The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (District) provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical incident response services within its approximate 300 square mile service area. All District first responders (firefighters, fire engineers, and fire captains) are licensed as either basic Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or Paramedics. As such, the District has a significant responsibility to ensure its personnel obtain required continuing education hours and infrequent skills verification to renew and re-certify their EMT and Paramedic licenses. Contracting for these services is less costly than paying course fees and overtime for personnel to attend required certification courses on non-duty days.  
  
Cascade Healthcare Services provides on-site, on-duty continuing education and infrequent skill verification. Along with providing all required certification training, under this contract the District has expanded access to a wide variety of required and optional training by professional instructors. Cascade also maintains records of continuing education hours and certifications for District personnel.

The District is required ensure its EMS personnel obtain a certain number of continuing education hours and infrequent skills verification to renew and recertify their paramedic and EMT licenses. If this contract is not approved, the District will have to obtain other education providers and/or pay overtime and reimbursement for course fees for employees to obtain the training on their own.

No impact.