Firefighter (Emergency Medical Technician Trainee)

Polk County BoCC; Florida; On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Direct Deposit

Bi-Weekly Pay Checks

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

FRS Retirement

Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement

Education Incentives

Deferred Compensation Plan

Wellness Incentives

EAP

Free Gym

Free Health Clinic

Job summary

Polk County BoCC is hiring a Firefighter (Emergency Medical Technician Trainee) in the Fire Rescue Division. The role combines firefighting duties with EMT training and paramedic school, including life safety and emergency medical care responsibilities.

Pay rate is $16.54 per hour with benefits, and the position requires meeting strict physical, mental and driving qualifications. Training and career progression are provided within the county Fire Rescue program.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited high school or possess an acceptable equivalency diploma and have a valid Certificate of Compliance as outlined in the Florida Fire Marshal rules.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must obtain EMT and paramedic training as scheduled by Polk County Fire Rescue.

Responsibilities

• Assist in firefighting and emergency medical response to protect life and property.
• Learn and operate firefighting equipment and respond to alarms and rescues.
• Participate in training classes for firefighting and emergency medical techniques; perform duties safely under supervision.

Skills

Firefighting

EMT training

CPR

Emergency medical care

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Firefighter (Emergency Medical Technician Trainee)

Fire Rescue Division

Pay grade: FT2

Pay rate: $16.54/ hour

Employee Benefits

• Direct Deposit, Bi-Weekly Pay Checks
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life Insurance
• FRS Retirement
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Education Incentives
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Wellness Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Free Employee Gym
• Free Employee Health Clinic
• Thispositionis discoveredbyacollectivebargainingagreement
• Thispositionmayrequireaphysicalability/agility test

Responsibilities

Must have the physical, developmental and mental ability to perform job tasks, work efforts, responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below:

MAJOR FUNCTION

This is responsible technical and skilled work in firefighting and attending emergency medical technician (EMT) training and paramedic school. includingthepreservationoflifeandprotectionofpropertyagainstfireandrelatedhazards in rendering out of hospital life support functions, other emergency care and rescue services. DutiesincludetheoperationandmaintenanceofFireRescueDivisionvehiclesand equipment.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Work involves responsibility for the protection of life and property through firefighting and rescue operations, usually under close supervision. Employees of this classare also required to learn and participate in the operation of firefightingequipment and apparatus. Although firefighting and emergency rescue, including the administration of emergency medical treatment, are the most difficult and responsible area s of activity, amajorportion of time is spentonpre-firesurveys;training,studyingmethods,techniquesandorganizationoffirefighting andonroutinedutiesinthecareandmaintenanceofFireRescue’spropertyandequipment. Work involvesan element of personal danger and requiresworking on extended shifts. Work is usually performed in accordance with explicit instructions and well-defined procedures; however, satisfactoryperformance of the workrequires initiative and a thorough individual understanding of the methods,equipment and principles of firefighting,fire prevention, and rescue and emergency medical techniques (i.e. CPR and controlled bleeding) in meeting a wide variety of emergencies.

Respondstoalarmsoffireorotheremergencies;donspersonalprotectiveequipment;worksin enclosed areas; lays and connects hoses; holdsnozzleswhich direct water streams; raises and climbs ladders; uses chemical extinguishers, bars, hooks, lines and other equipment.

Responds to alarms of fire or otheremergencies in commercial, residential and multiple story structures;climbsstairscarryingamyriadoffirefightingtoolsoremergencymedicalequipment; performs search and rescue techniquesfor locating buildingoccupants; operates and controls building fire suppression systems; operates building elevators under fire service control.

Respondstoalarmsoffireorotheremergenciesoftenperformingdutiesforanextendedperiod oftimewhilewearingself-containedbreathingapparatusinhightemperaturesandwithlimited vision.

Ventilatesstructuresinaccordancewithappliedknowledge;removesvictimsfromseriousauto accidents,structuresonfire,orotherdangeroussituations;emergencymedicalcare to injured persons; performs property conservation (salvage) operations; assists in clean-up operation after the fire is suppressed.

Maybeassignedasadriverofavehicleorapparatus;checksradiooperability;responsiblefor maintainingapparatus,equipment,inventoryandotherlogs;maycommunicatebyradiofrom fire, rescue and other emergency scenes.

May be assigned as the operator of a heavy-dutydiesel-powered pumper truck or aerial truck; directshoseconnectionsatpump;operatespumps,makingsureproperpressureandwaterflow is maintained; operates aerial ladder or snorkel power lift.

Operatesfireapparatustoandfromthefireorrescuesceneovertheoptimalrouteathigh speeds in the safest and most efficient manner in accordance with departmental policy.

Participatesintheon-dutycompanyphysicalfitness program.

Participates in fire drills and attends training classes in firefighting, emergency medical technique trainingandrelatedsubjects;participatesinpre-firesurveysofindustrialandotherbusiness buildings, hospitals, nursing homes, schools and multi-family dwellings; prepares floor plans, records and locates key itemson floor plans of facilities for departmental use in the event of fires, disasters or other emergencies.

Responds to a variety of emergency callsrequiring the performance of a varietyof emergency medicalskills,suchasadministeringoxygen,cardiopulmonaryresuscitation,emergencymedical care and related tasks.

Performsgeneralmaintenanceandcleaningworkintheupkeepofapparatus,equipment, furnishings and structures.

Aidsintheevacuationofportionsofthecountyduringnaturalorotherdisasters.

Assists law enforcement agencies in the investigation of arson cases.

Performsrelatedworkas assigned.

Knowledge, Abilities And Skills

Considerableknowledgeoftheoperatingandmechanicalprinciplesinvolvedinautomotive equipment operation.

Skillanddexterityintheuseandmanipulationoftoolsandapparatususedinfightingfiresand performing emergency medical care.

Ability To

Analyzesituationsquicklyandobjectivelyanddeterminethepropercourseof action.

Reactquicklyandcalmlyunderemergency conditions.

Becomefamiliarwiththeroadway/highwaysystemswithinPolk County.

Learnandefficientlyperformawidevarietyoffirefightingandrescueduties,methods and techniques.

Climbstairsinmultiplestorybuildingscarryingheavytoolsand equipment.

Perform physically demanding duties such as carrying victims; hoisting equipment usingropes;usingheavyequipmenttoforceentryintoorventilationofstructures;useofhand and mechanical tools to extricate patients of automobile accidents.

Establishandmaintaineffectiveworkingrelationshipsasnecessitatedbywork.

Climb ladders and work at considerable heights.

Understandandexecutecomplexoralandwritteninstructions quickly.

Read,write,andspeaktheEnglishlanguageinanunderstandable manner.

Performlimitedmechanicalworkinvolvedinmaintainingfirefightingandrescue apparatus, equipment and tools.

Workasapartofateamandexerciseindependentjudgmentasrequired.

Drive or operate large fire vehicles in a safe and efficient manner.

Copewithstressfulsituationsfirmly,courteouslyandtactfully,andwithrespectforthe rights of others.

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduateofanaccreditedhighschoolorpossessanacceptableequivalencydiplomaandhavea valid Certificate of Compliance asoutlined in theFlorida Division of StateFireMarshal Uniform Fire Safety Rules and Standards Chapter69A-37,ora verification letter indicating that the individualmeetstheaboverequirementsandwillbeissuedaCertificateofCompliancefromthe Florida Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Standards and Training Office.

• Isatleast18yearsof age.
• Certifiesunderoaththathe/sheisnotaddictedtoalcoholoranycontrolled substance.
• Certifies under oath that he/she is free from anyphysical or mental defect or disease thatmight impair his/her abilityto drive an ambulance and perform his/her duties.
• Meetthefollowingdrivinghistory requirements:
• Havenotaccrued12pointswithin36monthsor18pointswithin48 months.
• Havenotbeenconvictedonalcohol/drugrelatedoffenseswithin36 months.
• Havenotbeenconvictedoftwo(2)alcohol/drugrelatedoffenseswithin10 years.
• Have nothadasuspension,revocation,orrestrictionduetomovingviolationsor alcohol/drugrelatedproblem,includingfailuretotakeabreathtestwithinthe36 months prior.
• Havenothadtwo(2)failurestopayfineswithin36 months.
• Havenothadtwo(2)seatbeltviolationswithin36 months.
• Havenothadthree(3)lapsesofinsurancewithin36 months.
• Noserioustrafficviolationssuchasleavingthesceneordrivingonasuspended license within 36 months.
• Mustprovideproofofinsurancewhenrequiredtousetheirpersonalvehicleaspart of their daily job duties.
• PossessavalidAmericanHeartAssociationCPR\"BLSforHealthCareProviders\"cardor the American Red Cross Professional CPR card or American Heart Association (AHA) or American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI)
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to secure a valid Florida driver’s license at the time of employment.
• Attend and successfully complete training as an Emergency Medical Technician.
• Acquire andmaintainavalidStateofFloridaEmergencyMedicalTechnician (EMT) License and paramedic license. Course will be scheduled through Polk County Fire Rescue. Attendance is mandatory when scheduled by Polk County Fire Rescue.
• Certification of completion of Emergency Medical Responder.

Special Requirements

Must obtain and maintain Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Awareness certification through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Employees hired into this position after January 1, 2013 must obtain and maintain this certification as a condition of employment.

Applicant/employeeshallbefingerprintedandsubjecttopersonalbackgroundinvestigation procedures to ascertain an evaluation and determination of moral character according to Chapter 69A-37 Firefighters Standards and Training.

Mustbeabletoadd,subtract,multiply,anddivideallunitsofmeasure.Workrequireslifting very heavy weight occasionally, heavy weight frequently and moderate weight constantly.

Abilitytocopewithmentalandemotionalstressesofthe job.

Must have a telephone while employed with the Fire Rescue Division as employee is subject to call in emergencies.

Required

Applicants who have not been employed by the Polk County Fire Rescue Division in a firefighter-emergencymediciancapacitywillberequiredtoproducedocumentation of successfully completing the following:

• National Testing Network CandidatePhysicalAbilityTest(CPAT) or Ridge Physical Ability Test (RPAT) andtheexamdatecanbenomorethanone calendar year from the hire date.

Must have a valid Florida driver’s license or be able to secure a valid Florida driver’s license at time of employment within this classification.

All employees will be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. During an emergency, employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.