Volunteer

Benefits & Requirements

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer with us, please review the following information to see if this position is right for you:

• Applicants for active membership must be 18 years or older
• We prefer members who already hold an NYS EMT certification however, you may apply for membership without an EMT card and we will hold your application on-file until you complete the training; please see the EMT Job Description
• In order to drive our fleet, you must be a cleared Medic/EMT who has completed a certain number of patient contact hours. We do not offer a “driver only” position
• All members must wear an approved uniform at all times while on duty (our uniform allotment includes EMS pants, duty shirt with a CHS Healthcare emblem patch, & necessary ID badge)
• Uniforms must be neat, clean, and fit properly in order to give the professional image for which we stand
• Members are responsible for providing their own approved black boots, black belt, and white undershirt
• As a new member (trainee), available shifts are 7 days/week, from 7am – 11pm
• We require trainees to submit their availability 1 month in advance so that we can schedule them with appropriate FTO’s (field training officers)
• Trainees may not practice their skills or train without the presence of an FTO
• All training is provided at no cost to our volunteers (the only out of pocket costs are boots, a belt and a white undershirt)

Time Commitment

The amount of time our members commit to volunteering with us varies from person to person. All active members must currently volunteer at least 12 hours per month. Many members volunteer as much as 80-100 hours each month. It is important to point out that in order to become a “cleared” (functioning on your own) medic, you must be willing and able to dedicate a good deal of time to us during the training process. EMS is a very complex and complicated job, one that requires a lot of education, practice and time. We hope that you’ll be able to commit as much time as possible to us as you start the training process.

The Training Process

1. Once your orientation is complete, you may begin signing up for training shifts as a medic trainee. Details on how to do this will be provided to you.
2. You will begin training with an FTO (field training officer). These instructors are experienced personnel who will work with you on each emergency call and help you throughout your training.
3. Your first shifts will be as an “observer.” During this time, your FTO explains the duties of your position, shows you how to operate any equipment, and answers your questions. They also let you experience what actually happens on an emergency call – without you being under any pressure do anything. This allows you to just watch and learn.
4. As you progress, the FTO will allow you to do tasks that you have been trained on and are comfortable doing. They will evaluate your performance via electronically submitted performance evaluations. You will also have an opportunity to evaluate your FTO.
5. As you gain experience, the FTO will allow you to handle more and more of the emergency call. At some point, you will notice that you are handling the entire emergency call without any assistance from the FTO.
6. Throughout the evaluation process, you will learn your strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, through the guidance of the Field Training Officer, you will learn additional skills that cannot be taught in a classroom.
7. You’ll need to make sure you are confident in yourself and your abilities. Our FTO’s may believe that you are ready, but ultimately you decide when you are ready.
8. Our training program is broken down into 3 “levels”. Once your FTO’s feel you’re ready to operate on your own, you will meet with the training department to discuss becoming a cleared member.

Your Role

As a new member of CHS Healthcare, after your initial orientation, you will have the option to train as a medic trainee. Learn more about different roles of a Medic / EMT-BLS and Paramedic / ALS Provider.