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Ask a Paramedic

What treatment can you give me? How many emergencies do you go to in a day? How do you put patients at ease?

We interviewed our Paramedics to put some of your questions to them, so if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work in an ambulance you might find the answers to your questions here.

You can watch our Ask a Paramedic questions and answers with British Sign Language and subtitles by clicking here.

Click the questions below to hear our Paramedics’ answers.

• When should I ring 999?
• What other options do I have to get help other than 999?
• What's the difference between 999 and 111?
• What information do I need to provide when I call 999?
• How do you find me if I’m not at home?
• Will an ambulance always be sent when I call 999?
• What will happen when an ambulance comes out to me?
• How quickly will you get to me?
• What is it like being a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedic?
• Do you ever have to deal with other emergency services?
• How do you feel when you turn up to an accident?
• What treatment can you give me?
• How do I find out where my local defibrillator is?
• What does the word Paramedic mean?
• How many emergencies do you go to in a day?
• How do you put patients at ease?
• How do you feel when you help someone who is really poorly?
• What do you have to do to become a paramedic?
• How can I get a job working for or volunteering for the North East Ambulance Service?
• What support is given to paramedics to make sure they can cope with the pressure?
• How can children and young people find out more about the ambulance service?
• How can I use the service if I can’t use a telephone?
• Can I take a wheelchair on the ambulance?
• What's the hardest part of the job?
• What would happen if the ambulance broke down on the way to an emergency?