These were the classic words uttered by the young man as soon as I stepped forth from my FRU car.  Lights still flashing.  High visibility jacket on with the LAS logo and title in perfect view . . . of the whole world.

“Are you the Ambulance?”

It’s not often I’m caught off guard without something to say but momentarily I was.  However, I rallied, with something not fantastic but at least non abusive and non insulting.

“Um . . . what gives it away?” Continue reading →

I had an observer from St John’s Ambulance with me on the car this evening.  As it turned out, what I’m about to write was about the most exciting thing that happened to us over the entire shift!

We were on our way to a Red 2, Chest Pain.  However, this was a 26 year old so instantly you doubt it’s authenticity – even when you allow for other contingencies!  Also, on the MDT it had mentioned a plethora of other things such as Chrohn’s Disease and that the patient had travelled up from Eastbourne* because of bad treatment at a hospital there.

The writing of so much info on the MDT I’m sure, is a subtle hint from Control that they are dealing with a numpty but have to follow protocols – so therefore at the very least, they are giving us a coded “heads up” of what’s coming!

“This bloke is going to be a cock”  I mentioned in passing as I initiated the blues and twos and sped off toward our job. Continue reading →

We all stared at the tiny package lying on the trolley bed.  No words were spoken, only intense concentration as if by the very thought it would open and place itself on our patient.

We stared . . . then stared some more.  I scratched my head whilst one of the crew scratched their chin.  The other went to suggest something then stopped and furrowed their eyebrows.

It was a triangular bandage . . . arguably the most complicated piece of kit on an Ambulance.

Continue reading →