City of Chicago Paramedic List 2011

[Iceman26]

From what I was told the number you receive is in order of applied applicants. If you applied day one you should get a great number. Also over 1500 applied.

Once upon a time they used to do it that way, I hadn't heard that was the case this time around. I know they said it's an electronic random lottery...but I wouldn't put it past the city to say one thing and do another. Not saying you're wrong but I highly doubt they'll do it in order of applicants, especially considering it was all done online. What if you had to go in to edit something later on after initially submitting it...are they now going to count you as applying when you submitted the second time? I don't know. As for 1,500 applying I really hope that's not the case. In the past it's never been more than 500, 1,500 would suck.

[bugsy2007]

Once upon a time they used to do it that way, I hadn't heard that was the case this time around. I know they said it's an electronic random lottery...but I wouldn't put it past the city to say one thing and do another. Not saying you're wrong but I highly doubt they'll do it in order of applicants, especially considering it was all done online. What if you had to go in to edit something later on after initially submitting it...are they now going to count you as applying when you submitted the second time? I don't know. As for 1,500 applying I really hope that's not the case. In the past it's never been more than 500, 1,500 would suck.

We have ems field chief's in my house...all four told my 1500 applicant's, two told me in order the application was received for your random number and the other two did not know how the numbers will be given....

[Iceman26]

That sucks that there's that many applicants. I was online first thing that morning it opened up though so if they do do it that way I should be in good shape. I guess we'll see.

[Iceman26]

Been pretty quiet, you can tell everyone's playing the waiting game. Wonder if the letters will actually take until August 31st to arrive or if maybe they come sooner.

[LightandFight]

I hope we hear something before the end of July. I am gonna be really happy or really ****ed when I get this email/letter lol.

[Iceman26]

Well, it's August 1st. The final 30 day or less countdown is on!

[LightandFight]

I heard close to 5,000 applied and only 1,100 made it past the background check.... Does anyone know if they are gonna start a class when this new list comes out?

[Iceman26]

They ran background checks already? I wouldn't figure they'd do that until you're on the list and up for processing to get hired, but who knows. Speculation is they'll want to hire pretty quickly because they're pretty short handed on the EMS side. Lot of people working a lot of OT. There was a group off the old list that was processed, not sure if they'll be the first to go through or if they'll start from scratch with this new list. There was a fire class off the '95 test that was processed but got scratched once the 2006 list was produced so that could happen again. Pretty crappy but that's how it goes.

Even if it's 1,100 that's still a ton of people compared to years past. That sucks. There probably, and hopefully, be a lot of people who signed up just because it was only online and easy just for the hell of it but won't actually take a job offer when their number comes up. Then again, hopefully I'm high enough on the list that I don't care!

5,000 applicants seems like an awfully high number to me, let alone 4,000 of them being eliminated on account of background checks. Not only is that a ton, but that means there's a crapload of unruly medics currently working in this state!! haha

[LightandFight]

Haha its prob the EMT-B's that cant read must be emt-p by june 1st lol but ya that's what I heard so far so we should see when this list comes out. I am not sure if they did a full background check but I know they went and checked (DL and IDPH) to make sure you have both

[Iceman26]

Yeah they definitely checked that stuff. That's a good point on the EMT-B's, never thought of that. Just want these damn letters to get here already! With that said I've heard from a lot of places that the applicant pool is around 1,000-1,500.

[AssOnFire]

I was in the Fire Academy's Instructor office last Monday and talked with some of the my buddies down there. Apparently there WERE 1,500 applicants, and they DID do rudimentary background checks. They made sure your application was complete. They cross referenced driver's licenses as well as IDPH Paramedic licenses. If your application didn't have all of the required information, you were rejected. According to my friend, 400 people were rejected. There are 1,100 people still eligible. There are no indications of when the next paramedic academy will be. Rumors of Oct, Dec, and Jan are out there. The Mayor's office makes the decisions on hiring and until they decide, nothing happens.

[Iceman26]

Thanks for the update AOF, appreciate it. I heard the same thing about the applicants and how many are remaining. Still waiting for the email/letters to come...T-Minus six days and counting!

[AssOnFire]

He also told me that the Aug 31st deadline might come and go. There isn't any hard and fast rule. Said there might be some hold up. Hopefully not, but don't be shocked if the deadline comes and you're still waiting for your letter...

[Iceman26]

Nothing surprises me when it comes to the city. I figured all along there'd be a chance it could go past that date. Hopefully not the case but I'm prepared for it.

[rmnffmedic86]

Anyone know if there's an EMS protocol for Chicago FD posted online? Im curious if they are very aggressive with their protocols such as RSI.

[LightandFight]

haha ya right.. they just got versed for a seizure..... the MD does not trust Chicago medics

[AssOnFire]

It's true. Chicago is just about the LEAST aggressive of all EMS systems around. They're afraid of lawsuits if a medic tries an RSI intubation and misses and the person dies because of hypoxia. It's a little sad really.

Some good news. There are STRONG rumors going around (my old partner talked to someone with five bugles) that the 15 BLS ambulances are going to go ALS over the next three years. During that conversation, it was stated that they will be manned with single role paramedics. That means that they will need 8 paramedics per ambulance (2 medics x 4 shifts) x 15 ambulances = 120 new paramedics. It was also stated that the goal is to have EVERY apparatus in the department ALS in the next five years, which means more medics. My partner also said that 150-200 medics will be eligible to retire with full benefits in the next five years. So, you math majors will realize that there could be 300 paramedics off this list.

Bad news is that there are 47 medics from the old list who will still be called before they start hiring from the new list. Good news is that that class should start in October.

That is all.

[Iceman26]

It's true. Chicago is just about the LEAST aggressive of all EMS systems around. They're afraid of lawsuits if a medic tries an RSI intubation and misses and the person dies because of hypoxia. It's a little sad really.

Some good news. There are STRONG rumors going around (my old partner talked to someone with five bugles) that the 15 BLS ambulances are going to go ALS over the next three years. During that conversation, it was stated that they will be manned with single role paramedics. That means that they will need 8 paramedics per ambulance (2 medics x 4 shifts) x 15 ambulances = 120 new paramedics. It was also stated that the goal is to have EVERY apparatus in the department ALS in the next five years, which means more medics. My partner also said that 150-200 medics will be eligible to retire with full benefits in the next five years. So, you math majors will realize that there could be 300 paramedics off this list.

Bad news is that there are 47 medics from the old list who will still be called before they start hiring from the new list. Good news is that that class should start in October.

That is all.

All in all pretty good news. Sucks (for us) that they'll call the 47 off the old list but good for them.

I've heard for a while about most of the stuff you listed, hopefully it actually happens. A lot of the talk is people liked the extra ALS rigs during the snow storm back in February so maybe that kickstarts the whole thing a little. Hopefully the retire-eligible men and women decide to do just that!

Encouraging stuff, but as always, we'll see what actually happens. Thanks again for the updates. Much appreciated.

[mac700]

How many engines and trucks are ALS now?

[Iceman26]

There are about 40 (give or take, not an exact number) ALS engines. Not sure how many trucks.