Firefighter/EMT

Contributes to the comprehensive Countywide Fire Rescue and Emergency Services program. Requires the ability to be an advocate for patient care, performs technical and specialized work functions associated with providing quality medical care to all members of the community in the event of medical emergencies, the prevention, control, and suppression of fire, natural disasters, hazardous situations, environmental emergencies, motor vehicle accidents, and other life and death situations.  Works a schedule is 24/48 shift schedule.

• Drives and/or operates a county vehicle or equipment and must obey all safety policies, and roadway rules and laws.
• Responds timely to emergency calls relayed by dispatchers, reads maps, drives ambulance to emergency sites, uses most expeditious route and observes traffic ordinances and regulations.
• Observes and assists Paramedics performing emergency medical care, receives instructions and training from Paramedics.
• Evaluates scene on arrival, determines nature and extent of illness or injury, takes pulse, blood pressure, and visually observes changes in skin color, assists Paramedics in determination regarding patient status by interpreting diagnostic signs.
• Assists Paramedic in establishing priority for emergency care, initiates basic life support procedures at the scene, as needed.
• Provides rehydration/rehabilitation and medical treatment to victims, firefighters and/or other personnel at the scene, as needed.
• Renders appropriate emergency care, based on competency level, to stabilize the patient such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), spinal immobilization, providing oxygen, triage, and assess the effects of treatment.
• Uses medical equipment, based on competency level, follows infection disease protocol, practices proper disposal of biohazard waste.
• Reassures patients and bystanders, avoids mishandling patient and undue haste, searches for medical identification emblem to aid in care.
• Radios dispatcher for additional assistance or services, requests/provides flight rescue service if required, provides additional emergency care while following established protocols.
• Assists Paramedic in determining appropriate facility to which patient will be transported, reports nature or illness to that facility, requests instructions/directions from hospital physician or emergency department.
• Assists in lifting, carrying, and transporting patient to ambulance and on to a medical facility.
• Prepares for, attends, and testifies in courtroom hearings and judicial proceedings as required.
• Prepares, decontaminates, inspects, inventories, repairs, and/or maintains medical equipment and supplies, first aid materials, and vehicles for safe operation, tests all equipment on a regular basis and checks for future readiness.
• Communicates effectively and coherently over two-way radio channels while initiating and responding to radio communications.
• Responds accurately and timely to questions, complaints, and requests for information/assistance from the public, patients, fire, law enforcement, other medical personnel, various agencies, employees, officials, supervisors, or other individuals.
• Inventories and restocks ambulance and station supplies and equipment, orders and maintains enough to ensure adequate availability to perform daily tasks.
• Maintains current field manuals, policy and procedures, employee handbooks, various maps, addresses, and related material for reference and/or review, reads medical journals and other professional literature, maintains professional affiliations.
• Attends shift meetings and in-service training as required to remain knowledgeable of departmental operations, to promote improved job performance, and to stay current with changing emergency medicine techniques, state/local policies, procedures, codes, and laws.
• Prepares and/or receives a variety of forms, logs, requests, reports, correspondence, and other documents associated with daily responsibilities of this position, reviews, completes, processes, approves, forwards, maintains, and/or takes other action as appropriate; prepares and maintains files and records.
• Cooperates with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and its officers or representatives when activities are related to investigations within county jurisdiction.
• Operates a personal computer, printer, calculator, copy and facsimile machines, telephone, radio, or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include word processing, spreadsheet, database, or other system software.
• Protects the privacy of all patient information in accordance with the County’s privacy policies, procedures, and practices, as required by federal and state law, an in accordance with general principles of professionalism as a health care provider.
• Accesses protected health information and other patient information only to the extent that is necessary to complete job duties. Shares such information with only those who have a need-to-know specific patient information in their possession to complete their job responsibilities related to treatment, payment, or other County operations.
• Requires the reporting of, without the threat of retaliation, any concerns regarding the County’s policies and procedures on patient privacy and any observed practices in violation of that policy to the designated Officer.
• Performs fire prevention, control, and suppression tasks in both structural and non-structural incidents including, but not limited to, inspecting fire hydrants, establishes hydrant/hose connections, assists in scene perimeter security, extinguishes, and contains fires with proper agents, and participates in post-fire cleanup and salvage operations.
• Performs routine station tasks to maintain the unit's state of operational readiness including, but not limited to, daily inspecting/testing of equipment, supplies, and materials applicable to assigned equipment/engines/apparatus, stocks and takes inventory of materials and supplies, inspects personal gear, and equipment. Maintains all Advanced Life Support equipment in proper operating condition.
• Performs other duties as required.

Other Essential Functions

• Assists with community events such as offering free blood pressure readings, educating children and the public on the 911 emergency system, medical emergency procedures, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
• Performs miscellaneous duties and administrative tasks including, but not limited to, station cleaning and general housekeeping, scheduling maintenance, answering the telephone, taking, and relaying messages, and basic grounds maintenance.
• Operates an assigned motor vehicle, maintains cleanliness of and fuels vehicle, checks tire inflation and fluid levels, requests or schedules services and/or repairs as needed.
• Educates the community on emergency medical procedures.
• Performs other duties as required.

Education, Training, and Experience

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of appointment.

Certificates, Licenses, Registration, Skills

• Valid Florida Driver License or must obtain within 30 days of establishing residency in Florida.
• Must successfully complete physical examination prior to employment, and physical requirements as stipulated by Florida Statutes, Chapter 633.34 and satisfy requirement of NFPA 1582.
• Valid Certification as a State of Florida Firefighter II as provided by Florida Statutes and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Emergency Vehicle Operator Certification (EVOC).
• Ability to maintain courteous and effective relations with County staff, elected officials, community interest groups and the public.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.  Must be able to prepare written reports, using appropriate format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in decision making and all phases of responsibilities and when handling confidential and protected health information.
• Available to work irregular hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must have strong working knowledge of computers and be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite of Products (i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.).
• Must have or be able to obtain within 90 days certification in FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses:
  • IS-100.c: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
  • IS-200.b: ICS for Single Resources & Initial Action Incidents
  • IS-700.b: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
  • IS-800.c: National Response Framework, an Introduction

• Requires a combination of sitting, standing, and walking.
• The job involves frequent lifting and carrying up to and more than 50 pounds.
• The job requires frequent bending, squatting, kneeling, balancing, throwing, twisting, reaching above shoulders, and occasionally crawling and climbing.
• The job requires the completion of tasks that involve simple grasping, pushing, pulling, fine manual manipulation, typing, operating foot controls/levers, driving automotive equipment, and occasionally working in darkness.
• The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, depth perception and color vision, hearing, and speaking.
• The job may risk exposure to adverse weather, moving machinery, fumes and gases, electrical hazards, and extreme noise.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 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. Emergency response duties may also include driving and/or operating a county vehicle or equipment and employees must obey all safety policies, and roadway rules and laws.

Basis of Rating: Some positions may require a written and/or skills test. Applications will be carefully reviewed to assess each individuals’ qualifications. Selected persons will be interviewed to determine who will be hired for the job.  The kind and length of related work experience, training and education shown on the application will be an important consideration in the screening process.

Must successfully pass an employment reference check, criminal background check, physical examination, and drug screen. Drug screens will be in accordance with the Drug Free Workplace Act and/or the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991.

Citrus County, Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.  

Citrus County, Florida Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), marital status, citizenship, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected trait.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the Citrus County, Florida Board of County Commissioners in advance to allow sufficient time to provide an accommodation.

Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. 

Pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes or the “Public Records Law,” applications, resumes and personnel records are subject to public inspections. Details regarding the “Public Records Law”/ “The Sunshine Law” / Florida Statutes and the statutory exemptions are available on websites such as the Florida Office of the Attorney General, Florida Senate and Florida Legislature. Additionally, Citrus County Board of County Commissioners Public Information section is located on our website.