Paramedic assistant
Driving and responding to 999 calls, assessing patients and providing emergency treatment are all par for the course in this vital role.
Driving and responding to 999 calls, assessing patients and providing emergency treatment are all par for the course in this vital role.
He was completelyWhen I had a nasty fall at home the paramedics were the first to arrive. Straight away I knew I was in safe hands. I hadn’t knocked myself out, but I was quite fuzzy-headed and had some pain in my left leg. I was really impressed by how quickly they got to work. Adi was especially kind – he had a lot to do, but he always made sure to explain what he and his colleague were doing, which was really reassuring. He was completely unflappable – just what you need in an emergency. He even made me laugh!
What really surprised me is that he didn’t rush off once I was upright. I felt a bit silly about the whole thing but he never made me feel like was a bother, just helped me get comfy in my chair. He even made me a cup of tea, just the way I like it. It was almost like a family member had come to my rescue.
It’s fast-paced, but you canYou meet a lot people under difficult circumstances in this job. They might be frightened as well as in pain. Rosemary was a bit dazed when we arrived but you could tell she was incredibly tough – turns out she used to drive lorries in the 60s! She reminded me a lot of my Nan, who is one of the reasons why I got into this career.
Obviously we’re there to provide emergency treatment but a big part of my job is about offering reassurance, making a patient feel safe. I was able to get Rosemary to tell me a bit about herself, which helped take her mind off the situation.
What I love most about this job is that I’m on the frontline - one of the first to respond - and the difference I can make is profound. It has its tough moments too, but going home knowing that you helped people when they really needed it the most is so rewarding.
Being a paramedic assistant is a challenging, but rewarding, job. You’ll get training but it can help if you have a few of the following characteristics:
You’ll meet all sorts of people, so this job really suits someone who loves talking to and helping others, no matter their age or background.
You’ll often be dealing with people at their most vulnerable, so you’ll need to be kind, compassionate and patient.
Communication skills are really important – and not just talking and listening. You’ll need to interpret subtle verbal cues and get your point across quickly in stressful situations.
If people often describe you as unflappable or ‘calm in a crisis’ then this could be the perfect job for you – every situation is different and you’ll need to adapt to what’s in front of you.
With that in mind, it also helps if you’re used to making quick decisions with authority.
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Find out moreIf you’d like to be at the forefront of on-the-ground emergency help, read on to find out what it takes to be a paramedic assistant, and some of the organisations that support career development.
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The College of Paramedics is the recognised professional body for paramedics and the ambulance profession in the UK. More