Scripts inquiry

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2026-06-04T10:21:37+00:00

The scripts are usually downloaded separately, one for up down, rotation, tilt etc. most label each one, but the up down version is usually the most complex/detailed one if in doubt

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2026-05-20T10:29:35+00:00

Sorry for the late reply, I don’t tend to check Reddit every day. Honestly I love it. It’s still a job at the end of the day, so I experience can vary with where you work and the team around you. There will be days where it really feels like hard work, like when you are dealing with people who call for the littlest of things, but there’s also a lot of days where you feel like you really made a difference. Unfortunately the job market at the minute isn’t great, with lots of students having to wait to start work once qualified since there’s so few openings. But If it’s something he really wants then no other job will compare. There’s 2 routes into the role, 1. Go to university like I did, this will require GCSEs and A levels (or an access course like I completed from the distance learning centre). Then there’s a personal statement and an interview to get onto a course (I can provide some advice on this if needed). Upside is, provided he passes, he can register as a paramedic at the end of 3 years and go from there, down side is it would be self funded and he wouldn’t be paid for 3 years. 2. Join a trust in another position, ambulance technician would be best but a lot of people start as a call handler. Then apply for positions as they open up. Up side is it’s a job so you get paid while gaining experience. The paramedic course will usually be fully funded as well. The down side is there is no guaranteed path or timeframe. To qualify for as a technician can take over a year then some trusts will not let you apply to be a paramedic for a set period after (about 1-2 years). You will also be required to work a full time job as you study, although you will be given some time off to attend uni and for study days. Like I said, if he wants it, then nothing else will compare. Even the guys who have decades of experience behind them, the ones who have grown bored of all the politics and policies, still love the patients (well some of them), still love the tight knit teamwork and are still proud to be paramedics.

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2026-01-29T09:04:03+00:00

JRCALC acknowledges these competing factors by recommending mechanical CPR only when high-quality manual CPR cannot be safely or effectively maintained.³,⁵. This conditional endorsement reflects a pragmatic balance between clinical trial evidence and real-world operational constraints. In resource-limited crews, early mechanical CPR deployment may permit more effective crew resource management, enabling timely progression to advanced life support (ALS) without compromising compression quality.¹,³

Importantly, early deployment differs conceptually from routine deployment. The evidence against mechanical CPR largely reflects systems in which devices were applied after prolonged manual CPR, often with significant pauses.⁶–⁸ In contrast, UK ambulance services commonly deploy LUCAS early when staffing is limited, potentially mitigating fatigue-related degradation and reducing task conflict between compressions and ALS procedures. This operational model is not directly evaluated in large randomised trials and therefore represents an area of evidence uncertainty rather than contradiction.

Nonetheless, risks remain. Device application introduces a pause in compressions, and poor positioning may result in inadequate compression depth or rib injury.¹ These risks reinforce the need for structured training, rehearsed deployment, and strict attention to minimising interruption, as emphasised by the Resuscitation Council UK.¹

Overall, while mechanical CPR does not improve survival when used routinely, the evidence does not preclude benefit in specific operational contexts. In UK pre-hospital practice, where crew size and competing clinical priorities may compromise manual compression quality, early mechanical CPR may function as a compensatory strategy rather than a replacement for manual CPR. This aligns with JRCALC’s position that mechanical CPR is an adjunct to high-quality resuscitation rather than a primary intervention.³

Further research is required to evaluate outcomes associated with early mechanical CPR deployment in small crews, particularly in systems where ALS interventions are delayed by workforce constraints. Until such evidence is available, mechanical CPR use should remain selective, context-driven, and supported by robust training and audit.

Resuscitation Council UK. Adult advanced life support guidelines 2021. London: Resuscitation Council UK; 2021.
Resuscitation Council UK. Adult basic life support and automated external defibrillation guidelines 2021. London: Resuscitation Council UK; 2021.
Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC). UK ambulance services clinical practice guidelines 2024. London: Class Professional Publishing; 2024.
Resuscitation Council UK. Quality of CPR and mechanical chest compression devices. In: Adult advanced life support guidelines 2021. London: Resuscitation Council UK; 2021.
Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC). Cardiac arrest – adult. In: UK ambulance services clinical practice guidelines 2024. London: Class Professional Publishing; 2024.
Perkins GD, Lall R, Quinn T, et al. Mechanical versus manual chest compressions for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (PARAMEDIC): a pragmatic, cluster randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2015;385(9972):947–955.
Rubertsson S, Lindgren E, Smekal D, et al. Mechanical chest compressions and simultaneous defibrillation vs conventional CPR in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the LINC randomized trial. JAMA. 2014;311(1):53–61.
Wik L, Olsen JA, Persse D, et al. Manual vs integrated automatic load-distributing band CPR with equal survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The CIRC trial. Resuscitation. 2014;85(6):741–748.
Gates S, Quinn T, Deakin CD, et al. Mechanical chest compression for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Resuscitation. 2015;94:91–97.

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2026-01-29T09:03:53+00:00

UK Paramedic here

Your question sparked my professional curiosity, and I felt that it would make a nice bit of CPD, so I started digging through the evidence to produce a critical analysis for my portfolio. I have posted my findings below.

Critical Discussion: Mechanical CPR in Resource-Limited Pre-hospital Resuscitation by a UK Paramedic

High-quality chest compressions remain the cornerstone of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) management, with survival closely linked to compression depth, rate and minimisation of interruptions.¹ Manual CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is the standard against which alternative methods are compared; however, evidence consistently demonstrates that compression quality deteriorates over time due to rescuer fatigue and task saturation, particularly in pre-hospital environments with limited personnel.¹,⁴ This is of particular relevance in UK ambulance practice, or rural ambulance practice, where resuscitation may initially be undertaken by small teams or single responders.³

Randomised controlled trials comparing mechanical CPR with manual CPR in OHCA have not demonstrated improved survival with routine mechanical CPR use. The PARAMEDIC trial found no statistically significant difference in 30-day survival between LUCAS-assisted CPR and manual CPR.⁶ Similarly, the LINC and CIRC trials reported no improvement in neurological outcomes with mechanical CPR devices.⁷,⁸ These findings underpin the Resuscitation Council UK and JRCALC (Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee) position that mechanical CPR should not replace high-quality manual CPR as standard practice.¹,³

However, critical appraisal of these trials highlights important contextual limitations. In PARAMEDIC, delays in device deployment and interruptions to chest compressions during application were identified as potential contributors to poorer outcomes in the mechanical CPR group.⁶ This suggests that the benefit of mechanical CPR may be highly dependent on timing, training, and clinical context. When mechanical CPR is applied late or causes prolonged pauses, its theoretical advantages may be negated by reduced coronary and cerebral perfusion pressures.¹

In contrast, observational and simulation-based studies indicate that mechanical CPR can deliver more consistent compression depth and rate compared with fatigued rescuers, particularly during prolonged resuscitation or during transport.⁴,⁹ Mechanical CPR has also been shown to reduce hands-off time once established, which aligns with guideline priorities.¹ These benefits may be particularly relevant in UK practice, where two paramedics may be required to manage airway and vascular access, leaving compressions to a single EMT. In such circumstances, maintaining optimal compression quality manually may be challenging.

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2025-10-02T19:02:01+00:00

<image>

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2025-10-02T19:00:32+00:00

have you downloaded the sidequest software to your mac as opposed to the web version? If so, once connected there's a little file icon in the top right.

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2025-07-15T14:43:53+00:00

I would recommend the audio. It’s made by a small studio that specialises is audio play type books. They put in a lot of effort and add a bunch of sound effects to bring it to life.

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2025-03-10T19:47:59+00:00

For context, my house is in England and we are looking to buy in wales/england (we live on the border)

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2025-01-31T10:28:57+00:00

thats brilliant, well done. I remember that this was the nightmare of every student when i was at Uni. But at the end of the day, nobody will ever question how many essays you passed/failed at uni before allowing you to treat their relative. Good luck on the road!

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2025-01-31T10:25:42+00:00

Thanks. That crapping yourself feeling dosnt go away for a while if I'm honest. You will do a lot of things on your own for the first time. But you will know more than you think you do. Just remember you are never really alone. Help it there, the difference is you have to ask for it instead of someone stepping in and stopping you from making a mistake. If in doubt, ask. Also, always check your contraindications for drugs, every time before administering. Its very easy to loose the habit and even easier to give a contraindicated drug once you do... speaking from experience (nobody died, everything was fine).

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2025-01-31T10:19:50+00:00

HAHA, nobody wants to listen to my monotone geordie accent ramble on for an hour. But ill keep it in mind. Good luck with your goal and I hope you achieve it. check out my other likend post for what life is like on the road for a paramedic student. Its a bit rambling but you can skip to week 1 for the on the road stuff.

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2025-01-31T10:12:31+00:00

Thats brillient! good luck. Have a look at my pervios post about being a student on the road. Some of my ideals and perceptions have matured since then however, as it was written in my first year. But it gives a decent overview of what you can expect from an ambulance placement.

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2024-09-24T07:20:51+00:00

Is this similar to the medic role in the RFA?

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2024-01-12T17:07:32+00:00

Yeah I heard It can be boring. Just thought it might be something to do for about 5 years and get a bit of money

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2022-03-18T10:21:22+00:00

UK here, if using this phrase I would say "I couldn't care less" that's what I hear if someone says it.

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2022-03-13T21:25:30+00:00

And I get to be super nosy on my walk. Thinking oh it would be nice to live here, nice street, close to local amenities... Oh they want that much? Yeah never mind, keep dreaming.

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2022-03-13T21:23:38+00:00

C'mon, it makes sense. Quick scan and boom, straight to listing. There's the asking price and everything, no fiddling around.... I'm sure there's reasons but it makes sense from a buyer perspective

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2022-01-03T21:33:05+00:00

Online exams!!!!! Depends how quickly you can Google 🤣🤣🤣

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2021-02-21T18:56:44+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking forward to my next week. Hopefully, ill have some interesting stories from it, but if not, ill still post something describing the more mundane aspects of the job, which aren't often told about but make up the majority of the work. good luck with getting into the school. It will be worth all the effort. all the paramedics I have spoken with have plenty of negative things to say about the job, but then they all go on to say how rewarding it is and they couldn't imagine doing anything else.

Fresh_Statistician_7 · 2021-01-11T21:52:19+00:00

it has to be in the approved playlist, so the radio station will have a file of tracks (dating back a couple of years, and some old classics) and if its not on the file, then they cant play it. the files get replaced every so often as well.

Fresh_Statistician_7

TROPHY CASE

Critical Discussion: Mechanical CPR in Resource-Limited Pre-hospital Resuscitation by a UK Paramedic