JOB SUMMARY

The purpose of this classification is to respond to fire and medical emergency calls for protection of life and property, to include various fire scene management emergencies and providing advanced life support to sick/injured persons. This position will serve “primarily” as Advanced Care Medical Emergencies and serve as Paramedic Support “only” to Fire Emergencies. The duties and responsibilities of a Paramedic are specific to the particular situation at hand. Paramedics deal with a wide variety of emergency situations and are usually responsibilities identified by the Fire Chief.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Responds to emergency calls for fire suppression, medical assistance, hazardous materials incidents, motor vehicle accidents, natural disasters, explosions, bomb threats, terrorism, rescue operations, downed power lines, and other emergency situations; responds to information received from dispatcher.
• Maintains a state of readiness/preparation for emergency response; checks/maintains stock of equipment and supplies on fire vehicles and in fire station; tests hoses/pumps on apparatus; re-loads equipment and apparatus following response to emergency calls; prepares apparatus for subsequent emergencies.
• Provides protection of life and property; suppresses, controls, and extinguishes fires; performs search, rescue, extrication of victims, and forcible entries; assists individuals from burning structures; positions/climbs ladders of various heights to access upper levels of buildings and perform rescue operations; establishes openings in buildings for entrance, ventilation, or salvage; ventilates smoke and gas from buildings; performs salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers, sweeping water, and removing debris; assists with cleanup activities.
• Drives, operates, and monitors a variety of fire/emergency vehicles/apparatus as needed; determines best route to reach location of emergency calls; performs driving functions in a safe and efficient manner under various conditions, including day/night hours, in congested traffic, in adverse weather conditions, and in emergency situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits; positions apparatus and equipment for optimal use of equipment and hose.
• Locates water supplies to fight fires; lays out, connects, and maneuvers fire hoses/nozzles; operates pumps and directs stream of water or chemicals onto fire; disconnects and rolls used hoses.
• Performs Paramedic functions; provides advanced emergency medical care to sick/injured persons, which may include providing basic life support (BLS), advanced life support (ALS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), basic trauma life support (BTLS), pediatric care, obstetrical care, respiratory management, and/or drug treatments; works to stabilize patients at incident scenes; determines nature and extent of illness/injury; obtains, records, and monitors patients’ vital signs; administers initial treatment at emergency scene; performs invasive and non-invasive procedures on patients with life-threatening conditions, per established procedures or as authorized/directed by physicians; provides advanced level of care for victims of cardiac or respiratory arrest; performs cardiac monitoring and defibrillation; maintains circulation and controls bleeding; provides spinal management and immobilization; provides fluid resuscitation by IV; manages trauma injuries, bleeding, and post-traumatic shock; determines appropriate medication, dosage, and route of medication; administers injections of medications and drugs, including drugs to treat emergency cardiac conditions, following established protocols; communicates with medical personnel at emergency treatment facility to obtain instructions regarding further treatment and to arrange for reception of victims at treatment facility; performs physical lifting techniques associated with moving patients between incident site, stretcher, or ambulance; completes or ensures completion of required records/reports.
• Inspects buildings for pre-fire plans, fire hazards, and compliance with fire prevention ordinances; inspects structures for stability.
• Provides assistance to other public service agencies or outside organizations as appropriate; assists law enforcement personnel with traffic control; assists with public service functions such as rescuing animals, cleaning up road hazards, assisting towing companies, or other tasks as assigned.
• Operates or utilizes various emergency vehicles and emergency/medical equipment, tools, and supplies, which may include a fire truck/engine, aerial apparatus, ambulance/rescue truck, pumps, generator, air compressor, hose, hydrant, nozzle, adapter, grou