I was returning to base for my lunch in the SRV when the radio sprang to life:

“BG1 from Control, we have a birth imminent in your locality, we are sending the job through now”

I took a deep breath. Historically, paramedics do not like delivering babies. The training we used to get was basic. More recently this has improved, and we are better prepared. However, this is still something I feel I could do with more exposure to.

The MDT flashed up with the details. What struck me was the location of the patient. She was in a bus stop.

As I drove up the road I could see a people carrier parked in a bus stop with a small group of people gathered round. I parked behind, partially blocking the busy road with my blue lights on to warn the traffic.

I went to the boot to grab my bags. I grabbed our maternity pack and put on an extra pair of gloves. These jobs are usually messy.

As I approached the car I could see the side door was slid open, and a lady in a healthcare tunic was leaning in. I peered in. In the back was a lady laying across some seats, between her legs was what could only be described as a massacre.

“Thank god your here” the lady in the tunic said. She quickly introduced herself as a healthcare support worker. For this we will call her Angeline.

Angeline told me she had been waiting for the bus when this car had pulled up. A man had got out and run around the side screaming for help. She had run forward to help, just as the door slid open.

There in the back of that car. She had delivered a baby girl, to a stranger she had never met. She struck me as calm. She didn’t know the patient, she had never delivered a baby. But to this occasions – she rose.

I quickly thanked her, and asked her to hang around. I then asked where dad was. She pointed to the bus stop. There, on one of the seats. Very pale. Sat a man in his mid thirties. He looked scared. I congratulated him and said I was going to check his partner over.

All of the above took seconds. I then leant into the car, and there between the patients legs laid a healthy looking baby girl. I quickly dried her off with a towel we carry and placed a blue hat on her head (we only carry blue or pink, and this little girl had been unlucky with my selection that day).

The baby was healthy, she was crying – pink and warm. Her breathing was good and her heat rate also normal. Brilliant.

I then turned my attention to mum. She told me this was her second baby and she had left it until later to go to the hospital as the first one took ages. They were nearly on the motorway when she felt the urge to push so they pulled over.

I explained that I was on a car, that an ambulance was coming and I needed to do some assessments. I apologised for how close I was to her – there wasn’t much room in the back of the car.

I quickly assessed her. What looked like a lot of blood loss on the seats of her car, was probably just the normal amount with birth.

She wasn’t shocked, she was no longer bleeding and she felt as though the worst was over. She hadn’t yet delivered the placenta – but that wasn’t concerning.

With that, an ambulance arrived. I quickly handed over and joined them in the back. The patient started pushing to deliver the placenta so we gave her some gas and air. Dad cut the cord. It all went really well.

I asked the couple if they had any names – they didn’t. They were waiting to see what the baby looked like.

We arrived at hospital and I handed over to the midwife. As I was about to leave the patient asked me who the lady was that delivered her baby in the bus stop.

I replied her name was Angeline.

A few weeks later I followed up on the patient. The midwife explained that the baby’s birth certificate would read:

“Angeline-Rose”

We were sat outside a busy Emergency Department on a cold winter night. It was closer to around three in the morning and we had nearly four hours to go. The emergency care assistant had just got in the attendants seat with our coffees when the MDT flashed to life.

CAT 3 – Concern for Welfare

I turned the key in the ignition and we set off towards the address we were given. On the way we were chatting about various things and then came onto guessing what this could be:

Me: “I think this will be the classic job where we turn up, let ourselves in and find the patient asleep in bed”

I was referring to the types of jobs I hate. You enter the property searching room to room. Enter the patients bedroom and find them fast asleep. The tension of the unknown is unbearable – as is the jump scare you get when the patient wakes up. Usually, they are confused as to why your there and explain that it was their medi-alert bracelet that has been pressed accidentally. Ultimately, you end up checking they are ok and leaving.

ECA: “ I reckon this will be a simple fall”

We were both wrong.

The property we were attending was above a boarded up shop. We grabbed our kit and headed towards the front door. We both took torches as it was down a dark alley to the side of the shop. The torch light casting eerie shadows as we approached.

Bang. Bang. Bang. We hammered on the door, hoping someone would answer and my theory would be proven. No answer.

“BG1 to control”

“Go ahead”

“No contact made, can you send fire to assist?”

With fire on the way my ECA tried the door. It was an old door with an old lock, it gave a little just turning the handle.

We called control back to advise that we thought we could gain entry by breaking the door. Control said they had no contact so as it was a call from the flat, confirmed by the care company we could gain entry.

In order to make a call using the care alarm system. Usually, you would either pull a cable or press a button. It took a physical action.

Bang. Bang. Crash. The door flew open.

We shone our torches in. A murky hallway came into light. The hallway was bare of any decoration and piles of post and takeaway menus were on the floor under our feet as we walked in. The doors in front and to our sides were closed.

One by one we opened the doors and shone our torches. All of the lights were either broken or there was no electricity. Each room we went into was empty. Bare. There was no furniture.

From the other room the ECA called me. “No one lives here! False alarm!”

That’s weird I thought. I turned to leave, and that’s when I saw it. The red alarm cable was swinging. It had been pulled.

Whilst working on a response car, I sat on standby watching the latest box set on a certain streaming platform that rhymes with betflix the MDT flashed to life.

“999 – Fire in progress – persons reported”

I started to head towards the job when my radio kicked in, our control room were trying to call me. However, this was not unusual as when working on the response car they like to tell you about updates as they come in ensure a safe drive.

“BG1 this is control, this job has been passed by fire who are on scene at a fire in a residential property. They are currently treating a 104 year old female and have requested our assistance”

I turned the corner in the street and were met by a car park full of fire engines. I got out of my car and met the paramedic team leader who was acting as the incident commander. He told me that fire had put the fire out and the patient was inside. I grabbed my response bag, defibrillator and oxygen. In my head I was going over my plan for airways compromise because of burns and also thinking about Mersey burns scores.

I walked into the hallway which was still full of acrid black smoke to be met by a firefighter turning on an industrial fan to try and clear the hallway. I walked into the room to be greeted by a carter and a firefighter. They were stood in front of the patient.

In the arm chair was a very frail old lady, with long hair which was a dirty grey, singed by the smoke that had been in the room not half an hour before. The right arm of her chair had various cigarette burns in it; as did her clothing and floor around her.

It was evident that this wasn’t the first time this had happened. It happened a lot. The firefighter explained that this wasn’t the first time they had been here. She also knew the crew by first name.

I quickly examined her and found her to be fine. I explained to the carers, patients and firefighters that she had been lucky. They explained that the patient has smoked since she was 12, had refused to stop but also had no mobility. She lights her cigarette, smokes it then tries to put it out. She normally misses. Usually, she sits with a fire blanket on her lap. It had fallen off.

The fire service were sorting the safeguarding out so I chose to talk to the patient.

“Has anyone talked to you about giving up?”

“Yes young man, many have tried. The thing is. This is all I have. I have not died yet and won’t die any time soon. I’m not sure what the fuss was about. I feel perfectly fine” – she croaked back.

“How about the fact you almost set yourself on fire?”

“Young man, don’t be so dramatic. The fire was out before these gentlemen arrived and they only come for the tea. ”

I looked around, the firefighters had explained this. The care staff were prepared for this. I was shocked.

The patient looked up again. “Young man, do you smoke?”

I shook my head, no.

“That’s good – it is a bad habit. My family only ever have one thing to say to me”

“What’s that then?”

“Smoking Kills”.

I’m working Christmas this year, a lot of my colleagues are. Wether that be police, fire or ambulance (maybe even coastguard) as well as the NHS and all the other public and voluntary sector workers.

It can be demanding.

It can be rewarding.

We’ve all got each other – very rarely is it lonely.

This is meant to be a bit of fun, if your offended easily – the x at the top right of the page will get you away quickest..

On the first day of christmas dispatch gave to me; a 12 lead ECG

On the second day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; a two broken gloves and a 12 Lead ECG

On the third day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; three nines dialling, two broken gloves and a 12 Lead ECG.

On the fourth day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; four relatives shouting, three nines dialling, two broken gloves and a 12 lead ECG.

On the fifth day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; five crews on meal break, four relatives shouting, three nines dialling, two broken gloves and a 12 lead ECG.

On the sixth day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; six jobs outstanding, five crews on meal break, four relatives shouting, three nines dialling, two broken gloves and a 12 lead ECG.

On the seventh day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; seven drunks fighting, six jobs outstanding, five crews on meal break, four relatives shouting, three nines dialling, two broken gloves and a 12 lead ECG.

On the eight day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; eight elderly fallers, seven drunks fighting, six jobs outstanding, five crews on meal break, four relatives shouting, three nines dialling, two broken gloves and a 12 lead ECG.

On the ninth day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; nine nurses nattering, eight elderly fallers, seven drunks fighting, six jobs outstanding, five crews on meal break, four relatives shouting, three nines dialling, two broken gloves and a 12 lead ECG.

On the tenth day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; ten police officers tasering, nine nurses nattering, eight elderly fallers, seven drunks fighting, six jobs outstanding, five crews on meal break, four relatives shouting, three nines dialling, two broken gloves and a 12 lead ECG.

On the eleventh day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; eleven firemen sleeping, ten police officers tasering, nine nurses nattering, eight elderly fallers, seven drunks fighting, six jobs outstanding, five crews on meal break, four relatives shouting, three nines dialling, two broken gloves and a 12 lead ECG.

On the 12th day of Christmas dispatch gave to me; 12 CFRs waiting, eleven firemen sleeping, ten police officers tasering, nine nurses nattering, eight elderly fallers, seven drunks fighting, six jobs outstanding, five crews on meal break, four relatives shouting, three nines dialling, two broken gloves and a 12 lead ECG.

Stay safe, and Merry Christmas.

Some jobs stick around for a while; this was one of them.

It was a night shift; probably around 11pm. I was on my own on a Fast Response Vehicle; something I dont like doing at night – my imagination can be a bit wild (and so can the locals).

I was sat watching something mindless on Netflix at one of our standby points. My MDT (Mobile Data Terminal) suddenly came to life with an incident just around the corner; an unresponsive male.

I turned the lights on and turned into the road; activating my lights and sirens, my radio came to life with the dispatchers updating me with what was happening on the phone to 999 as I was responding as the call was still in progress.

“You are being dispatched to a male who is in Cardiac Arrest, CPR is in progress. We are trying to find you some backup, will update you when we allocate someone”

Sadly; this isn’t uncommon, however with full faith in our controllers – I knew it wouldn’t be far behind me.

I pulled into the residential street and could see up the road someone flagging me down – a human windmill as we refer to them in the ambulance service.

I was only just coming to a stop; pressing the “at scene” button and grabbing some gloves when my driver side door was pulled open.

“You better f***king hurry up! We have been waiting four minutes and he’s dead! Come with me quick!”

I was used to people panicking – but not used to being pulled towards a scene. I forcefully pulled myself back.

” I will come – I need to grab my equipment”

With that I went to the boot.

“Your taking the p***, my mate is dying and you won’t come in and help him!”

At this, I took a deep breath and headed towards the door.

Once inside I noticed a couple of things immediately – firstly, the smell of alcohol. It hit me. I then noticed a fire escape sign and a notice board – this was no normal residential address; but a half-way house for recent released offenders.

I was led to the living room; where a very large man laid on the floor. The manager of the institution was doing CPR, and was doing it well. As I was on my own, i said to him:

“Can you carry on; your doing a great job, and I need to get some equipment out”

With this, he stopped. Great.

“I can’t, you have to f***ing help him!”

I quickly grabbed my radio “Confirmed Cardiac Arrest, Priority backup required”

With that I put my radio down and took position by the patients head. I started compressions and waited for someone anyone who would come and give me a hand.

I am used to Cardiac Arrests; what made this different was the hostility of everyone around me. At that point I felt it. I felt alone.