medical technical work and in apparatus service and operation.
- Studies street and road patterns and networks of the County in order that future runs may be made with minimum difficulty and delay.
- Adheres to work schedule and attendance requirements.
- Regular and prompt job attendance.
- Performs other duties as necessary and required.
## Required Skills
- Skills in diagnosing a victims condition and applying appropriate emergency medical care.
- Ability to respond quickly and calmly to emergency situations.
- Ability to safely drive agency apparatus under emergency conditions.
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
- Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records and reports.
- Ability to deal tactfully, courteously and firmly with the general public.
- Ability to effectively establish and maintain working relationships as necessitated by work assignments
## Key Competencies
- Considerable knowledge of basic, ACLS, PALS, advanced emergency medical procedures and techniques.
- Considerable knowledge of equipment and supplies employed in the emergency care of patients and victims of accidents.
- Considerable knowledge of extrication, movement of patients, rescue techniques, transportation and psychological needs of a patient.
- Working knowledge of County geography and of the location of roads and streets within the County.
- Working knowledge of radio communication equipment.
## Physical Requirements
Tasks involve the intermittent performance of extremely physically demanding work, typically involving some combination of reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, running, climbing, and that may involve the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of extremely heavy objects (150+ pounds), such as in the event of rescuing or transporting a victim/patient in the performance of rescue operations.
Ability to lift