Ajaz
Khan is a volunteer with the community first responder scheme in
Chessington.
Why did you want to be a
volunteer?
I wanted to give something back to my community and found this
role was an ideal opportunity to do so. This role offered me
the opportunity to get medical training, be part of a great team
backed up by London Ambulance Service and St John Ambulance,
and the excitement of never knowing what is coming next.
The experience of being a community first responder is
completely different from my day job, although some of the skills
needed are the same such as being calm under pressure and confident
in communicating with people.
What do you do for a
living?
I am an IT consultant specialising in infrastructure and
high-tech security. I have worked for major banks, media and
various sectors of the UK government.
What hours are you on
duty?
I’m on duty between four to eight hours per week. If I have any
spare time, I normally do extra shifts. I find the role very
rewarding.
Along with other members of my unit, I have also provided
support for local community concerts.
How often are you called each
shift?
Callouts vary, on most shifts I would expect to be called at
least once or twice. The most calls I have attended during a single
shift was five.
What sort of medical emergencies have
you attended?
Everything from the more common types of calls
such as angina pains, difficulty in breathing and seizures to the
rarer and more serious types of emergency such as cardiac arrest
and strokes. I’ve also attended patients suffering from heart
attacks.
On some occasions ambulance staff have arrived
before me, in which case my role then can be to reassure and
support family members when emotions are running high.
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