Today marks the inaugural International Paramedics Day (#IPD2022), and all at AACE are proud to celebrate and support the recognition of this vital profession.
#InternationalParamedicsDay sets out to:
-
Celebrate paramedics and first responders around the globe and the vital role they play
-
Acknowledge the difference paramedics make to people’s lives in almost every imaginable situation
-
Raise awareness of all the settings where paramedics work including primary and secondary care, GP surgeries, military, offshore, helicopter emergency medical services, education, research and telephone triage systems
-
Promote the profession to aspiring paramedics and students
Here, three of AACE’s employees share why they are #ProudToBeAParamedic:
Cathryn James QAM
Clinical Support Manager for AACE / National Ambulance Services Medical Directors (NASMeD) /JRCALC
“When I started in the ambulance service as a cadet in 1981 there were no paramedics. All I knew was that we had to rush patients to hospital so they could get the best chance of survival and appropriate care.
Little did I know that the role of the paramedic would evolve so rapidly and transform the care we can give to patients in the pre-hospital phase.
I am so proud to have been on that journey; from becoming a paramedic in 1987, being able to treat patients with a wide range of medicines, being able to successfully defibrillate patients that survived, and being part of many developments that continually improve our profession and care we can provide to patients.
It’s been a great career, and I have never wanted to do anything else. I look forward to many future developments of paramedicine.”
Steve Irving
Executive Officer, AACE
“I joined the ambulance service in 1984 and the changes I have seen since then have been spectacular. Back then we were not equipped to take a blood pressure, administer an inhaler or check blood sugar. Pre-hospital ECGs were a long way off and defibrillators carried only on a special ‘cardiac ambulance’.
Little did I think that I would (in due course) have the chance to provide a huge range of treatments and medicines, mobilise in a response car, motorbike and even as part of a helicopter team.
My role is now is office based, academic and administrative but I am very proud of my paramedic career, to have been part of the change to professionalism and making a difference to those that call 999 and ask “ambulance service please”….”
Deborah Bullock
National Specialist Advisor – Infection, Prevention & Control, AACE
“I joined the NHS at 17 and the ambulance service at 24, and for over 30 years now I’ve been proud to be a paramedic.
I remember how proud I was to become a paramedic following on from my nursing career and being at the ‘sharp end’ with all its ups and downs, working with my (all male) colleagues as the first female paramedic on my small ambulance station. I have retained my paramedic registration through the years and have been very proud of my students that have also qualified as paramedics during my years as a training manager – even today I still see those paramedics working the front line as ‘my little chickens’.
I’m proud to be a paramedic through the times of great challenge such as when having to deal with the major incidents that I’ve had to manage – including the Cumbria floods, the Greyrigg train crash and the Cumbria shootings as well as others. Proud to be able to say ‘we did that’, that we made terrible situations better for our own people and our own community.
Whilst not working today on the frontline as such I still am actively involved in my on-call duties and I’m now even prouder to be working nationally as the ambulance lead for all things infection prevention and control within the ambulance sector.
All ambulance staff and particularly paramedics should be very proud of our achievements and I just want to wish everyone a ‘Happy Paramedics Day’.”
