Experienced Firefighter

Spotsylvania County is committed to maintaining a drug free workplace. Employees are prohibited from manufacturing, distributing, possessing or using controlled substances such as marijuana. A positive drug test result, confirmed use or impairment can be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination in accordance with our personnel policies.

A positive pre-employment drug test will also disqualify a candidate for hire.

General Statement of Job

Under general supervision, performs skilled technical work in operating a mobile medical unit, rescuing victims, and administering emergency medical care to patients during transport to medical facilities. Work involves responding to emergency/non-emergency calls, administering advanced/basic life support treatment to sick/injured persons, and transporting patients to medical facilities. Work also involves performing general firefighting duties. Employee is responsible for performing in accordance with established emergency medical procedures and techniques, but must exercise considerable independent judgment in diagnosing a victim’s condition and in applying life sustaining medical care. Employee is subject to the normal hazards of emergency rescue and firefighting work, including risk of exposure to infectious diseases.  Person(s) in this position will encounter sensitive information in the performance of their duties and is expected to maintain that information confidentially.

This position is essential. Personnel occupying this position may be scheduled to work regardless of weather conditions and/or when general county offices are closed. Applicants must be available to work Sunday through Saturday as needed.

Salary is commensurate with time in grade under the Public Safety Step Pay Scale.

Special Duties & Responsibilities

• Responds as a mobile medical unit attendant or driver to emergency calls for fire suppression, medical assistance, hazardous materials incidents, specialized rescue, multiple-casualty incidents, or other emergency situations; performs duties in accordance with all applicable laws, ordinances, policies, procedures, protocols, disaster response plans, and established chain of command; refers to policy manuals as needed.
• Maintains a state of readiness/preparation for medical emergency response; checks/maintains stock of equipment and supplies on ambulances and in station; re-loads equipment and supplies following response to emergency calls; prepares apparatus for subsequent emergencies.
• Assesses and evaluates situation at emergency scenes; surveys and secures scene, requesting additional assistance as necessary; determines mechanism of injury and equipment needed to effect rescue and initiation of treatment; recognizes need for hazardous material response personnel, calls for appropriate assistance, and handles patients exposed to hazardous materials per established protocols.
• Assesses nature and severity of illness/injury and identifies life threatening problems; establishes and prioritizes medical procedures to be followed and determines need for additional assistance; performs patient triage; takes and records patient's vital signs; performs physical examinations and obtains patient history.
• Administers advance life support and basic life support care at emergency scene in accordance with established medical standards; restores and stabilizes heart rhythm on pulseless, non-breathing patients, using defibrillator as needed; monitors cardiac patients, using a defibulator; initiates intravenous fluids to administer medication or drugs or to replace fluids lacking in body; performs endotracheal intubation to open airways and ventilate patients; administers injections of medications and drugs, following established protocols; inflates pneumatic anti-shock garment on patient to improve blood circulation.
• Observes, records, monitors, and reports to physician patient's condition, reaction to drugs/treatments, and other significant incidents pertaining to patient’s condition.
• Gains access to and moves patients, utilizing protective equipment; takes quickest route to patient in consideration of safety of patient and emergency personnel; supervises patient safety during extrication procedures; prepares patient for transport in accordance with approved treatment protocols; performs physical lifting techniques associated with moving patients between incident site, stretcher, or ambulance; transports patients to medical facilities.
• Performs general firefighting and search/rescue functions; suppresses, controls and extinguishes fires; locates water supplies and utilizes fire hoses to direct water or chemicals onto fire; positions, raises, and climbs ladders of various heights to access upper levels of buildings and perform rescue operations; creates openings in buildings for entrance, ventilation, or salvage; ventilates smoke and gas from buildings; performs search, rescue, extrication of victims, and forcible entries; assists individuals from burning structures; responds to calls for lost individuals and participates in searches for missing persons.
• Drives, maintains, and operates a variety of ambulances or fire vehicles/apparatus; performs driving functions in a safe and efficient manner under various conditions, including in day/night hours, in congested traffic, in adverse weather conditions, and in emergency situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits; determines best route to reach location of emergency calls.
• Performs general inspection and maintenance tasks necessary to keep vehicles, equipment, buildings, quarters, and tools in operable condition, which may include inspecting/testing equipment, restocking medications/supplies, cleaning/sanitizing ambulance interior and equipment, replacing fluids, greasing equipment, replacing parts, washing/cleaning equipment, maintaining station grounds, or cleaning station/quarters; monitors equipment operations to maintain efficiency and safety; reports faulty equipment; maintains records of equipment testing/maintenance activities.
• Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals; takes appropriate measures to prevent disease transmission or exposure to bodily fluids.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, logs, checklists, patient care reports, fire/EMS run reports, trauma/CPR audits, vehicle maintenance reports, testing/maintenance records, or other documents.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, logs, checklists, maintenance records, training announcements, maps, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, protocols, medical books, manuals, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Maintains current manuals, policies/procedures, bulletins, or map books for reference and/or review.
• Operates a computer to enter, retrieve, review or modify data; utilizes word processing, spreadsheet, database, or other software programs.
• Creates/maintains positive public relations with the general public; participates in civic events and appears before schools/community groups; makes presentations or provides information/education to the public regarding CPR, fire safety, fire prevention, and firefighting; conducts tours of fire and EMS stations and fire and EMS vehicles.
• Communicates via telephone and/or two-way radio; communicates effectively and coherently over radio channels while initiating and responding to radio communications; provides information and assistance; takes and relays messages; responds to requests for service or assistance.
• Communicates with supervisors, employees, volunteers, dispatchers, other departments, fire officials, law enforcement officials, medical personnel, property owners/occupants, victims, family members, utility companies, insurance companies, contractors, civic organizations, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Maintains a current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures; maintains an awareness of new equipment, methods, procedures, and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; participates in physical fitness training programs and continuing education activities on topics such as emergency medical services, new/modified medical protocols, ambulance service and operation, fire suppression techniques, hazardous material containment, emergency rescue, equipment techniques, hydraulics, or street layout; attends shift meetings, workshops and seminars as appropriate.
• Follows the department chain of command when communicating at different levels.
• Performs various maintenance and custodial duties at that assigned station
• Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Training & Experience

High School Diploma or equivalent; supplemented by vocational/technical training in firefighting and emergency medical technician programs; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Required to possess and maintain a valid CPR for Healthcare Providers, National Registry/Virginia EMT-Paramedic or National Registry/Virginia EMT-Intermediate, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) or equivalent certifications. Ability to successfully obtain and maintain an International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) or Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) certification within 12 months of acquiring an ALS certification.

*Employees not bound by the Special Conditions of Employment are exempt from the requirement to obtain and maintain advanced life support certifications and the ability to practice such level of care.

Valid driver’s license with appropriate endorsements.

Must successfully complete all components of the County’s Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management (FREM) Recruit Academy or equivalent, and complete and maintain all certificates contained within the FREM Recruit Academy curriculum. Curriculum includes, but is not limited to: Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Mayday Awareness and Operations; Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations, Emergency Vehicle Operation Course II/III (EVOC), National Fire Academy Incident Command System (NFA ICS), Traffic Incident Management Responder Course, Vehicle Rescue Operations, Rural Water Supply, ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800.

Ability to successfully obtain and maintain Driver Pump Operator certification within 60 months of employment.

Must meet and maintain NFPA Medical Guidelines as a condition of employment.

Must comply with current Special Conditions of Employment for Public Safety Employees.

Special Requirements

• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the County and of Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services Department practices as they pertain to performance of duties relating to position of Firefighter.
• Knowledge of advanced/basic life support and emergency medical procedures, protocols, and procedures.
• Knowledge of the purpose, administration, and effects of various drugs and medications.
• Knowledge of firefighting, fire prevention, rescue/extrication operations, and hazardous material response methods, techniques, practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of operation, use, and maintenance of equipment, apparatus, tools, and supplies used in emergency medical care, firefighting, and rescue activities, and has ability to operate and care for such equipment.
• Knowledge of procedures of extrication, movement of patients, rescue techniques, transportation, and psychological needs of a patient.
• Knowledge and skill in diagnosing a victim’s condition and applying appropriate emergency medical care.
• Knowledge of the hazards involved in emergency response operations and of applicable safety precautions.
• Knowledge of location and layout of County streets, subdivisions, buildings, and hydrants.
• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and methods utilized within the department.
• Ability to safely drive an ambulance at high rates of speed or in adverse conditions.
• Ability to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, computer operations, equipment needs, policies, etc., as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information.
• Ability to respond quickly and calmly, exercise good judgment, and adopt effective courses of action during emergency situations or under stressful conditions.
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with co-workers, supervisors, members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the department.
• Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear and effective manner.
• Ability to exhibit mathematical ability to handle required calculations. Is knowledgeable and proficient with computers.
• Ability to demonstrate physical strength and agility to perform prolonged and arduous work under adverse conditions when required.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.
• Ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.
• Ability to read a variety of informational and technical documentation, charts, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures.
• Ability to write reports and forms with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech.
• Ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.
• Ability to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques, to make independent judgments in absence of supervision, and to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures and policies, and to follow verbal and written instructions, guidelines and objectives.  Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including emergency response codes, radio communication codes, and fire/medical terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas, add and subtract totals, multiply and divide, determine percentages, determine time and weight, and utilize high school level algebra.

• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under considerable stress when confronted with an emergency.

  PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery, equipment, and tools, such as an ambulance, fire/emergency vehicle, cardiac monitor, defibrillator, suction unit, oxygen delivery system, immobilization equipment, IV equipment, MAST pants, pulse oximeter, laryngoscope, fire apparatus, pump, ladder, aerial platform, generator, air compressor, hose, hydrant, extinguisher, self-contained breathing apparatus, extrication tools, specialized rescue equipment, hydraulic tools, chain saw, power tools, hand tools, gas detector, smoke ejector, ventilation fan, medical/first aid supplies, or radio communications equipment. Tasks require the ability to exert very heavy physical effort in very heavy work, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of heavy objects and materials (up to 100 pounds) and occasionally heavier items (100 pounds or over). Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for very heavy work.  Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape. Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using emergency medical equipment and firefighting equipment and in operating motor vehicles. Requires ability to handle a variety of items, emergency medical equipment, firefighting equipment, control knobs or switches. Must have ability to use one hand for twisting or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities. Must have high levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. Requires the ability to differentiate colors and shades of color. Requires the ability to talk and/or hear (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear) and to communicate via telephone or two-way radio.