St John's Ambulance

[Louis Balfour]

I know nothing about them, but remember their presence being announced over a crackly PA, at steam engine rallies, when I was a child. I might vaguely recall some plump teenagers squeezed into black uniforms, chatting around a sign-written ambulance. But that is it.

How useful are these guys when a medical emergency arises? Open heart surgery? Offering a sit down and a nice cup of tea? Somewhere between?

[drmike37]

First off, it’s St John Ambulance. No ‘s.

Serious answer:
Still very much around. Cover lots of events and provide first aid courses. A big part of the reason you don’t see them as much as you remember is that they are undercut by smaller private outfits for event cover. SJA tend to offer a level above the legal minimum which costs more (also massive organisation with overheads.
In terms of usefulness, variable. There are levels of volunteer. First aiders are exactly that. Advanced first aiders theoretically similar to an NHS ambulance technician in terms if training. They are used as back up for NHS ambulance services sometimes.
Paramedics, nurses and doctors also volunteer so you could in theory get better care than down your local urgent care centre.

[Wildcat45]

St John Ambulance. It isn’t St John’s.

I used to work on the radio and got it wrong on air only to get a snotty email from them explaining the error of my ways.

Edit: Beaten to it.

Edited by Wildcat45 on Friday 7th June 07:52

[Skyedriver]

Still attend major events like the Great North Run etc

[x5tuu]

SJA where instrumental in alot of the major covid vaccination programmes - especially the sessions run at large sporting venues, particularly where targeted population demographs were the main driver.

I commissioned them to provide specific basic health support, signposting, general site support, recovery support, etc. for a number of these vaccine events with great success.

Their corporate managment isnt the greatest though, but thats due to general underfunding for a significant perdiod of time for all roles

[Jonmx]

They were an alternative to CCF at my school and we used to rip it out of them. We had LSW's, went in helicopters and did adventure training overseas while they played with mannequins and practiced 3000 different varieties of sling.
However, one of my best friends joined them a couple of years ago and attends major events with them and is essentially at Paramedic level. He's just completed his blue lights authorisation, deals with traumatic and critical injuries and his knowledge is seemingly on par with the regular Ambulance technicians and paramedics. I think the idea of handing out plasters and antihistamines at fairs and shows is applicable to the junior ranks, but there's a very much professionalised side to them nowadays.

[littlebasher]

I've found some of the trainers to come across as very 'Waltish'

But i won't hold that against them, the majority seem to be very good

[Baroque attacks]

Was in them when I was a teen, the only lad in our group

Agree about them attracting Walts occasionally, but on balance SJA are a force for good.