First aid and ambulance roles

Ambulance crews in action

Our first aiders are a familiar and welcome presence at many events around Oxfordshire.

What we do

Our first aiders provide assistance at public gatherings such as:

  • Street fairs around Oxfordshire
  • Oxford United Football Club
  • Round Table fireworks displays
  • Art in Action
  • Fairport's Cropredy Convention
  • Point to Point races
  • Blenheim Triathlon
  • Race for Life
  • and many more, in Oxfordshire and in other parts of the country.

It is surprising how the knowledge you gain over weeks of going to St John Ambulance meetings comes back to you.

Pat
First aider, Wantage

Initial training

You do not need prior knowledge of first aid: we will train you. To become a first aider, you will need to complete:

  • Generic induction (including manual handling): one-day course
  • First aid training: two-day course
  • Child protection awareness: one-day course.

Once you have completed your initial training, you won’t be left without help.  We arrange for new first aiders to work with experienced first aiders, so you can increase your skills and confidence.

Ongoing training and support

Once you have gained some experience on duty, you may wish to complete further training to become an advanced first aider, patient transport attendant, or emergency transport attendant. We usually recommend that people who are new to first aid spend at least a year in the first aider role before starting training for one of the more specialised roles. 

Weekly meetings at your local unit provide opportunities for ongoing training and development of your knowledge. Every member of St John Ambulance is assessed every year, to make sure our skills are up-to-date.