Angels on Wheels

With sirens blaring and lights flashing, they travel at break-neck speed towards the scene of a medical emergency. Once they spot the unconscious body on the ground they leap out and assess the patient for any initial indications of injury and check the vital ABCs (airway, breathing and circulation).

This is a familiar scenario for ambulance crews the world over. Thanks to the quick response times and competent care of these 'angels on wheels', we can lead our lives safe in the knowledge that a team of professional lifesavers is only a phone call away.

A day in the life of a paramedic is as varied as it is unpredictable. From car accidents, heart attacks and diabetic comas to drug overdose, drowning and childbirth, every case requires immediate and skilled medical attention. The members of ambulance crews are men and women who work irregular hours, routinely experience traumatic situations and brave all sorts of inclement weather in order to save lives.

Part and parcel of their profession is often being called out to cases that are little more than a hoax or false alarm. The most sombre of their duties is to confirm death when, sadly and inevitably, they arrive at the scene of an incident seconds too late.