Emergency crews out in the snow
Emergency ambulance crews from St John
Ambulance Essex are out on duty in specialist vehicles as
the big freeze grips Essex - helping to be the difference
between a life lost and a life saved.
Ambulance units provide backup as big freeze sets in
Three of the charity's
four wheel drive vehicles have been deployed to
the hardest hit part of the area – the north of the county – to
assist the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAS).
Each of the vehicles will be staffed by a trained St John
Ambulance two person crew. They will be supporting the East
of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust by transporting
patients to hospitals.
Our volunteers are prepared for times like this and are pleased to put their training into practice and make a difference.
Melanie Merrett
County Manager, St John Ambulance Essex
County Commissioner,
Darren Bartholomew said that feedback from EEAS Emergency
Planning Manager Gareth Boynton had been positive.
County Manager, Melanie Merrett said: 'Much of our training and
assessment is supported by the NHS ambulance service personnel
themselves, so they know the standard of assistance they are
receiving from us. Also, some of our volunteers are medical
professionals who volunteer with St John Ambulance because they
want to give help and support in their spare time. It is a
very valuable part of the work carried out by the
organisation'.
'It has been a challenging time for everyone
but our volunteers are prepared for times like this and are pleased
to be able to put their training into practice and make a
difference.'
As the nation's leading first aid charity, St John Ambulance
believes that nobody should die because they needed first aid and
didn't get it.