The Firefighter/Paramedic position involves performing Firefighter and Paramedic duties.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary.

• Act in accordance with current agency/organization Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs), Standard Operating Policies (SOPs), Administrative Orders, and physician-approved medical protocols. 
• Understand the concept of and be committed to Whitewater Fire & EMS’s mission by demonstrating behaviors consistent with the City of Whitewater core values. 
• Complete and submit all reports required for assigned duties, responsibilities, and tasks
• Prepare reports and ensure proper documentation of incidents. 
• Maintain the knowledge and skills necessary to safely perform assigned tasks as required to:
  • locate, control and extinguish fires
  • ventilate areas which contain smoke, hazardous gases, and/or other odors
  • force entry and gain access into closed areas
  • search for and rescue victims from hazardous situations
  • prevent additional damage to personal property at incidents
  • extricate victims from vehicles, structures, and other entrapment situations
  • gain access to upper levels as needed to accomplish assigned tasks
  • deploy ropes as needed to accomplish assigned tasks
  • provide water supply for use at the incident
  • provide incident communications
  • facilitate incident investigation
  • operate in any position assigned under the incident command system
• Maintain and service emergency equipment, tools and apparatus as assigned to ensure its proper location and that it is in the best possible working condition.
  • initiate work orders as necessary to facilitate repairs
  • complete reports as required to document maintenance
• Assist with cleaning, maintaining and performing necessary service or repairs as necessary to ensure that assigned stations and contents are in their best possible condition.
• Maintain the knowledge and skills necessary to perform fire inspection activities which include:
  • enforcing adopted fire safety codes
  • pre-planning occupancies within the community
  • presenting educational programs to the public
  • completing all necessary reports
• Examine and evaluate patients to determine necessary care.
• Provide patients with emergency care by utilizing appropriate techniques and equipment.
• Document patient information, condition, and treatment.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and perform all care with respect for patient rights.
• Transport patients in accordance with outlined policies and procedures.
• Maintain a safe, clean and well-stocked environment for patients.
• Operate and drive ambulance in conjunction with applicable safety policies and laws.
• Provide basic and advanced life support and gather patient data.
• Protect citizens during emergencies.
• Execute rescues.
• Assist with vehicle accidents, lift assists and other calls.
• Mitigate chemical spills.
• Maintain a current, valid State of Wisconsin Operators license, and must advise the Chief of any suspension, revocation or additional restrictions of the license.
• Assist with the training of the department members as qualified and assigned.
• Attend applicable department training and meetings as scheduled.
• Assigned to act as a driver as needed (provided training and State certification for operation of the specific apparatus has been completed).
• Perform duties such as: restock ambulances after emergency calls, washing of vehicles or other duties as assigned.
• Report vehicle maintenance needs.
• Maintain compliance with local, state and national training requirements. 
• Attend outside educational opportunities as available to develop and maintain the highest most current level of expertise.
• Meet department expectations for participation in and/or leadership of department training activities, public education, and other events when on duty. 
• Participate in organizational committees. 
• Maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.

• Perform other duties as assigned. 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Current Wisconsin State Firefighter Level I certification.
• Current State of Wisconsin Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic license
• Complete NIMS/ICS training levels ICS-100, and ICS-200, ICS-700, ICS-800 within 6 months of hire 
• Valid, unrestricted Wisconsin driver’s license with acceptable driving record
• Must maintain EVOC certification and be insurable by the provider 

Education and/or Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent 
• At least 1 year of ambulance or hospital-based patient care experience is strongly preferred 

Language Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• Ability to communicate in a professional manner regardless of the situation or conditions 

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to calculate percentages, fractions, decimals, volumes, ratios, present values and spatial relationships.
• Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure, copy, and record data and information.
• Ability to interpret basis descriptive statistical reports.

Reasoning Ability

• Demonstrated initiative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills 
• Ability to exercise the independent judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory and/or judgmental criteria.
• Ability to work well under pressure and handle stressful situations, to organize work and set priorities, managing time and resources to meet deadlines and changing demands within the entire operation of administrative services, perform duties with a minimum of supervision
• Ability to analyze data and information using established criteria, in order to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives. 
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
• Ability to quickly make assessments of emergency situations, determine appropriate responses and act assertively; cope with situations firmly, courteously, and tactfully.

Equipment Operated

• Skill in the operation of departmental equipment, including but not limited to vehicles, medical equipment, radios, first aid equipment, telephone, and copy machine.
• Working knowledge of basic computer functions to include word processing, data processing and software record-keeping systems.

Other Qualifications

• Compliance with the conditions of employment as stated in the Employee Policies.
• Take an oath of office.
• Pass a background check prior to hire.
• Pass a medical and/or psychological examination for the occupational group and drug screen prior to hire.
• Ability to work independently using time management skills 
• Competency with Microsoft Office, Windows, RMS software, and other web-based software applications 
• Ability to take on/manage multiple projects with broad direction 
• Excellent customer service skills 

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. Ability to hear and understand radio transmissions.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus, and the ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.
• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing skilled movements.
• Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities and differences between characteristics of colors, shapes and textures associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks.
• Ability to meet the Department’s physical standards and maintain good health and fitness.
• Requires the ability to lift, bend, climb (stairs, ladders, fence, etc.), walks (on normal, slippery, uneven surfaces), stand or sit for various time frames.
• Must lift/carry up to 10 pounds frequently and up to 100 pounds occasionally.
• Must be able to drive and operate responding apparatus and vehicles equipped with lights and siren.
• Must be able to use hands for handling objects, tools, controls and writing.
• Requires the strength and stamina to perform fire suppression and/or patient care duties.
• Must be able to make critical decisions and direct others under extreme conditions
• Physical strengths, endurance and agility to handle the extreme stresses of the position, to rescue persons from burning structures, to risk life in the pursuit of life saving efforts. Must be able to use a respirator and perform duties in confined spaces. 
• Must possess sufficient strength and stamina to control pressurized hoses, extend ladders, operate the “jaws of life” and perform other rescue operation in full turnout gear and with safety equipment. 
• Wear personal protective equipment weighing approximately fifty (50) pounds while performing the tasks described above.
• Perform physically demanding work while wearing positive pressure breathing equipment with one and one-half inch (1.5”) water column resistance to exhalation at a flow of forty (40) liters per minute. 
• Ability to lift/carry and ambulate with the agency/organization’s current medical equipment, bags, and supplies in an approved/recommended fashion. 
• Ability to operate patient movement equipment (cot/stretcher, stair chair, longboard/backboard, scoop stretcher, etc.) in an acceptable single-person or multiple-person scenario, according to manufacturer recommendations. 
• Must be able to frequently lift and/or move 25 pounds without assistance and occasionally lift and/or move up to 200 pounds with the assistance of an additional crewmember. 
• Must be able to safely and efficiently complete physical activity commonly encountered as an EMT, including entering and exiting the ambulance, lifting/carrying equipment and patients over uneven terrain and up and down stairs, and performing continuous chest compressions according to agency standards. A physical agility test may be required. 
• Cannot have active/current medical/physical conditions, directed/outlined by a physician that may hinder performance, judgment, or physical abilities while providing an emergency response, direct patient care, or operation of motor vehicles. 
• May be subject to functioning and making decisions in high-stress situations involving potentially life-threatening conditions related to patient(s). 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the office work environment is moderately quiet, noise level may be loud at times due to working at a fire scene or responding to an EMS call.
• Work is performed indoor and outdoor.
• Work may be performed in high, precarious places, confined and awkward spaces or in high traffic areas. 
• May be exposed to traffic, equipment, fire hazards, extreme heat and cold, smoke, carcinogens, bio-hazards, adverse weather conditions, noise extremes, dusts, odors, toxins, caustic chemicals, pathogenic substances.
• Subject to unusual fatigue, high stress from irregular working hours and incident call activity.
• Faces exposure to infectious agents, such as hepatitis B or HIV.
• May be subject to operate in situations/environments involving biohazard fluids/substances, sick/ill/injured individuals, and/or otherwise hazardous environments requiring additional personal protective equipment (PPE) or body substance isolation (BSI). 
• May be subject to functioning in inclement/excessive weather conditions. 
• May be subject to deprived sleeping conditions if working/staffing overnight shifts. 
• May be subject to working in smaller or cramped spaces, including (but not limited to) inside vehicles, small rooms, ambulances, or other semi-confined spaces. 

The City of Whitewater is an Equal Employment Opportunity. In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

• Work is performed under the general supervision of the Fire Chief and EMS Chief.