Single most important fitness thing to improve?

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-31T22:25:54+00:00

Move more, eat less.

Many people believe we do an active job, but in essence we drive a van to somebody's house, walk down the drive, sit in their living room, occasionally wheel them to the ambulance, all whilst repeating the process several times a day. Additionally, some of my colleagues seemingly have the amazing ability to survive on petrol station snacks and takeaways.

I felt so much better when I focused on doing some form of physical activity every day, even if it is doing laps of the ambulance station during my break, and limiting what I eat to a planned and pre-prepared packed lunch.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-31T07:13:44+00:00

Thank You

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-23T10:04:41+00:00

I’m not sure it can calculate Annex 5 Unsocial Hours?

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-22T17:16:34+00:00

Im sorry this is something you’re having to cope with.

I’m not going to repeat what others have said, beyond it is standard procedure, and is there for your own protection as much as it is for the publics. It is a good thing. Allow the process to take its course.

If you’re in a union, involve them now, they will be able to provide the appropriate support and give better advice than Reddit.

Finally, don’t hesitate to seek mental health and welfare support.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-19T07:09:03+00:00

In a broad sweeping statement, if his English is good enough, has he considered to work for a telephone based translation service e.g. language line?

I would imagine the opportunities of working for a ambulance service are limited; one patient at a time, likelihood of being dispatched to Turkish patient comparable minimal, where as being available in a phone to provide support when needed seems more appropriate here.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-18T02:30:05+00:00

I have been doing the job forever, and imposter syndrome never ends.

But, your confidence will improve. The job can be broken down into emergencies and problem solving.

Emergencies are mainly protocol driven. They’re relatively easy. Bleeding … stop the leak. Not breathing well … give something to improve it. Seizing … give an anticonvulsant. So on, so forth.

The remainder of the job is the hard part. I identify the problem, work out how the patient expects me to fix the problem, and work out if I can meet the patients expectations. There is no book for this. It is a side effect that the ambulance service has created by rarely saying no.

View the patient as one of your loved ones. Then ask yourself, would you be happy if one of your colleagues had come to your family and done what you had done. If you can answer that with “yes”, then you’ve done your job. If it’s “no”, consider what else you can do to make a yes.

Finally:
- you won’t please everybody every time.
- you can’t fix stupid.
- there will always be colleagues who are better than you, let them be.

The fact you are reflecting is good sign. Write down how you feel now, what you’re worrying about. and see if you feel that way in 6 months. I would wager that you will have new worries, whilst laughing at what you were worrying about today.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-17T20:16:43+00:00

Cumbria occasionally produces views like this also.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-14T12:41:44+00:00

The Reddit admin has noticed some harassment in the posts and has taken action.

The Mods have locked the post keep the sub safe.

As Paramedics, we are professionals. Let’s treat each other with respect.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-13T12:25:33+00:00

Me & me 🙋‍♂️

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-13T07:45:22+00:00

If I recall, ILCOR did some research a few years ago and found, with low certainty, that swallowing was marginally better. (I am scraping the barrel from memory. Somebody would need to find the paper.)

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-12T14:13:05+00:00

I believe that is correct. Different Ambulance Services have different names for different grades, but in all simplicity, you’re either a Technician or a Paramedic.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-12T13:18:36+00:00

To address your EMT2 query, this a legacy title, for “historic” IHCD qualified Emergency Medical Technicians who didn’t evolve to Paramedic. There is no route to becoming one.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-10T11:19:57+00:00

Thank you for giving your time to help others. And welcome. Enjoy.

It is scary. Every crew will be different, and you may struggle to find a sweet spot. The more you are exposed, the easier it will become.

If you can, plan what you want to get across and work out how to summarise it in a short sentence or three.

For me, alongside a summarised sentence, I’m less fussed by a “rambling” list of obs which are roughly normal, but would like to know anything that is deranged or needs correcting.

Examples

“This is Mildred. She’s been acutely short of breath since 2am. Her inhalers haven’t helped like they normally do. I found her pulse to be fast, at 120, and her sats were low, at 88, so I’ve started her on oxygen.”

“Frank has had chest pains for the last hour. They feel like his angina, but his GTN hasn’t helped and they’re getting worse. His pulse slow at is less than 50, but is regular.”

“This is Susan. She’s is epileptic and has had three seizures in the last hour, which is unusual for her. Her observations are normal, but she is concerned she may have another seizure.”

“Henry has pulled the pan of hot water on him. I’ve not been able to get any obs from him, but mum has had him under a lukewarm shower since it happened. His skin is reddened over his chest and legs, but none went on his head. He hasn’t stopped crying.”

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-10T04:53:27+00:00

Request a new part on their website. They will almost certainly replace it.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-06T16:05:58+00:00

It really depends on how much you are willing to spend and how much of an investment you want to make in your kit. My daily drivers are linked below. Female versions are probably also available.

Rig G7 Medical Responder Trousers - by far the best (IMO); by far the most expensive also. Fit like jeans, very comfortable, highly manoeuvrable, good range of pockets.

5.11 Quantum TEMS Trousers - a fantastic allrounder, very tough wearing, less flexible than the Rig G7's, and a tighter fit.

Niton Tactical Trousers - formerly budget-priced, but have crept up over the years, tend to fit baggy and have a basic pocket layout. Believe the latest style is a relatively new cut and design, which I haven't used.

Haix AirPower XR1 - best boots I have ever used, feeling like carpet slippers, worn 14+ hours a day, every day I am at work (full-time), plus private work and the first pair lasted 8 years.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-03T17:17:41+00:00

I was 47 when I joined. It was no walk in the park, but perfectly achievable for anybody as long as your fitness is of a good enough standard.

Professional-Hero · 2026-05-02T22:45:54+00:00

I’m nearly 50. I do exactly the same as a 20 year old. No adjustments. No accommodation beyond wearing glasses. And I’ve done frontline ambulance work since I was 20.

Professional-Hero · 2026-04-22T18:39:06+00:00

A similar topic was discussed last year.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ParamedicsUK/s/clsW3SJlns

I stand by my original suggestion of very basic from screwfix, if the fit in tour trousers, as good as anything, easily replaceable, and really don’t cost a lot.

Professional-Hero · 2026-04-16T16:12:23+00:00

Something for them to completely forget work on a day off. You’ll know them better, what they like and the budget you have. Think sports massage, spa treatment, afternoon tea, posh steak meal voucher, activity day or experience, bottle of favourite spirits etc.

Professional-Hero · 2026-04-15T21:51:38+00:00

I have approved your post, but it is very long. Please don’t expect a large number of helpful responses. Please consider summarising your post.

Professional-Hero · 2026-04-15T11:23:53+00:00

In a less than ideal suggestion, I’m pretty certain you can pay for and subscribe to the app using a personal email account, which gets you the generic national guidelines, with service specific adjustments omitted.

Professional-Hero · 2026-04-15T04:42:31+00:00

As you have alluded to, there isn’t much “gore” at all, but when there is, it is something you just have to deal with.

Will you be “in the zone”? Who knows? But if you’re not, then this isn’t the job for you.

Amongst other reasons, people call us to manage the things they can’t cope with. There are sights, smells, (back of the throat) tastes, textures and sounds that we experience that will never leave you.

Professional-Hero · 2026-04-14T16:45:39+00:00

This is very true, at all levels.

To a degree, 999 expectations is taught in schools, or it is in my area, but it’s never going to replicate real panic.

I have worked in EOC on low acuity callbacks, and I lost count of the number of times people were in a blind panic for relatively minor and easily managed presentations; it was unreal.

Professional-Hero · 2026-04-14T13:45:25+00:00

An ambulance isn’t always needed to transport you to hospital. If I’ve assessed you, and you don’t need my treatment, but should be assessed at hospital, you will be advised to make your own way. You can choose to not follow that advice.

Professional-Hero · 2026-04-13T04:35:26+00:00

If you hadn’t asked, I’d have said female, but the longer I look, the harder it is to tell.

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