The District is seeking to fill 55 vacancies for paramedics in the Fire/EMS Department's Emergency Medical Services Bureau.

The new Fire/EMS paramedics will be responsible for providing emergency medical care and transportation to persons who are injured or who become suddenly ill. The care must be provided in a timely and skillful manner as to preserve life and prevent permanent disability. "Our response times are improving, but we cannot achieve our goals without the proper staffing levels," said Marcus Anderson, Assistant Deputy Chief of the EMS Bureau.

The Department has been recruiting for paramedics since May 2001 when funds became available from the closing of DC General Hospital. Those funds were earmarked for providing increased emergency medical service delivery to the city. They were given to cover the DC General's first response area.

Information about the duties of Fire/EMS paramedics can be obtained by visiting the department's Web site http://www.fems.dc.gov/. To apply, contact:

D.C. Office of Personnel Servicing
Personnel Office No. 2
2000 14th Street, N.W., 4th floor
Washington, DC 20001.

For more information, contact the DC Office of Personnel or call (202) 671-1317.