We celebrate the lifesaving role of our Helicopter Emergency Service (HEMS) Paramedics on International Paramedics Day

Original article posted on aakss.org On Tuesday 8 July we’re celebrating International Paramedics Day, a day devoted to celebrating the dedication and impact of paramedics, first responders and community volunteers around the world.

International Paramedics Day is celebrated every year on 8 July, the birthday of Dominique Jean Larrey, the French military doctor who became Napoleon Bonaparte’s chief surgeon of the Grand Armee and the man often referred to as the ‘father of modern-day ambulance services’. This year’s theme is ‘Unity and Community’ – because no paramedic works alone. 

Our Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) paramedics, with their advanced critical care skills, work together with our charity’s highly trained doctors to jointly deliver specialist pre-hospital emergency medical treatment and care to the most seriously sick and injured patients at the scene of their incident – anyone, anytime, anywhere; on the road, at home or work, in a busy town or city centre, in rural countryside. 

KSS Chief Executive, David Welch, said: “Our KSS HEMS paramedics bring world-leading knowledge and skills that make a huge difference to the critical treatment and care that we can deliver for our patients. Working alongside our HEMS doctors, pilots and dispatchers, and in partnership with colleagues from South East Coast Ambulance Service they enable us to rapidly bring the emergency department to the scene of a serious medical emergency. Providing lifesaving interventions that were once only available in hospital, such as general anesthetic, open heart surgery, and blood transfusions, providing the best possible patient outcomes.  “International Paramedics Day is a great opportunity to shine a light on their extraordinary professionalism, passion and the incredible work they do for our patients across the communities we serve.”  

Each day we respond to an average of nine emergency calls. It costs £56K per day to run our lifesaving service, which is almost entirely funded through the generosity and support of people within the charity’s local communities.   

Our paramedics and doctors work and train together so that they can function as a high performing team. Both members of the team have distinct areas of expertise, the paramedics are more experienced at the complexities of managing an often-chaotic scene and the technical aspects of patient extrication but both the paramedic and doctors roles are interchangeable which allows each member of the team to develop and refine their clinical and logistical decision making.   

KSS Paramedic Nora moved from France to the UK in 2012 to train as a paramedic as the role doesn’t exist in France.  

Nora explains: “After studying for a degree in English History and Literature, I spent four years working on an ambulance for the fire service, but I wanted to be a paramedic, so I moved to the UK to study at Surrey University.”  

It’s a move she is glad she made.  

“I have been a paramedic for over 10 years now, and it remains one of the most challenging and rewarding decisions I’ve ever made. I still feel lucky and privileged that I get to play a part in the pre-hospital care journey of patients.” 

Nora knew from her time as a student paramedic that she wanted to work as an air ambulance paramedic.  

“I wanted to have the chance to provide excellent care to the most critically unwell patients whilst working in a high-performance system.   “I’d hoped to work as an air ambulance paramedic ever since I was a student paramedic. This job has given me the opportunity to learn from other clinicians coming from a wide variety of backgrounds.”  

KSS Paramedic Calum Burnett has also always been interested in providing care to the most critically ill or injured people. 

Calum says: “I’ve always been interested in providing care to critically ill or injured people. It’s the time critical nature of these types of medical emergencies and all the challenges that working in a pre-hospital environment presents that motivates me. The opportunity to work as an air ambulance paramedic, surrounded by others who share my passion, and to have greater exposure to the patient groups that interest me was my driver to train towards and apply for this role. “I think my interest in medical care stemmed from my parents. Both were intensive care nurses, I remember occasionally being in and around the intensive care unit and being fascinated by the array of machines and the hustle and bustle around whilst caring for patients. However, working in one place within the confines of a hospital was not a personal preference.” 

While Calum, Nora and their colleagues are providing world-leading expert pre-hospital treatment and care to people who are critically ill or injured, Calum says that small actions can often make a lasting impression too: 

“Simple things such as offering to make a cup of tea, giving five minutes of our time to chat to someone who would otherwise have been alone all day. It is a privilege to be invited into other people’s homes or be trusted to look after the ones they hold most dear in their time of need.” “To those who are thinking about becoming paramedics I would say this: Be prepared for hard work physically, mentally and emotionally. There will be times when you may question your decision to work in this profession, but those questions will undoubtedly be answered when you are faced with situations that offer the opportunity to provide and showcase the treatment and care that you have worked so hard to provide.” “This is a profession like no other and if you’re passionate about pre-hospital care then a job as a HEMS paramedic offers challenge with significant personal reward and helping to save lives or making a difference in the community every day” 

Specialist Paramedic and our Head of Operational Delivery, Richard de Coverly, says: “Before becoming a paramedic I worked in the oil industry. I was earning well but felt unfulfilled. I wanted to do something meaningful, something that made a difference. I never saw myself as academic enough for medical school, but paramedicine offered a practical, vocational path that suited me perfectly.  “What keeps me going is knowing that I’ve helped someone, whether directly treating patients or supporting the systems that make that care possible. At KSS, we’re bringing lifesaving treatment and care directly to the side of people who need us most. “Today, paramedics can work in general practice, hospitals, remote medicine, even on oil rigs or expeditions. It’s a career full of opportunity and purpose. If you’re considering it, know this: it’s one of the most rewarding paths you can take. “