Description:An EMT Paramedic is responsible for performing public safety work involving protecting lives using Emergency Medical Services skills. In addition, he/she may engage in public education and station and equipment maintenance. He/she works in indoor and outdoor environments subject to extreme temperatures, inclement weather, intermittent exposure to other hostile environments, confined spaces, and high noise intensity. The EMT Paramedic must be able to carry out all the duties of an EMT/-I and EMT-B.
Essential Job Duties:
The EMT Paramedic must be able to perform the following essential job duties, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- In the absence of an officer, assume command and make critical decisions pertaining to life safety.
- Deliver and direct the delivery of emergency medical services up to the EMT-P skill set.
- Provide appropriate responses to fires and other emergencies.
- Conduct complex rescue operations and render aid to those in emergency situations.
- Function effectively and cope with situations involving severe trauma (such as severely injured or lifeless patients).
- Operate emergency apparatus, including but not limited to driving and pumping vehicles and equipment safely and effectively.
- Follow policies, procedures, and supervisor instructions, and provide professional leadership and guidance to all fire personnel in all job-related matters.
- Operate all fire equipment in a safe, lawful manner and in compliance with City policies, procedures, Department Standard Operating Procedures, and supervisory instructions.
- Participate in daily operations of Fire Station and ensure readiness for response.
- Carry out routine inspection, repair, and maintenance of equipment and station.
- Enter data into a personal computer to document incidents and reports.
- Work with cleaning fluids, chemicals, insecticides, and similar solutions using routine and non-routine protective equipment to mitigate hazardous materials incidents.
- Clean and maintain Fire Department buildings, apparatus, and grounds.
- Understand and interpret specialized testing and reporting procedures.
- Provide fire safety and prevention education to the public.
- Perform company-level inspections of buildings and occupancies.
- Perform and supervise preplanning of buildings and occupancies.
- Participate in training to all Fire Department personnel.
- Document all training provided to personnel.
- Plan and manage assigned projects; inspect job sites to ensure work quality and ensure that job sites and work activities are in compliance with all laws, regulations, policies, and safety standards.
- Follow City policies and procedures and the instructions and guidance of Fire Department Officers
- Respond to questions from citizens and agencies.
- Attend meetings as assigned or required.
- Use good judgment in all decision-making and in carrying out all job duties.
- Meet with Fire and other staff members to identify and resolve problems and concerns.
- Follow the department’s policies and procedures regarding chain of command reporting.
- Assess and monitor workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting; identify opportunities for improvement; and direct and implement appropriate changes.
- Work effectively both individually and as a teammate; be helpful, cooperative, and courteous, and demonstrate a good attitude in all dealings with the public, co-workers, and others.
- Punctual, regular, on-site attendance is an essential job duty.
- Demonstrate initiative and diligence in promptly and properly completing all job duties, whether or not listed in this Job Description.
- Safeguard City property and recognize and report needed repairs.
- Takes up matters affecting his/her job with his/her immediate supervisor and through proper channels.
- Work safely, follow safety rules and training, and maintain a clean, safe and healthful working environment.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality with regard to City business.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Fire Department Officers
- Ability to work assigned shifts, which include weekends, holidays, and overtime as required.
Requirements:Education and Basic Requirements:
The EMT Paramedic must meet the following minimum requirements.
- High school graduation or its equivalent.
- Certification as EMT-P by Texas Department of State Health Services.
- Satisfactory results of background and employment screening checks including physical exam and drug screening.
- Have and maintain a clear and valid Texas Class B driver’s license within 6 months of hire or assignment date and acceptable driving record.
Other Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
The EMT Paramedic must have significant knowledge, skills and abilities in:
- Comprehensive knowledge of department Standard Operating Procedures and Emergency Medical Protocols.
- Working knowledge of and ability to safely operate all emergency equipment including but not limited to rescue tools, air bags, rescue jacks, air compressor and cascade system, trench rescue equipment, high angle rescue equipment, aerial apparatus, SCBA and refilling, and oxygen cylinders and refilling.
- Ability to lead, motivate, supervise, and train, FF/EMT-I and FF/EMT-B personnel.
- Ability to analyze emergency situations and react quickly, calmly, and correctly to act effectively, giving due regard to hazards and circumstances.
- Ability to function effectively in emergency situations.
- Ability to respond in-person to emergency events as requested.
- Ability to speak, read, write, and understand the English language and possess good verbal and written skills.
- Establish and maintain effective, cooperative working relationships with City employees, officials, and representatives from other local, state and federal agencies.
- Significant working knowledge of department’s coverage area and the surrounding areas.
- Working knowledge of department-owned equipment and ability to perform inspections and light routine maintenance.
- Understand and follow the department’s policies and procedures regarding chain of command reporting.
- Knowledge and ability to perform public education on fire safety and fire prevention.
- Ability to maintain accurate logs, activity reports and other records.
- Working knowledge of locally adopted fire and building codes and ability to apply such during company level inspections of buildings and property within the City’s jurisdiction.
- Working knowledge of HIPPA laws in relation to EMS operations and must meet the requirements of Patient confidentiality.
Physical and Mental Requirements:
In order to successfully achieve the goals of the City, the EMT Paramedic must meet the following physical and mental requirements with or without reasonable accommodation. These requirements are representative, but not all inclusive of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform Essential Job Duties.
- Administers emergency first aid to injured persons.
- Responds to emergency incidents, and utilizes either basic life support (BLS) or advanced life support (ALS), and/or paramedic skills to save lives. Performs searches and rescues under life-threatening conditions.
- Uses axes, pry tools, and pike poles to enter vehicles or structures.
- Operates hydraulic or pneumatic rescue equipment to rescue trapped or endangered persons and to force entry into locked vehicles or structures; be familiar with fire apparatus during fire suppression activities; and motor vehicles (automobile and fire apparatus) requiring a Texas Class B exempt/cdl Driver's License.
- Distinguishes colors to identify National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 704m System (hazardous materials), and fire chemicals by smoke color.
- Wears personal protective equipment weighing approximately 70 pounds in high humidity (up to 100 percent) situations that significantly impairs body cooling, in environments with extreme temperature fluctuations (up to 400+ degrees Fahrenheit), and while relying on self contained breathing apparatus for respiratory ventilation.
- Works in a variety of weather conditions, including but not limited to extreme heat and cold, wet and dry, and wind and rain.
- Uses common hand tools to perform routine apparatus maintenance duties.
- Moves heavy objects (up to 100 pounds or more) including 5 inch fire hoses, EMS equipment, salvage equipment, smoke ejectors, trauma boxes, and body boards for short distances (150 feet or less) with the assistance of an aid, in performing firefighting and related duties.
- Works in small, cramped areas when rescuing trapped, endangered, or injured people.
- Using senses of smell, sight, and hearing, detects stimuli including but not limited to natural gas leaks, traffic sounds, sounds of impending building collapse, alarms, sirens, calls for assistance, and other audible signs of alarm or warning in emergency situations.
- Use hand equipment to dig up ground to rescue trapped persons from cave-ins.
- Uses appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), including a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), while performing tasks in environments that may be immediately dangerous to life (IDLH atmospheres).
- Positions and climbs and descends ladders or stairs to gain access to upper building levels.
- Comprehends and makes inferences from environmental circumstances and written material, such as Converse Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures and the IFC.
- Reads and interprets equipment instructions and preplans to operate equipment in emergency situations.
- Learns emergency medical service care through on the job training and in classroom settings.
- High tolerance of and ability to work in and cope with situations involving severe trauma (such as severely injured or lifeless patients).
- Sit, stand, move around, bend, reach, stretch, push and pull and remain upright for extended periods of time.
- Must be able to lift and carry objects weighing as much as 100 pounds.
- Must have a high tolerance for smoky and dusty conditions.
- Ability to work effectively under extreme pressure/stress while performing Essential Job Duties.
- The activities and the approximate amounts of time required per day for each are shown below.
Sitting - 10%
Walking - 30%
Bending - 5%
Standing - 25%
Lifting and carrying objects weighing 100 pounds or more - 5%
Pushing or pulling - 10%
Reaching - 5%
Moving within and around the ambulance and fire truck - 10%.