A day in the life of a paramedic

Being a paramedic certainly isn�t easy, but it can be hugely rewarding. Working in these roles, you have the chance to save lives and help people when they�re at their most vulnerable and in need. The precise nature of the work depends on the specific role. For example, many paramedics work in two-person ambulance crews covering a specific area, while others operate in emergency response cars or bikes.

Meanwhile, those who work for specialist healthcare providers like Manone Medical Services can provide support at a range of events, including air shows, endurance sports contests, water sports competitions and more.

To give you an idea of what a paramedic gets up to, here�s a day in the life of a typical ambulance crew member.

05.30 – Get up and ready

Alarm goes off bright and early at 5.30am. After a quick shower and something to eat, it�s out of the house and en route to work. After arriving at the ambulance station, it�s time to prepare the vehicle for the start of the shift, and to grab a quick coffee.

07.00 – Start the shift

At 7am, the first call comes in and it�s an emergency. An elderly man has fallen down the stairs at his home and has suspected broken bones. After cutting through the traffic, arriving at the scene and assessing the patient, a possible broken hip is diagnosed and a decision is taken to stretcher him into the ambulance and transfer him to hospital.

A series of other calls follow and then, at 11.30, a suspected cardiac arrest comes in. An middle-aged man has collapsed at the bottom of his stairs. His wife has been instructed by phone to carry out CPR. On arrival at the scene, an assessment is made and chest compressions given. The patient is then shocked twice with a defibrillator and a cannula is inserted into his arm. After a few minutes, he begins to breathe again and his pulse restarts. He remains unconscious though. The man is then transferred to hospital, where waiting doctors and nurses take over his care.

13.00 – Take a well-deserved lunch break

At 1pm, it�s time to have a much needed half-hour lunch break back at base. This is a chance to fill up and to relax a little between emergencies.

13.30 – Back out on the road

Then it�s back out on the road. Callouts include a woman in her 30s who injured her foot the previous night, an elderly woman who has been vomiting and pale all morning and who has become confused, and a woman with a suspected stroke. Apart from a 20-minute break at 4pm, it�s non-stop for the remainder of the shift.

19:00 – Clock off

At 7pm, it�s time to clock off, go home and get ready to do it all over again the next day.

If the cut and thrust of life as a paramedic appeals to you, it�s worth investigating your training options. You�ll find plenty of information online and this could be the start of a new and worthwhile career.