Someone who I was dating once told me I was being childish and silly because I wanted to buy some Lego, they went on to say I needed to choose between them or remaining childish... I swiftly chose to remain childish 👏 don’t let others dictate how you want to live your life 🤷♂️
First day back on my old rota line ☺️ beyond chuffed. Having spent two months in an intensive care psychiatric ward I honestly thought I’d never be a paramedic again, let alone be back on the rapid response vehicle. Work hard and never give up 👊👍
#ItsOkayToNotBeOkay
Here’s to the start of my festive shifts 🙃 if someone would like to romantically adopt a childish, somewhat sarcastic paramedic in the new year, that would be lovely 😂
The gay ‘community’ can be a toxic environment and unless your in it, you really won’t appreciate just what I’m talking about. Labels, stereotypes, body image, social circles, trends.. etc... the more I’ve distanced myself the happier I’ve become 👏
One of my biggest frustrations as a paramedic is lack of patient diagnosis feedback. It’s incredibly difficult to learn without this information. Every hospital should have a system that enables access for clinical feedback; where healthcare professionals can leave notes etc...
I’m currently off work with mental health, but very pleased to be on the road to recovery and receiving the support I need 🚑
Trust me when I say pushing your feelings and emotions down will only do you harm in the long run.
*It’s ok to not be ok*
#WorldMentalHealthDay2019
How’s everyone’s bank holiday going? I never normally wear my stethoscope around my neck, but given every patient I seem to be seeing at the moment has breathing problems, I might as well keep it out 🤷♂️
After 8 months off I’m delighted to have been signed fit to return to work on amended duties today. Looking forward to getting back behind the wheel doing what I love. It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride, but I’m finally starting to see the end in sight
#ItsOkNotToBeOk
I’m sorry, but NHS workers across the UK should be the first to receive the full vaccine dose as initially intended.. over 600 have died and unlike many, we do not have the choice to avoid the virus by isolating. We are frontline day in and day out.
Something uni never taught me
Preparing a deceased person to be seen by their loved ones
Newly qualified para - make no mistake... YOUR attitude WILL leave a lasting impression
Close eyelids, clean away blood, vomit and and where applicable put them back to bed with a blanket
Bigot: Gays don’t contribute to society
Me: I’ve lost count of how many ROSC’s I’ve contributed towards
Bigot: What’s a ROSC?
Me: Oh.... nothing too important 💁♂️
🚑🏳️🌈🚑🏳️🌈🚑🏳️🌈🚑🏳️🌈🚑🏳️🌈
#PrideMonth
#LGBT
👍
Made a big step in my recovery today, moved back into my own place after living with my parents for the past 3 months. Never underestimate the importance of a strong supportive family, mine have been incredible. Onwards and upwards.
If working in healthcare has taught me anything, it’s that you should never take life for granted. Enjoy yourself. And on that note, here’s my pre 31st birthday present from me to me 😋
Work hard, play hard 👊
0-62mph in 4.5 seconds should do nicely 🙃
I hate it when people assume that in a gay relationship someone plays a more female role. This is total ignorance. Two guys can be in love and that's all there is to it.
First time solo responding as a paramedic in over 12months, feels ace 👏 whilst I do enjoy having the company of a crew-mate when working on a truck, there’s something special about solo working; dealing with medical emergencies on your own just gives you a whole new challenge 🚑
#nationalcomingoutday
👏 I came out to my family when I was 18 🏳️🌈 it sure as hell wasn’t easy and I lost a lot of friends in the process, but I did it 💪 To be happy is something we all strive towards, and accepting who we really are is a big part of that 👍
I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve cried on my way home from work before. To deny yourself of natural feelings and emotions is only going to cause you problems later down the line 👊
CFR’s are ace... anyone who gives them grief should take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror 🤨 listen to their handover in full and include them in your treatment plan 👌
I couldn’t do the job of a 999 call handler 👀 everyone of them are amazing, first point of contact, ready to pass vital information that saves lives on a daily basis, they do a truly incredible job 🚑🚒🚓
Just had my Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as a frontline
@WelshAmbulance
paramedic☺️ cheers to the wonderful staff of
@CV_UHB
for my quick and painless experience 😋 28 days and I’ll be back for my second dose 👍 here’s to hoping 2021 will be better for us all.
#TeamWAST
Irritates me when some people ask:
‘So why didn’t you become a Dr’
Because I wanted to be a paramedic 🤷♂️
There’s also a growing culture of people seeing paramedicine as simply a stepping stone into advanced practise etc…
We need good paramedics who remain as such 👍
If you see an ambulance (very often car) parked up somewhere with a paramedic inside, they are very likely on standby cover... no we’re not doing nothing, we are providing cover for a specific geographical location, usually to hit red calls within an 8 minute timeframe 👍
Paramedics salary:
£25,655 (starting.. Aprox)
Utterly bonkers for the level of responsibility 👎
Even at the very top (which takes many years)
£39,027
It’s an undervalued profession and there’s no wonder many move into primary care where the money is significantly better
Happy new year etc etc... 🙃 2020 has been an utter load of bollocks! But hey, we’re still here 👍 let’s hope 2021 is better for us all ☺️ onwards and upwards 🥂
Stop live tweeting incident details. This goes for police, fire and ambulance. Stop turning people’s misfortune into likes on social media. Unless it’s for an official purpose, just don’t do it.
Particularly mental health related matters, imagine how that person feels 👎
Amended duties lined up for the next couple of weeks 🚑 was a wicked feeling walking into work with the uniform on 😋 might not seem like much to some, but for me it was a huge step considering where I was a couple of months ago. Onwards and upwards
#ItsOkNotToBeOk
People be posting pics and stories of social gatherings whilst we’re still in lockdown, and I’m here, one of the mugs treating Covid positive patients. Just because you don’t get to see it all the time like us working on the frontline, it does not mean it’s not real! 🤦♂️
It took me years to come to terms with my own sexuality and it still sometimes leaves me feeling down.
Slowly but surely societies attitude towards us (LGBT) is changing for the better and I can’t understate how important this is. Just to be able to feel normal and accepted.
This will hit so many of us in the stomach who battled so hard to work out who we were.
But it will also send the most powerful and inspiring message to so many kids who watch this, and for that, you're a hero
@Schofe
💙🌈
It happened again!
‘So what’s the worst thing you’ve seen as a paramedic?’ 🙄
I don’t think they were expecting my answer:
Seeing the radio flashing for a red call whilst mid dump 😬
#SorryNotSorry
- you asked 🤷♂️
‘If you died today your employer would list an advert to fill your role by the end of the month. But your friends and family would miss you forever. Don’t get so busy on making a living that you forget to work on making a life’ 👍
There’s a guy in the gym I’ve caught looking at me a few times now... I’m so tempted to go over and ask him if he’d like to grab a coffee sometime but I’m too nervous 🤦♂️
If you wear the uniform of the ambulance service, never take that for granted. The trust people put in us when we enter their world is an incredibly privileged position, don’t tarnish it 🙌
I’m 30!!!🎈🎁😅 celebrating in lockdown and missing my family terribly, but thankful everyone close to me is in good health. Despite the distance my family have managed to really brightened my day. From cute cards, incredibly generous gifts to homemade millionaires shortbread!...
I'm asking those who’ve served their community as NHS, Police, Fire or other key worker to join the challenge of posting a picture of yourself in uniform. Just a picture, no description. The goal is to flood Twitter with positive photos instead of negativity. ❤️
If ever there’s a picture that reasonably sums up working in the pre hospital setting, something like this has to come close 👀
Meh... who needs a fancy drip stand when you’ve got a coat hanger and a handy doorframe 💁♂️
#Paramedic
Merry Christmas everyone 🙃 whilst I’m spending Christmas alone, I’m just thankful all my family are in good health. We will be meeting later today (as per local guidelines) but we will be keeping our distance whilst exchanging presents. Your health is the most important thing 👍
Manual chest compressions in the back of a moving ambulance should be condemned to the pages of EMS history. It’s ineffective and dangerous. Either ROLE on scene, ROSC or request mechanical device which should be regularly available on all RRV’s.
Really touched by all the messages of support I’ve received regarding my returning to work. Thank you everyone, and to anyone out there who’s also struggling, just know this, it gets better. Time is a healer. Everyday is precious, even the ones we’d like to forget
#ItsOkNotToBeOk
Coming out was the hardest day of my life, it challenged me emotionally for years after. Nobody should be treated differently because of their sexuality. Thankfully times are changing and I’m now surrounded by unconditional love 🏳️🌈❤️🏳️🌈
#NationalComingOutDay
Accurate 👍
I’m dyslexic and I started secondary school still unable to read and write.. I was ‘predicted’ low grades from the start.. But I’m stubborn and I refused to be defined by ‘predictions’ 🤨
This year I’m starting my second Masters degree 🎓
Don’t give up 👊
Can we please stop teaching pre-hospital clinicians that hospital is a safe place, because this isn’t necessarily always true 🙄
A ‘quick checkup’ has the potential to develop into an avoidable infection
Conveying comes with risk and pt’s should be made aware of this 👍
Awwwh how incredibly sweet is this! My housemate Soph and her parents were gutted to hear I won’t be going home this Christmas due to my close proximity with COVID-19 as a paramedic, so she’s very kindly left me a Christmas care package ☺️
Paramedic sciences should include clinical placements in as many clinical environments as possible... not just alongside paramedics on the frontline. Understanding points of admission and the process behind treatment options significantly improves underpinning knowledge 👍
Can’t wait for my Dr to sign me fit to return to work. Being a paramedic gives me purpose. There is nothing I have done in my life that I find more rewarding than helping others in their time of need. Role on my phase return, sooner the better 🚑
I’m 31! … yay 🙃 I always intended on having my ‘dream’ body by the time I was 30… alas life threw a few hurdles in my way, but that won’t stop me 👌 fitness is a journey that never ends 👊
‘My only relief is sleep. When I am sleeping I am not sad, I am not angry, I am not lonely. I am nothing’
A few months ago I could relate to this... time is a healer. Don’t give up.
#ItsOkNotToBeOk
I’ve not hugged my parents since March 2020. Why? Because I am one of many NHS workers who’ve put themselves on the frontline to combat COVID-19. We are all in this together. Whilst lockdown is slowly being lifted, please consider your actions carefully. COVID-19 is still real.
Something we are really bad at in the healthcare sector is actually praising good work. You can go day after day doing your very best but the second you make a mistake your in the spotlight.
Normalise praising good work 👊
The police don’t always get it right and they are flawed, because ultimately humanity is flawed. Not everyone is who they appear to be. But please don’t tarnish the entire police service. They are remarkable people who deal with so much so many of us never could.
Having a higher level qualification does not make you an expert, you can and will always continue to learn. Respecting your peers at all levels goes a long way 👍
My offer on a house has been accepted 🤗🥂 now for the legal process 👀 fingers crossed everything goes to plan and I will finally be on the housing market 🏡