Paramedic

Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority•Charleston, WV

About The Position

The EMT-Paramedic provides emergency medical care, assesses and prioritizes patients’ illnesses or injuries, and transports patients to appropriate treatment centers. The role includes operating ambulances and advanced life-support equipment, performing emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures, administering medications under physician direction or protocol, and coordinating with dispatchers, medical command personnel, and other emergency responders. The Paramedic also documents patient care, inspects and inventories vehicles and equipment, maintains certifications, and provides comfort and reassurance to patients. This is a mission-critical position requiring availability for any shift, including work during adverse weather and holidays and on short notice. Work may continue beyond the scheduled shift until properly relieved or released. Working conditions may include outdoor weather throughout the year, moving mechanical parts, fumes, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme temperatures, exposure to bodily fluids, combative patients or bystanders, and loud noise. Physical demands include lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling at least 150 pounds independently and 300 pounds or more with assistance, along with frequent standing, walking, sitting, equipment operation, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, and crouching.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Successful completion of a college or technical school paramedic program.
West Virginia Certified EMT-Paramedic.
West Virginia driver’s license with a safe driving record.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Advanced Cardiac Care (ACC) certification.
CPR certification.
NIMS 100, NIMS 200, NIMS 700, and NIMS 800.
Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull a minimum of 150 pounds independently and 300 pounds or more with assistance.
Finger and manual dexterity, multilimbed coordination, and arm-hand steadiness.

Responsibilities

Assess the nature and extent of illnesses or injuries and establish and prioritize medical procedures.
Drive ambulances or other vehicles to specified locations, following emergency medical dispatcher instructions.
Assist in rescuing victims as needed and transport sick and injured patients to appropriate treatment centers.
Operate advanced life-support equipment, including electrocardiograms, external defibrillators, and bag-valve-mask resuscitators.
Perform emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures, such as pacing, decompression, airway management, and cardiac monitoring during ambulance transport.
Observe, record, and report patients’ conditions or injuries, treatment provided, and reactions to drugs or treatment to physicians.
Administer drugs by the appropriate route under a physician’s direction or protocol.
Coordinate work with emergency medical team members and police or fire department personnel.
Immobilize patients for stretcher placement and ambulance transport using backboards or other spinal immobilization devices.
Communicate with dispatchers or medical command center personnel to provide situation information, arrange reception of victims, or receive further treatment instructions.
Decontaminate the ambulance interior after treating a patient with a known or suspected infectious disease and report the incident as required.
Document patient treatment in KCEAA’s electronic patient care reporting software.
Perform daily, weekly, and periodic inspections and inventories of supplies, vehicles, the station, and related equipment as needed or directed by KCEAA policy, and document those inspections and inventories.
Comfort and reassure patients.
Attend training classes to maintain certification, keep abreast of developments in emergency services, or maintain existing knowledge.