AMA ambulance emergency call taker

[iusedtohavechickens]

I work as an emergency call taker, any questions?

@iusedtohavechickens

Do you think teenager's in schools should know the techniques to help potentially save someone's life ?

Is your working environment congenial? Are you in a large open plan office? Do you have to contend with background noise?

I've cried and smiled, cried and giggled reading this. God bless you and your colleagues. Many thanks.

I did my observer shift recently and really enjoyed it. It's good to see it from the other side. X

My youngest caller was a six year old calling about their unconscious mum, absolutely brilliant caller!
In terms of major incidents and multiple calls we triage with the best caller who can give us the most information. X

We would love a pay rise, we do the job because we want to help, not for the pay or we wouldn't be there 😂

Thank you! Sounds like me on a shift lol

We work in a large open office sat next to other colleauges. We have headsets so not often distracted while in a call. X

I personally think we should start right from reception stepping up each year. First years should be learning their address and when to call right up to seniors learning cpr.
I have taught my 4 year old what for is, our address and when she would need to call. Also made sure she knows the number!

Yes, the ambulance crews used to do shifts in control too. You're right, it's good to see both sides and understand the different but equally challenging roles.

I went to open days and talked to people who did the job. It was very helpful and you also get to see the call centre in action. When I got offered an interview I was able to book to go in and listen in for a couple of hours to get a feel for the calls.
If you feel like you can do it then go for it. Main qualities needed are being calm, common sense, real life experience and being able to talk! 😀

I have no questions. But want to thank you for doing an essential and very stressful job.

I'm very lucky to have a very supportive husband and a very chatty 4 year old who likes to check what badges I'm earning and brings joy to my life! 🥰

Thank you so much x

I told the crew I went out to come and do a shift at the call centre so they can see we don't just pick a category based on our mood 😂

Another one from me, this is fascinating. You've mentioned the stork badge, what are some of the others? And which do you think is the hardest to obtain?

We get rosc badges, red silver and gold and they are awarded when a person recovers from cardiac arrest. I have all 3 of my heart badges but not my baby one. So in my opinion the stork is the hardest but others in my place have a baby badge but not heart 😀

I left before badges started but we got certificates. 47 baby ones I have

Wow that's impressive! I have had 5 roscs but no babies yet! Xx

Just wanted to thank you and your colleagues for helping save my husband's life.

My question is, when we initially phoned for an ambulance we were told to wait. He deteriorated and I phoned back. Ambulance arrived in 4 minutes.

How did you know it was a repeat call? I've always wondered. Was it because I said I was phoning back?

Also, if we have to ring back, must we use the same phone? What if this isn't possible?

We get alerts for multiple calls on the same number, if you call on a different number the previous call will come up when we input the address so have a few ways. So glad we were able attend so quickly x

November 2000. I can still remember speaking with the emergency call taker when my husband had collapsed with a stomach haemorrhage. She was so calming & kind I'll never forget her words. Sadly he died the next day.

I'm on shift at the moment and I know it's ops thread but seeing this of you who are genuinely grateful for the work we do is making a touch shift a little easier

Firstly I think you’re amazing.

You won’t want to answer this question but with the current pressures, would you call an ambulance or take someone in yourself? I recently called for suspected anaphylaxis (first time) for my husband , got advised someone would be with us within the hour and we got a call 4 hours later asking if it was still needed.

It happened again and I got him in the car whilst I still could and managed to get as far as an urgent treatment centre, where they called and ambulance and stabilised him whilst we waited. Fortunately we have now identified the cause but I think he’d have died the second time if we’d waited again… the first time I couldn’t get him out of the house.

It’s left me wondering whether to try to get heart attacks/strokes etc in on my own. My previous understanding of the need for 999 was a life threatening emergency where someone needed care on the way to hospital.

Paramedic here, just finished a late shift….so frustrating when we can do entire shifts not going to a single patient that even needs an ambulance…and don’t talk to me about the bloody regulars. We’re turning into an urgent care service instead of emergency care. We’re basically under paid GPs now.

Our ever growing population is too large for the NHS. Not enough GPs or hospitals or staff. People feeling far more entitled and less able to help themselves. Far more mental health issues. A risk adverse society. 111 is our biggest pain in the arse - dispatching ambulances willy nilly just because a call has breached time. Such a catalogue of issues. The NHS & ambulance service are completely broken and not sure we can recover.

it’s so disheartening when we work so bloody hard but yet are slagged off all across Mumsnet, social media and the media when it’s the system and society that’s the cause of the breakdown

really not sure what the answer is, but we’re all at breaking point

sorry no actual questions, but thanks op for your hard work :)