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Firefighter/Paramedic skills for your resume and career

Q: What skills will help Firefighter/Paramedics earn the most?

Earnings tend to follow expertise and flexibility in fire and EMS. The more training, experience, and 'extra abilities you bring to the table, the more promotional job options you have. Being fluent in a second language, for example, often goes along with a bonus as you have the ability to converse with someone without proficiency in English. You can imagine the advantages of a crisis! Many departments specifically recruit dual language speakers with higher salaries commensurate with the additional valuable skill. The same thing applies to other types of additional skills and experience. Someone who has studied grant writing and has successfully written grants tends to be well compensated because they bring in money, and no one wants to lose them. Those are just some examples of how doing more than just the minimum can pay off in your career!

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted Experts

Kevin Walker,

Kevin Walker

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical firefighter/paramedic skills. We ranked the top skills for firefighter/paramedics based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 6.6% of firefighter/paramedic resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a firefighter/paramedic needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 firefighter/paramedic skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use patients:

Rendered advanced paramedical care to injured or ill patients as required ensuring compliance with department regulations, protocol, and procedure.
Performed emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures to patients consisting of airway management and cardiac monitoring during a Rescue ride.

2. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use cpr:

Conducted CPR education programs for community members and fire department personnel.
Provided annual re-certification for First Aid and Safety/ CPR for 50 base firefighters as a Certified American Red Cross CPR Instructor.

3. EMT

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) provide urgent and emergent patients who enter the emergency medical services (EMS) system for out-of-hospital emergency medical treatment and transportation. EMTs are trained to stabilise and evacuate patients in a variety of situations, from non-emergency to regular hospital transports to life-threatening emergencies. Under the supervision of a physician, EMTs work as part of a robust EMS response scheme.

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use emt:

Prepare and submit performance reports for all EMT and probationary employees concerning conformance to MFD protocols and state laws.
Assist with training new EMT and Paramedics as well as evaluating those new personnel for placement.

4. Fire Suppression

Fire suppression is the term used to describe any group of engineering systems designed to put out the fire in a building in the event of its unfortunate occurrence. Fire suppression systems are built to detect fire outbreaks and prevent them from escalating. The system usually comes with an alarm to alert residents so the fire can be extinguished on time before it spreads out.

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use fire suppression:

Worked in fire suppression* Worked in fire prevention/public education* Conducted origin and cause investigations* Worked in fire rescue
Provide fire suppression and initial investigation into cause to assist the fire investigator in beginning his investigation.

5. Medical Services

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use medical services:

Administered emergency medical services such as advance life support in extremely dangerous and life-threatening situations.
Administer emergency medical services to injured persons frequently using advanced techniques to restore cardiopulmonary functions.

6. Firefighting

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use firefighting:

Maintained station & equipment, assured proper working order of personal protective equipment, tested firefighting equipment.
Completed and instructed continuing education classes in firefighting, rescue and emergency services.

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7. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use customer service:

Demonstrated experience providing excellent critical response care and customer service under extreme pressure situations.
Provided world class customer service and fostered community relations.

Select Skills To Add To Your Resume

Patients

CPR

EMT

Fire Suppression

Medical Services

Firefighting

8. Medical Emergencies

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use medical emergencies:

Respond to various emergency situations including fires, accidents, medical emergencies and hazardous materials incidents.
Responded to medical emergencies, performed duties as a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic.

9. Ventilation

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use ventilation:

Provide initial fire attack on all working fires including ventilation, fire attack, and search and rescue.
Perform suppression, ventilation, search and rescue, accountability

10. Fire Prevention

Fire prevention skills are essential to investigate buildings to review that all local, state and federal fire regulations are followed. Apart from obtaining a certification from the NFPA, you should develop skills including the ability to communicate clearly, and an understanding of how fire prevention equipment and fire alarms work.

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use fire prevention:

Participate in fire prevention and public education programs.
Conducted and supervised public education in fire prevention.

11. Fire Safety

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use fire safety:

Engage in community outreach through various department-based and volunteer-based programs, and conduct public fire safety education events.
Attend community events to perform fire safety education and maintain positive relationships with citizens.

12. Fire Drills

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use fire drills:

Organize fire brigades and conduct fire drills in institutions and commercial establishments.
Educate the public with fire awareness and participate in fire drills.

13. Medical Procedures

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use medical procedures:

Assess injuries to prioritize medical procedures; provide first aid, artificial respiration, oxygen and medication as authorized.
Remain current with medical procedures and changing SOP's/Regulations as well as state, local, and federal laws.

14. Medical Assistance

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use medical assistance:

Assisted in many medical assistance scenarios.
Provided fire protection, medical assistance, rescue, and extrication response as a member of the department

15. Public Education

Here's how firefighter/paramedics use public education:

Administered Paramedic Medical CEU s. Planned and executed public education within area schools and Safety Fairs.
Participate in training exercises and deliver public educational programs throughout the community.

5 Firefighter/Paramedic Resume Examples

Build a professional firefighter/paramedic resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 5+ resume templates to create your firefighter/paramedic resume.


Sharon King Firefighter/Paramedic Contact Information Elmhurst, IL (370) 555-7645 sking@example.com Skills • EMD • Emergency • Ambulance Transport • Appropriate Response • CPR • RN • Fire Suppression • Pre-Hospital Setting • EMS • On-Call Employment History Firefighter/Paramedic 2011 - Present Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service Elmhurst, IL • Administered drugs, airway suctioning, CPR, and AED life saving techniques upon necessity. • Provided stabilizing medical treatment for medical and trauma patients during transport to the emergency department. • Maintain a current CPR certification. • Respond to emergency calls as they arise along with prescheduled and non emergent transports. • Responded to medical calls to treat and stabilize patients until the arrival of an ambulance. Fire Lieutenant 2001 - 2011 United States Department of Defense Jacksonville, FL • Acquired numerous upper level ranks for fire service administration and acknowledgement. • Maintained control of a 3 million dollar a year department budget. • Served as the on scene incident commander during aircraft crashes, structural fires, vehicle accidents etc. • Investigate complaints and violations: Arbitrate disputes among inmate population and correctional staff. • Provide direct supervision to the assigned staff and ensures post orders and policies and procedures are followed. Emergency Medical Dispatcher 1991 - 2001 ADT Jacksonville, FL • Dispatch security officer/law enforcement when appropriate. • Make outbound calls to customers once an inbound emergency alarm is received. • Assist customers by calling the appropriate agencies in case of fire, medical or police emergency. • Assist and provide customers with great customer service during any type of emergency situation or troubleshooting the customer has. • Operate communications equipment used in taking and dispatching emergency service vehicles. Education Some College Courses Medical Technician 1991 - 1991 St. Louis Saint Louis, MO


Stephanie Wells Firefighter/Paramedic Contact Info Oklahoma City, OK (390) 555-3447 swells@example.com Skills MedicaidPatient AccessFire StationAclsPatient ConfidentialityLife SupportPatient CareInsurance CardsPrivacyPaperwork Flow Employment History Firefighter/Paramedic 2016 - Present Saint Anthonys Hospital Oklahoma City, OK • Certified as an EMT-B, PHTLS, EVOC & CPR. • Worked on a transport ambulance transporting patients from one hospital to another, some rapid response calls. • Assisted Physicians & RN's with procedures. Firefighter/Paramedic 2011 - 2016 INTEGRIS Health Oklahoma City, OK • Operated Emergency vehicles in accordance with company driving procedures and Emergency Medical Services Division Standard Operating Guidelines. • Managed emergency incidents and oversaw engine company personnel. • Administered emergency medical care, including CPR, bandaging, splinting, and oxygen therapy. • Search and rescue, fire suppression, stabilization of vehicles and structures in emergency situations. Registrar 2007 - 2008 INTEGRIS Health Oklahoma City, OK • Posted payments to patient accounts and balance the posted batches as well as balanced the bank lockbox deposits daily. • Exported procedures for Trauma patients coming into the Emergency Room. • Complete Patient Access Services Training curriculum and must consistently meet department quality and production standards. • Assisted in the development of a Level II Trauma Center Education Doctoral Degree Fire Science And Protection 2008 - 2011 Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City, OK Master's Degree Fire Science And Protection 2006 - 2007 Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City, OK Bachelor's Degree Biology 2003 - 2006 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL


Sharon King Firefighter/Paramedic Elmhurst, IL sking@example.com (370) 555-7645 Experience Firefighter/Paramedic 2011 - Present Superior Air-Ground Ambulance ServiceElmhurst, IL • Administered drugs, airway suctioning, CPR, and AED life saving techniques upon necessity. • Provided stabilizing medical treatment for medical and trauma patients during transport to the emergency department. • Maintain a current CPR certification. • Respond to emergency calls as they arise along with prescheduled and non emergent transports. • Responded to medical calls to treat and stabilize patients until the arrival of an ambulance. Fire Lieutenant 2001 - 2011 United States Department of DefenseJacksonville, FL • Acquired numerous upper level ranks for fire service administration and acknowledgement. • Maintained control of a 3 million dollar a year department budget. • Served as the on scene incident commander during aircraft crashes, structural fires, vehicle accidents etc. • Investigate complaints and violations: Arbitrate disputes among inmate population and correctional staff. • Provide direct supervision to the assigned staff and ensures post orders and policies and procedures are followed. Emergency Medical Dispatcher 1991 - 2001 ADTJacksonville, FL • Dispatch security officer/law enforcement when appropriate. • Make outbound calls to customers once an inbound emergency alarm is received. • Assist customers by calling the appropriate agencies in case of fire, medical or police emergency. • Assist and provide customers with great customer service during any type of emergency situation or troubleshooting the customer has. • Operate communications equipment used in taking and dispatching emergency service vehicles. Skills EMD Emergency Ambulance Transport Appropriate Response CPR RN Fire Suppression Pre-Hospital Setting EMS On-Call Education Some College Courses Medical Technician 1991 - 1991 St. LouisSaint Louis, MO


Nathan Hunter Firefighter/Paramedic Employment History Firefighter/Paramedic 2018 - Present Superior Air-Ground Ambulance ServiceElmhurst, IL • Respond to emergency calls as they arise along with prescheduled and non emergent transports. • Performed checks of radios, mapping assistance,cell phones and computer based patient care records. • Provide advanced life support medical care to ill /injured patients. • Provided patient care and transport to and from medical facilities Licensed as an EMT-B and CPR certified • Helped to develop policies guiding paramedic practices in the Emergency Department. Emergency Medical Technician 2016 - 2018 American Red CrossEast Lansing, MI • Helped to process victims for emergency assistance; served refreshments to emergency personnel. • Provide CPR, Airway Management and ventilation. • Organized overnight shelter, and planned the distribution of emergency supplies. • Transported and provided emergency life support for ill and injured patients. Cardiac Technician 2014 - 2016 KENT COUNTY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTHEast Lansing, MI • Performed cardiac diagnostic procedures including EKG, holter electrocardiography, cardiac stress testing and event monitoring. • Prepared, stocked, and cleaned patient rooms. • Perform blood draws, EKG test. • Administered EKG's with 12 leads in this fastpaced multiunit hospital setting Pre-op and post- op testing. • Obtained patients EKG transmissions and related symptoms to on duty RN. Education Some College Courses Medical Technician 2014 - 2014 Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI Contact Information Elmhurst, IL (470) 555-7433 nhunter@example.com Skills Stress Tests EMS Emergency Diagnostic Procedures Fire Service Life Support Telemetry Specimen Collection Ambulance Transport CPR


Cynthia Jenkins Firefighter/Paramedic Bakersfield, CA (480) 555-5349 cjenkins@example.com Skills EKG IV Structure Fires Preventive Medicine Programs Medical Records Patient Care RN Emergency Vital Statistics Internal Medicine Employment History Firefighter/Paramedic 2011 - Present Kern CountyBakersfield, CA • respond to emergency calls in the district of Montana Vista in El Paso County, Texas. • Respond to fire/emergency calls via ambulance/fire apparatus and provide medical care. • Perform alarm monitoring and dispatching of emergency response for a single fire station. Firefighter/Medic 2008 - 2011 Kern CountyBakersfield, CA • Provided onsite basic and advanced life support. • Administered life saving emergency first-aid. • respond to emergency calls in the district of Montana Vista in El Paso County, Texas. • Administer CPR, oxygen, epinephrine, and many other medications. • Provide public education on fire safety, and oversee paramedic students • Preserved and protected emergency scene evidence. Hospital Corpsman 1998 - 2008 San Joaquin CountyBakersfield, CA • Reviewed and organized electronic medical records, streamlining information access for NOSC medical operations and 205 sailors. • Document objective data and routine aspects of patient care. • Applied patient care procedures and followed medical office procedures. • Ensured United States Navy medical standards were upheld during patient care. Education Some College Courses Fire Science And Protection 1998 - 1998 Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield, CA

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What skills help Firefighter/Paramedics find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on Firefighter/Paramedic resumes?

Kevin Walker

College of Business, Eastern Oregon University

Everyone has roughly the same basic skills required for a position, or they're simply unqualified. Skills that stand out tend to be those that go above and beyond the basics. For example: Do you speak a second (or more) language? Do you have education or training in advanced oral and written communications? Do you have proficiency in office suite applications, particularly in Excel? Have you gained expertise in grant writing? Have you trained in a specialty area such as rescue diving or high-angle rescue? Have you acquired specialty certifications through a recognized authority (particularly if your new department has a need for them and no resources to send someone to train)?

What soft skills should all Firefighter/Paramedics possess?

Kevin Walker

College of Business, Eastern Oregon University

In my opinion, the soft skills that are the most important, in no particular order, are emotional intelligence (the ability to 'read the room'), intercultural competency (the ability to interact with multiple cultures without offending everyone), the ability to work in a team environment (leading OR following), communication (especially under high-stress conditions), managing stress (poor stress management leads to health and performance issues), understanding conflict management and how to effectively deal with it, being open to constructive criticism, and understanding leadership. That's particularly important in that leadership is often equated with being a "born leader," which is mostly nonsense. You actually have to study leadership and learn to apply it. There are many leadership styles, and you have to match one to your personality. Understanding what works and what doesn't and, most importantly, WHY? This includes the ability to identify and understand leader/follower motivations so you can work effectively as a leader. Obviously, you can write a treatise on each of these soft skills, and many people have (and there are other recognized soft skills), but these are the soft skills that I've had the most experience and feedback as being most in demand.

What hard/technical skills are most important for Firefighter/Paramedics?

Kevin Walker

College of Business, Eastern Oregon University

Identifying the most important technical skills is rather dependent on the department and position being sought. Required skills are usually set by regulations, SOGs, or SOPs, so identifying those as 'most important' misses the point. They're a minimum job requirement. However, understanding of and adherence to established standards and training is absolutely critical! Emergency situations are not the place to wing it. Learning to 'read' a fire or EMS scene, learning to assess threats and evaluate resources and options quickly and accurately, and learning to apply resources effectively to minimize loss and maximize life and safety are as essential to a career as to how to connect a hose, climb a ladder, or start an IV.

What Firefighter/Paramedic skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Ben Price

CAE | CEO, National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting

In both surgical technology and surgical assisting, there's just really no substitute for experience, and there's no way to get that experience outside the operating room.

What type of skills will young Firefighter/Paramedics need?

April Heinze

NENA's 9-1-1 and PSAP Operations Director, NENA

If graduates are looking for a position within public safety communications, some skills and abilities they would need include, but are not limited to, the following:

Skills:
-Keyboarding/Typing
-Multitasking
-Decision-making
-Critical thinking
-Verbal and written communication skills
-Ability to work as a team
-Active listening/hearing
-Customer service
-Call control
-Conflict resolution
-Problem-solving
-Analytical
-Troubleshooting

Abilities:
-Quick decision-making
-Empathy
-Respect
-Patience
-Even-temper
-Integrity
-Lifelong learner
-Dependable
-Flexible
-Efficient
-Detail-oriented

Do you want to know more?

List of firefighter/paramedic skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a firefighter/paramedic resume and required skills for a firefighter/paramedic to have include:

Patients
CPR
EMT
Fire Suppression
Medical Services
Firefighting
Customer Service
Medical Emergencies
Ventilation
Fire Prevention
Fire Safety
Fire Drills
Medical Procedures
Medical Assistance
Public Education
Advanced Life Support
Ladders

Fire Equipment
Fire Alarms
Acls
Medical Calls
Fire Protection
Fire/EMS
Emergency Calls
Medical Care
BLS
Fire Service
NFPA
Hazmat
Emergency Situations
ALS
Fire Apparatus
Emergency Vehicle
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

EKG
SCBA
Fire Hazards
Medical Equipment
Life Support Care
Emergency Response
Medical Treatment
Incident Command
Patient Assessment
IV
Patient Care
Fire Academy
Rescue Operations
Technical Rescue
Fire Station
Resuscitation

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Firefighter/Paramedic Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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Firefighter/Paramedic skills for your resume and career

15 firefighter/paramedic skills for your resume and career

6. Firefighting

Choose from 10+ customizable firefighter/paramedic resume templates

12. Fire Drills

14. Medical Assistance

15. Public Education

5 Firefighter/Paramedic Resume Examples

What skills stand out on Firefighter/Paramedic resumes?

What soft skills should all Firefighter/Paramedics possess?

What hard/technical skills are most important for Firefighter/Paramedics?

What Firefighter/Paramedic skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

What type of skills will young Firefighter/Paramedics need?

List of firefighter/paramedic skills to add to your resume

Firefighter/Paramedic skills FAQs

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