Jasmine Callon always dreamt of being a paramedic so she could help people and for the last four years, that is exactly what she has been doing. Jasmine is a senior paramedic team leader (SPTL) and today she talks to us about her role and why she loves the job she does.
She said, “My role as an SPTL involves working both on ambulances and rapid response vehicles. This often involves being dispatched to the most serious category of emergency either as a rapid response solo clinician or to support a crew already on scene. SPTLs possess extra skills for post- return of spontaneous circulation care – this means when someone has been successfully resuscitated- and can include administering medication or small electric shocks to keep someone alive until we reach a definitive place of care, which is usually the hospital.”
We often say no two days are ever the same when working for Team NWAS and that is true for Jasmine. She told us, “That’s what I love about the job, no day is ever the same! Coming into work every day, or night, and not knowing what the shift will bring is both challenging and exciting.”
Jasmine’s favourite parts of her job are being able to help people and having the personal qualities as well as clinical capabilities to help people, often on the worst day of their lives. She explained, “It’s not always about administering treatment or performing clinical skills, sometimes it’s being able to sit down with someone, make them a cuppa and knowing you have made their day that little bit better. I will always remember what I was told by a paramedic I had the pleasure of working with, they said, “The patient or their family will rarely remember the way you cannulated or how you used your clinical skills, but they will always remember how you made them feel. A little bit of empathy and kindness goes such a long way.”
All jobs come with their challenges and being an SPTL is no different. Jasmine said, “Every day is a challenge, we can attend anything from deaths to births and everything in between. Some days are harder than others, but the good far outweighs the bad which is something I remind myself of often.”
To those on the outside looking in, you won’t know the reality of the paramedic role. Jasmine said, “I don’t think people realise the responsibility and autonomy we have. Since being based in Cumbria, we can sometimes be an hour from hospital and during that time, we are solely responsible for caring for that person. Making time-critical decisions on the spot and often as the only healthcare professional.”
If you share Jasmine’s dream of helping people, then she would encourage anyone to pursue the same career as her. She said, “Study hard, identify gaps in your knowledge and learn as much as you can. Personally, I couldn’t do any other job, I love it.”