Fire Fighter Trainee (Paramedic)

County of Los Angeles•Los Angeles, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Los Angeles County Fire Department is recruiting Fire Fighter Trainees with paramedic qualifications to fill emergency vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Under the emergency order, qualified applicants may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with the possibility of permanent County employment. During the initial period, work performance is assessed; successful candidates may be considered for permanent appointment as Fire Fighter Paramedic and become eligible for a paramedic bonus upon permanent appointment. Trainees participate in an emergency assessment academy that includes basic firefighting, emergency medical treatment, and a paramedic skills and internship component. They also complete classroom and field instruction in basic firefighting before appointment. The role requires the ability to learn firefighting and rescue techniques and to provide patient, compassionate care in a team environment during emergency and non-emergency situations.

Requirements

Graduate from an accredited high school, its equivalent, or a higher educational institution.
Hold a current, valid, non-probationary California Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic license issued by the State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority; it must remain effective for at least six months beyond the appointment date.
Have 12 months of full-time experience as a primary care paramedic running 9-1-1 responses. Inter-facility transports do not qualify.
Have a current and valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certificate by the time of appointment.
Be at least 18 years of age at appointment.
Be a United States citizen or a permanent resident eligible for and having applied for citizenship at the time of appointment.
Present education documentation within five calendar days of filing the application to receive education credit.
Obtain a California driver's license before appointment and provide a California DMV driving record; the license must not be suspended, restricted, or revoked. Candidates with four or more moving violations within the last two years will not be appointed.
Meet the stated physical, vision, and hearing requirements and be able to perform the essential functions of the position.

Nice To Haves

Twenty-four months of full-time experience as a firefighter paramedic.
California State Fire Training Firefighter I or II certification, or equivalent certification from another state.
California State Fire Training Apparatus Operator 1A or 1B certificate, or equivalent certification from another state.
Current and valid Los Angeles County Paramedic Accreditation issued by the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency.

Responsibilities

Provide EMT-Paramedic-level emergency medical assessment, care, and treatment.
Use, monitor, and interpret electrocardiograms; perform defibrillation, chemical or electrical cardioversion, and external pacing to address life-threatening arrhythmias.
Establish intravenous and intraosseous catheters or other cannula in peripheral veins or intraosseous locations.
Administer and monitor approved medications and dosages through approved routes.
Assess and clear oral and nasal airways and administer oxygen according to protocol.
Inspect airways using a laryngoscope and remove foreign bodies with forceps.
Provide pulmonary ventilation using approved Los Angeles County EMS Agency techniques and adjuncts, including CPAP, supraglottic airway devices, and adult oral endotracheal intubation.
Use point-of-care devices to monitor glucose, capnography, pulse oximetry, and carboxyhemoglobin levels; perform needle thoracostomy.
Participate under close supervision in firefighting training and learn techniques for fighting structural, watershed, chemical, petroleum, electrical, and other fires.
Learn procedures for rescuing or evacuating people endangered by fire or disaster and for providing emergency medical care.
Receive instruction in pre-fire plan inspection and Fire Code enforcement.
Learn the proper care and operation of fire suppression apparatus.
Work as part of a team and provide patient, compassionate care to the public in emergency and non-emergency conditions.