Volunteer

I provide immediate response to emergency medical 999 and 111 calls. Working on a Rapid Response Vehicle, I am usually the first senior healthcare professional on the scene and the level of care i provide can range from dealing with life threatening conditions to minor illnesses and injuries. I assess a patient's condition and provide essential treatment. Emergencies can cover injuries, sudden illness, and casualties arising from road and rail accidents, criminal violence, fires and other incidents.I occasionally work in a double staffed ambulance alongside an ambulance technician or emergency care assistant. I also am trained to work alone, as part of the Cycle Response Unit or CRU to get to a patient.My work will vary greatly depending on the patient and their condition, but in general I'll need to: -- provide an immediate course of treatment en route to hospital or at the scene;- use technical equipment, including ventilators to assist breathing and defibrillators to treat patients or in order to resuscitate and stabilise them- monitor the patient's condition;- decide if admission to hospital is necessary and assess how to move patients and where the best location is for them;- liaise with members of other emergency services, such as the police, fire brigade or coast guard and other ambulance services to ensure the appropriate level of response is provided;- work closely with doctors and nurses in hospital accident and emergency departments, briefing them as their patient arrives at hospital;- deal with members of the public and family members present at the scene;- clean, decontaminate and check vehicles and equipment to maintain a state of operational readiness;- assist with patient care in hospitals or health care centres;- produce thorough case notes and report the patient's history, condition and treatment to relevant hospital staff.- keep my skills and competency up to date

Carrying out clinical triage

My main duties of a full-time firefighter were to help protect the public in emergency situations. I responded to a wide variety of calls, such as road traffic collisions, chemical spills, flooding, water rescue and general rescue as well as fires. Being trained as a first responder, I also provided first aid until the arrival of ambulance personnel. In addition to attending emergency call outs and rescuing people and animals from life-threatening situations, the job also entailed:- using sophisticated firefighting and rescue equipment- promoting fire safety via talks, advice and training sessions- inspecting and enforcing safety standards in commercial and residential properties- demonstrating the use of firefighting equipment- performing practice drills- working with police and ambulance service and other emergency and non emergency services personnel- undertaking physical and academic trainingchecking and maintaining vehicles, equipment, hydrants and water supplies

Firefighter and medical team working on a Ministry of Defence establishment