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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Division Chief Jason Demas
DATE: April 5, 2024
SUBJECT:
Resolution ratifying payments for the current invoice (Waubonsee invoice #S0033580, $78,105.26) for paramedic course for firefighters currently enrolled for this quarter and approval for $81,897.74, which is an estimate of what will be used for the remaining of the year, to be paid to the Waubonsee Community College for paramedic training in 2024.
PURPOSE:
Approval of payments is required to pay for firefighters currently going through Paramedic training. This is a partnership with the Waubonsee Community College and Delnor Hospital. This includes tuition, books, testing, classroom and online training.
BACKGROUND:
Prior to 2020, the State of Illinois has 14,000 plus certified paramedics statewide. In January 2023, the State of Illinois certified paramedics was down to only 3,500. This shortage of paramedics caused out of the box thinking. The Aurora Fire Dept needed to get certified paramedics educated or hired to keep the same level of care for our citizens. The Aurora Fire Department decided to become part of the solution and develop and entered a partnership with Waubonsee community college, our local partner to run the first paramedic class in the State of Illinois to be delivered in a firehouse setting.
In January 2024 the Aurora Fire Started 21 firefighters and 2 fire cadets in the paramedic program hosted by Aurora Fire Dept at Station 8.
DISCUSSION:
The primary purpose of the paramedic school is to prepare firefighters for a career in emergency medical services. The Paramedic Course is the training for these firefighters to become certified National and Illinois paramedics. This certification requires recruits to successfully complete a 7-month comprehensive medical course. This course includes hospital clinical rotations, field clinical time, and a full capstone program prior to taking the national level certification test. Other paramedic programs h...
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