Yay, I passed!
 

By passing a special driving test this afternoon, I have finally passed all the requirements necessary to get a permit to drive an emergency services vehicle. Up to now I've been mainly the hands-on paramedic, but now I have expanded a bit and if need be I'm permitted to drive an ambulance. Might give me an occasional break from having to sit in the back telling people they're going to make it, and to remain calm, and to not move, and ... (it is actually a wee bit more involved than that... You wouldn't believe how messed up some people are when they are rushed to the hospital.) Not that I'm complaining... It is a very satisfying way, to me, of spending my time.

If you're bored Saturdays, why not sign up and volunteer? :) You learn lots, and meet lots of new people. Not to mention there are certain quirks... Such as being invited to parties and events you wouldn't usually have access to. :) The people around you will appreciate you helping them.

Re: Yay, I passed!
 

Well done Jerrek, good for you! :)

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Congratulations

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Congratulations mate. :)

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Yeah, sure thing, where's my nearest centre?? :D :D

Seriously, well done. Think of the lives you will assist in saving :)

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Nice 1 mate,

Whats your registration? I'll make sure i surf your wave on the way to work in the monring.

(Joke!)

Good Luck.

Re: Yay, I passed!
 

well done!

*makes note to never need an ambulance in cannuckland :D

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Well done, Jerrek! :)

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Well done. I'm not sure you can do a volunteer role in an ambulance over here (Unless it's St. Johns, which is slightly different).

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Congrats mate, having used the services of Paramedics 9 weeks ago its good to here you are getting ahead. :D

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Nice one Jerrek.

Volunteering for the emergency services is a little different over here - you can volunteer for the police (completely unpaid) or the fire service (you have a day job but get called on as a 'retained' firefighter, which does attract pay), but as Charlie says, the nearest we have to a volunteer ambulance service is St John Ambulance. Organisers of major public events use them to provide on-site first aid cover, but they don't do any of the big rushing through the streets lifesaving stuff AFAIK.

Re: Yay, I passed!
 

I'm with St. John Ambulance. In Canada, they're not a real ambulance services, but they can be commissioned in a time of need, which happens rather frequently in this wonderful nation with socialized health-care.

I don't expect to be doing the driving. I mostly participate, as you said, at public and private events in which St. John have been asked to help out at. And I'm part of the campus response team at school. It is a very interesting job. Definitely very rewarding.

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Re: Yay, I passed!
 

Whoa!!! Far too many pointy bits!! :D

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Well done and all that and sorry to be negative now but I'd be a tad worried riding in the back of your ambulance with you driving.....
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...&page=4&pp=15&
:D

Re: Yay, I passed!
 

I've passed five courses, anything from high speed driving to 4x4 driving.

And you'd be too concerned about the knife in your chest to worry about my driving... :pp

Re: Yay, I passed!
 

St John's ambulance are frequently "out & about" at peak times doing a lot of fetching and carying work to releive the stress on the main ambulance services in the UK. Their vehicles do have blue lights, so if there was a need, I'm quite sure the drivers. if authorised to drive at that level, would do a blue light run. However I don't think the St Johns would be the primary response to an incident.

As an aside, being a passenger in a police response vehicle doing a blue light run across Surrey, in the rush hour, was one of he most jaw dropping experiences I've ever had. Roller Coaster rides and the like aren't a patch on it. You just never know what the reaction of the next driver you encounter will be, except it is going to be unpredictable :Yikes:

Voluntary work with the emergency services can be extremely rewarding, demanding, and a bit of an eye opener. If you have the time and are prepared for the commitment, I can recommend it.

Re: Yay, I passed!
 

Guess im a bit confused here, one week your a student and dont haqve much money, this week your a paramedic and now youve passed your test to be an ambulance driver? :confused:

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He's volunteered for St John Ambulance. It appears St John gets paramedics into the thick of it a little more in Canada than they do over here.

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ahhhhhhh gotcha, didnt think St Johns Ambulance were paramedics. Dont they just administer plasters and tie people up in bandages?

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Well done lad...

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Glad you made it,in the end :D

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I'm qualified to tie people up in bandages, any volunteers ???

and btw Well Done Jerrek :tu:

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So thats your chosen fetish....







Congrats Jerrek

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Yes! ;)

Thank you.

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In general, no, St. John Ambulance is not a real ambulance services, and are not real paramedics. However, being in the wonderful socialized Canada, government funding is never enough and they are frequently needed.

I mostly do the go-to-special-events-and-keep-an-eye-on-stupid-people kind of thing. Although I did do the paramedics course and know how to administer oxygen, stick a pipe down someone's throat, etc.

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You can be a student and a volunteer at St. John ambulance... :)

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:Yikes: can I bring my own whip? :disturbd:

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errm notice the order that came out. Fetish and then congrats!!! ;) hmm can you substitute bandages? ;)

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who are you? Frankie Dettori?

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my ride is always a winner :Yikes: :naughty: :naughty:

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Yes!

Actually, I am qualified to tie people up as well. Great being a first aider..

Jerrek, Congratulation. St John's Ambulance is a worthy organisation. I am sure you will enjoy it.

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Defining exactly what a paramedic is, is tricky as there is so much varience, even within countries. In the UK a paramedic in Newcastle for eg can give a certain drug that the ones in North Yorkshire can't.

The training is different lengths and the assessments vary.

When I did my training in the 90s it was over 8 weeks in the classroom and you trained over 2 years on the job with regular assessments from A&E consultants and Anaesthetists. Very intensive and demanding.

The medical knowledge is much more detailed than nursing and the pay is only marginally higher than a basic ambulance technician (QAT/EMT). About £1000 more....

Jerrek what sort of training have you had? I wonder if your training is akin the QAT/EMT over here? You mention that you can shove tubes down throats. What tubes? Endotracheal tubes, Oropharyngeal or nasogastric airways.

How long was it?

Re: Yay, I passed!
 

Jerrek?

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Probably still recovering from yesterday ;)

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Congratulations !!!
Have a drink on me.

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Hmm, I have:

- standard first aid [1 day]
- "C" level CPR (adults, children, and infants) [1 day]
- wilderness first aid [4 days]
- marine first aid [1 day]
- AED [1 day]
- WHMIS [1 day]
- Medical Responder Level I [5 days]

There is no clear definition of paramedic. I'm just a volunteer one. The fulltime paramedics usually have a 2-year diploma [which I don't have] in emergency services.

Re: Yay, I passed!
 

wilderness first aid sounds interesting....