This position is open until filled. 

Position Purpose

Protects life and property by performing fire suppression, advanced life support (ALS) medical and trauma treatment, hazardous materials and fire prevention duties.  Maintains fire equipment, apparatus and facilities. Under general supervision of a Company Officer, provides basic and advanced life support services to ill or injured persons in accordance with the policies established by the South Padre Island Fire Department and the Medical Control Director.

Essential Functions

• Performs fire suppression activities including driving fire apparatus, operating pumps and related equipment, laying hose and performing fire attack, containment and extinguishment tasks.
• Performs first responder activities including administering advanced life support (ALS) medical care.
• Participates in fire drills, attends classes in fire suppression, emergency medical, hazardous material and related subjects.
• Receives and responds to fire calls and alarms.  Operates radio and other communication equipment.
• Participates in the inspection of buildings, hydrants and other structures in fire prevention programs.
• Maintains fire equipment, apparatus and facilities.

• Performs general maintenance work in the upkeep of fire facilities and equipment to include care for the grounds around the fire station.
• Assists in developing plans for special assignments such as emergency preparedness, hazardous communications, training programs, firefighting hazardous materials and first responder activities.
• Performs rescues such as water, vehicle, trench, high angle, elevator, body recovery, confined space or any other rescue as needed.
• Performs salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers, sweeping water, and removing debris.
• Performs basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS) activities as an MICU ambulance crew member.
• Responds to medical emergencies; performs primary and secondary physical assessment of ill or injured persons.
• Treat patients in accordance with South Padre Island Medical Services Protocols and Fire Department policy.
• Operate radio-telephone equipment and communicates medical information to base hospitals, medical personnel and others.
• Respond to and perform skilled tasks at the scenes of emergency calls and non-emergency calls.
• Serves as a preceptor for paramedic and emergency medical technician trainees.
• Compile necessary reports and records.
• Presents programs to the community on safety, medical and fire prevention topics.
• Participate in Fire Prevention activities.
• Operates a variety of apparatus, equipment, tools, devices, and vehicles including lifting, hoisting emergency medical equipment and other EMS related equipment.
• Conducts daily inspections of condition and readiness of equipment; clean, wash, and service equipment, inspect, test, and maintain equipment, emergency lighting equipment, generators, rescue and first aid and related equipment; flow-test hydrants.
•  Responds to miscellaneous emergencies; including rescues, flooding, and natural disasters, respond to non-emergency situations including elderly assists, vehicle and residential lockouts, and other non-emergency situations.
• Participates in physical training activities; aerobic and/or weight lifting routines.
• Assists in securing sites by directing traffic, clearing public, clearing landing zones for helicopter landing; setting up lighting and related activities.
• Responds to the orders and directives of incident commanders/superiors and carries out assignments per applicable practices, protocols, and guidelines.
• Maintain inventories of apparatus, equipment, and supplies.

Secondary Functions

• Assists in department supervisory and administrative activities as assigned.
• Assists in training new employees as assigned.
• Attends classes that are required to maintain certifications.
• Performs minor repairs to departmental equipment.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Capital and/or Fiscal Responsibility

Responsible for adhering to all City of South Padre Island Purchasing Policies while performing purchasing tasks.

Credentials (minimum preferred)

• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
• Working knowledge of driver safety.
• Working knowledge of advanced life support (ALS) medical procedures.
• Ability to learn the operation of fire suppression and other emergency equipment.
• Ability to learn to apply standard firefighting, first responder, hazardous material and fire prevention techniques.
• Ability to perform strenuous or peak physical effort during emergency, training or station maintenance activities for prolonged periods of time under conditions of extreme heights, intense heat, cold or smoke.
• Ability to analyze complex situations and problems, and use sound judgment in drawing conclusions and make decisions.
• Ability to act effectively in emergency and stressful situation.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with employees, other agencies and the general public.
• Ability to meet the special requirements listed below.
• Ability to work through hazardous weather conditions such as hurricanes.
• Ability to learn the operation of emergency medical and other emergency equipment.
• Ability to learn to apply advanced emergency medical techniques.
• Formal Education/Certification/Licenses

Minimum Requirements:

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent
• Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) certified as an Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic
• Obtain a Class B Driver’s License within ninety (90) days of hire.

Preferred Requirements:

• Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) Firefighter certification.
• Associates Degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Prior Experience
• Previous firefighting/EMS experience preferred.
• Language Requirements
• Bilingual: Spanish and English preferred.

Tools and Equipment Used

Fire apparatus, fire pumps, hoses and other standard firefighting equipment; power tools such as chain saws and hydraulic spreaders and cutters; hand tools, ladders, first aid equipment, radio, pager, personal computer, phone and water rescue devices. Airway suction units; Battery-powered portable suction units; Fixed-suction equipment Emergency response litters or stretchers or accessories — Multi-level wheeled cots; Stair chairs; Stretchers;  Intravenous IV pressure infusers; Laryngoscopes or accessories — Curved adult blades; Laryngoscopes; Straight adult blades; Straight pediatric blades; Medical gas cylinders or related devices — Fixed-oxygen equipment; Portable oxygen equipment Medical oxygen masks — Adult non-rebreather oxygen masks; Child oxygen masks; Infant oxygen masks; Orthopedic splint systems — Rigid splints; Splints Spine boards — Extrication devices; Full-spine immobilization devices; Half-spine immobilization devices; Spinal immobilization equipment and other equipment and supplies related to emergency and non-emergency medical treatment.

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 sit and talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to two-hundred (200) pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

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.  Work is performed primarily in office, vehicles, and outdoor settings, in all weather conditions, including temperature extremes, during day and night shifts. Work is often performed in emergency and stressful situations.  Individual is exposed to hearing alarms and hazards associated with fighting fires and rendering emergency medical assistance, including smoke, noxious odors, fumes, chemicals, liquid chemicals, solvents and oils. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, liquid chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quite in the office settings, and very loud at an emergency scene.

Selection Guidelines

Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job related tests may be required.