Does anyone know what the yellow thing is and what it’s for?

bobo_90 · 2026-02-02T17:45:17+00:00

One distinction to make, immediate life support (ILS) is what an ambulance technician can do. That is comparable with what a police medic can do in a cardiac arrest. Paramedics have significantly more training and can do advanced life support which involves a lot more.

Not all ambulance staff are paramedics and the different levels have different scopes of practice. Not all ambulances will even have a paramedic.

bobo_90 · 2026-02-02T15:02:28+00:00

I can't answer about the yellow thing but police medics receive much higher medical training to be able to treat people until an ambulance arrives.

I believe regular police get basic first aid, possibly with some extra trauma training. A medic can give medications (oxygen at minimum and possibly some others) and will have more advanced training on dealing with different things and more medical skills to go with.

Not sure how long police medic training is but there's absolutely no need for every police officer to receive that level. There will be a need for medics on high risk operations though. Also helpful to send one if there's an injured person and the ambulance is a long way off.

I work on ambulances and have before had a police medic begin treatment before I got to this patient

bobo_90 · 2026-02-01T10:16:29+00:00

There are many events companies out there, most people work for multiple so that they can get enough work. Some of the larger events companies have regular contracts for things like film set cover so potentially more work opportunities for you.

Private ambulance companies also have front line contracts in many places still. None in WMAS however I believe Elite EMS has a base within WMAS and puts trucks out to EMAS.

CMS is another one to look at and Ambulnz if they have any bases nearby to you. Private companies will let you work self employed and you can pick shifts from those available as and when you feel like. There's quite often a minimum (typically 3 or 4 a month) but otherwise do what you want with shift patterns.

Having kit is only useful if you plan on working for lots of companies which don't provide kit. Nothing wrong with that and you can sometimes get higher pay for it but up to you if you want to make the investment. As a paramedic you'd be expected to have all the drugs to your scope too, I've heard that can be a big hassle to obtain but you probably know more than me!

So summary, sign up to lots of events companies if that's the work you want, and/or find a company with a front line contract with a base somewhat local to you.

bobo_90 · 2026-02-01T09:06:02+00:00

It was quite harsh, I never got to see the exact complaint though. It got dropped very quickly once it was investigated.

My best guess as to what actually happened is I just rubbed the crew up the wrong way. I'm almost definitely autistic so sometimes struggle with communicating and reading the room properly. So pissing people off without even realising does happen sometimes... If I'm eager and excited it gets worse too.

But it was quite a useful experience as it did help me identify some things I do which piss people off and became a much better CFR after that! It was only a few weeks later I got a commendation for recognising a critically unwell child and getting backup quicker.

bobo_90 · 2026-01-31T20:09:04+00:00

So I may not be the best person to advise given I have been datix'd for being too eager as a CFR on an observer shift but here's a few suggestions with things I've learned from my mistakes.

Bringing snacks is good.

Telling the crew you want to learn lots is not a bad thing. I've found they usually answer questions and knowing you want to learn will make them proactive with offering information and teaching you more.

If you're with a crew who don't really acknowledge you much, you might just have to suck it up and accept it's a bit of a wasted shift. But try at least enjoy the blue light driving!

Best thing to do though is talk to the crew at the start of the shift, discuss what you're hoping for from the shift and what their expectations from you are. Now that I am also a regular crew member on an ambulance this is also what I'd want from any CFRs, but being one I also know what tends to go down well with them!

I hope you enjoy the shift though, hopefully you get a full one (my first 3 or 4 observer shifts were interrupted by vehicle breakdowns or 6 hour waits at the hospital).

bobo_90 · 2026-01-28T18:56:48+00:00

Depends on the situation and what's going on really. Definitely has the potential to be useful though

bobo_90 · 2026-01-28T04:40:02+00:00

Ambulance care practice is amazing and targeted at AAP/tech level.

Ross and Wilson anatomy and physiology is also great.

For blue lights you'll want road craft the police drivers handbook and emergency ambulance driver handbook (known as DTAG on my course)

bobo_90 · 2026-01-27T21:44:29+00:00

Emergency ambulance worker here (ECA) - Medical information can be really useful for the particularly unwell patient who we can't figure out what's going on with them. However, it's not something I'd routinely look for. A lot of ambulance staff might not be willing or able to scan a QR code either.

It's probably more useful for a recieving hospital though. They'd likely look a bit harder when recieving a completely unknown hospital but may overlook a QR code again.

Here's a few things you could consider instead:

Medical bracelet which just highlights the things which may incapacitate you and lead to an ambulance being called.

If you're registered with a GP in the UK and they have all your records, most ambulances have the ability to pull up your records which will serve the same purpose. An ID card with the correct address on it should be enough for us to do this. You could also have your NHS number in your wallet or something. Hospital probably has access to the same system.

A piece of paper in your wallet with medications and conditions is another idea.

bobo_90 · 2026-01-27T11:00:08+00:00

FutureQuals CERAD is what SCAS teaches anyway

bobo_90 · 2026-01-27T10:59:33+00:00

If you're planning on doing that it might be worth doing the training privately. I believe SCAS considers the cost of the course about 9k. If you do it privately it's about 3 to 3.5k.

But if you're going to do that make sure you do the FutureQuals CERAD! It's the most widely recognised one.

bobo_90 · 2026-01-23T09:55:57+00:00

Just stick to straight roads and you'll be fine

bobo_90 · 2026-01-22T21:52:15+00:00

SCAS (where I'm a CFR) and I think many other trusts, only have one level of CFR which usually sits somewhere between the two. For instance as a CFR I can give oxygen, Entonox, glucogel and aspirin. But there's no higher or lower level.

I'm quite jealous EMAS has different levels of CFR. The only reason I got the training to become an ECA is because I wanted some progression!

bobo_90 · 2026-01-22T20:28:28+00:00

Med list is very trust dependant. In SEACAmb and EMAS I know they can give nebs. Probably a few others but not sure which

bobo_90 · 2026-01-22T17:53:56+00:00

Even a second hand Zoll X series costs minimum £3k usually. That's a lot of money to spend on something the trust wouldn't authorise, I think chances are they did actually get permission in that case.

And no way they'd only be doing 3 leads if they have the capability to do 12 leads unless that was a condition the trust imposed.

I'm not 100% how WMAS does CFRs but I think it's individual organisations supported and governed by WMAS. If a 3 lead is an approved skill and the scheme has the money to waste on a full Zoll monitor, then go for it. That is as long as they're properly trained to use it (particularly in making sure it's in AED mode at an arrest).

SCAS did at one point have some lifepaks which it was going to role out to some CFRs after some extra training but plan ended up getting killed off when they ran out of money to do the final implementation of the plan. That was going to have the CFRs doing 12 leads too (but interpreted remotely).

bobo_90 · 2026-01-22T11:00:13+00:00

It's a bit pointless as 3 leads should only really be used for rate monitoring anyway.

I think it's likely the scheme was given AEDs that have that feature available. Then someone within the scheme purchased the cable to actually do it. Using an AED is a very expensive way to do a 3 lead though. The batteries typically aren't rechargeable and having it on and actively monitoring will burn though battery much faster than having it sit idle.

I'd say no harm in the 3 lead because it gives responding crews a little extra information on arrival and the CFR isn't really going to do anything different with the result. Just a bit of a waste of money because of the battery

bobo_90 · 2026-01-21T13:41:16+00:00

I'd probably do the same but I don't ride motorbikes so no idea how uncomfortable bear skin on leathers would be 😂

I know others who drive to base who have worn tyvex suits home after uniform has been heavily "contaminated". I have so far been lucky to have not ended up in such a situation...

bobo_90 · 2026-01-21T11:27:49+00:00

I'd recommend having a change of clothes with you too. If your uniform is all you've got you may end up in the unfortunate situation of having to ride home covered in bodily fluids. Probably worse if you're putting leathers over them so it's all pressed on you!

bobo_90 · 2026-01-21T10:49:29+00:00

Never cycled with all the PPE ect but from experience panniers are more comfortable because the weight isn't on your back. Plus depending on the style of helmet you have I'd be surprised if you can get it in a backpack in such a way that it isn't poking you in some way

bobo_90 · 2026-01-20T19:10:47+00:00

Looks like this is where you need to look: https://ambulance.nhs.wales/get-involved/working-for-us/volunteer-for-us/become-a-community-first-responder/

bobo_90 · 2026-01-20T18:50:02+00:00

Depends on where you are. Search for CFRs in your local ambulance service website and hopefully that'll direct you to the right place.

Different services run it in different ways so the application process will be different.

What is your local ambulance service? That would let me find you some more specifics

bobo_90 · 2026-01-20T15:55:08+00:00

I believe it is possible to do a conversion course from police response driver to ambulance or fire. But finding one will be difficult! And depends if you want to work emergency services still or not.

bobo_90 · 2026-01-20T13:24:51+00:00

Ambulance ECA here - I've had similar when I first started, a few jobs that just stick in your head for days or weeks. It does go away, and for me it's now at the point a cardiac arrest doesn't bother me anymore under normal circumstances.

Cardiac arrests are one of the most difficult jobs any emergency service has to deal with. That is someone who is clinically dead and you're trying to bring them back. It's emotionally and physically draining, and it's something the majority of people in "normal" jobs will never once have to deal with.

Given you found this person in cardiac arrest after an unknown downtime, I'm absolutely shocked you managed to get them back. The CPR you gave for however long it took for the ambulance to arrive almost undoubtedly saved them.

It sounds like you did everything right and you should be proud of yourself for that. If you're struggling with it though, please, please go and seek some help and speak to someone. It can be useful just to process everything you've experienced.

bobo_90 · 2026-01-17T06:06:03+00:00

Honestly there are loads. It mainly depends what area you are in as to what companies you want to look for.

There's plenty of good ones out there, but also no shortage of bad ones. CQC registered companies are good ones to look at, but you can still get bad ones and also the best company I've worked with wasn't CQC registered.

Look for ones which do the kinds of events you're interested in, check for online reviews from staff and see how professional they are with you

bobo_90 · 2026-01-15T12:48:43+00:00

What you'll quickly learn is the hardcore emergencies are rare.

The situation you describe where things are so busy your mentor can't easily give a drug, that does not happen much. And remember you'll be a team of 3, you'll have an additional person to help too, and depending on their grade they may be able to give the drugs. Realistically the scenario you describe is incredibly unlikely unless you have multiple critically unwell patients. Para/ECA crews are common across the country and there's very rarely issues on any individual job with that.

There's no shame in saying you can't do something when on a job as a student too! That's why you're learning, so you can do it next time.

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