I honestly do have a good reason for asking what seems like a daft question

[Carla]

But do you call the people who work in ambulances ambulance crew or paramedics? TIAXX

telephone them ever you mean?

I think they're called paramedics now but I could be wrong.

I think both is acceptable.

Paramedics deal with emergency cases, as well as complex non-emergency hospital admissions, discharges and transfers. Paramedics work as part of a rapid response unit with support from an ambulance technician.

Emergencies can range from minor injuries to serious casualties in a major road or rail accident.

The ambulance crew provides all aspects of pre-hospital emergency care. On arrival, paramedics assess the situation and take decisions quickly about emergency treatment and movement of the patient.

Paramedics are trained to use advanced life support techniques and can administer a range of drugs for the emergency treatment of a number of medical and trauma conditions. They are also responsible for checking the efficiency of the vehicle and equipment. Accurate record keeping is an essential part of the job.

No, want to write a letter to a local newspaper and don't want to offend them. And anyone know what that thingy they stick on the back of the hand to get drugs into you is?

Sorry, should've said I swiped that from the learndirect careers website

i think this implies paramedics are more highly medically trained though

carla i think the thing in the back of your hand is called a venflon

So, SD, if you had a ner ner ner ner come and pick someone up, what would the people in there be?

oh for the purposes of the letter i think either would be fine

is it a cannula? the venflon thing i mean

blimey where's nailpolish when you need her!

Paramedics are trained to a higher level than Ambulance Technician. Both work in ambulances.

so if she uses "ambulance crew" that covers all bases then

When ambulance with my ectopic 3 weeks ago I had a paramedic and amb tech on the ambulance also a rapid response emergency doctor and surgeon in a car.
I had canula in arm straight away and a few more as day progressed. The staff all called it a canula as far as I can remember beyond the morphine haze.
Can we be nosey and ask are you complaining or praising?

hi piffle, haven't seen you around for a while. so sorry about the ectopic

Bloody hell, really sorry to hear that piffle I hope you are making a good recovery x

Yes Piffle, on my way back from local shops this arvo, next thing I knew was someone saying 'Yes, you do need to go to the hospital'. 4 stitches, covered in blood. It was the restaurant I pass on the way to our house that 'phoned the ambulance. Ambulance crew fantastic, Dr's fantastic, nurses fantastic. In fact when dh picked me up 3 hrs later, a male nurse that I had shared with another male nurse came running out as we were 300 yards away and walking to the car, to double check I'd had that thingy taken out of my hand (you know, the one they use to administer drugs). Anyway, despite 4 blood tests and a urine test they couldn't find anything. So they're going to make me an appointment with a neurologist.

And on way back home I asked DH if we could stop at restaurant so I could thank the member of staff who called ambulance. He said he was no longer there (this was about 6o/c) so I asked him if he could pass on my thanks to him. The person I spoke to looked genuinely pleased to see me, and said 'You know, there were a lot of people out there looking out for you'. Which made me bubble (tho' not in front of him, thank God!).

I know I've put this in a really long winded way but basically I'd like to write a letter to the editor of our local weekly (a)praising all those} people and (b) explaining how this has put my faith back in human nature.

Not that I need any faith put back from MNetters, of course!

Oh no, Piffle. Really sorry to hear you've had such a tough time.

How are you doing, Carla? It must have been a real shock.

Blimey, carla, that's one of my nightmares, waking up in the street covered in blood - you poor thing - how are you today?

I think they refer to the thing they put in your hand as an I.V (Intra Veinous) (sp??). At least thats what I was calling it when I had one....! Hope you're feeling better now.
xx

here i am

you get paramedics, and ambulance technicians.

paramedics are trained to put in venflons (sonetimes called cannulae, carla) give iv drugs via 'drips' and loads of other things that nurses are trained to do in hospitals. they can intubate sometimes and other stuff too. they are really highly trained!

the technicians are trained too, they give life support etc

is that ok carla?

Piffle, sorry to hear about your ectopic. hope you are feeling a little better now.

carla - sorry you had such a rough day yesterday, and hope that your appointment with the neurologist goes okay.

just read the thread properly carla, hope you are ok now. did they test for diabetes? and epilepsy?

hopefully they can get to the bottom of it all.

for the purposes of your letter i would just say 'ambulance crew' and that should cover the lot! they wont be offended at that.