In the ambulance
There we are in the ambulance. Together with the emergency medical technician (EMT) and the nurse-paramedic. The siren is on. And the flashing lights, of course. The lights and noise are there to let the rest of the traffic know that they have to move to the side of the road. All the cars go left or right, and the ambulance can drive safely through the middle, because – when you need it – the ambulance has to reach you within fifteen minutes. The emergency dispatch centre gives the address immediately to the emergency medical technician so that the ambulance can head out. In the meantime, you (or an adult, such as a parent, teacher or master) are still talking on the phone to the dispatch centre. This means that no time is lost. While the ambulance is still on the way, the dispatch centre passes on to them all of the information about the emergency they need to know. When we arrive, the emergency medical technician and the paramedic already know quite a lot about what has happened!
The ambulance crew
Two of us arrive at the emergency scene: the EMT and the paramedic. Our clothing has bright luminous stripes so that you can see us in the dark. The word AMBULANCE is written on our backs. The paramedic studied for a long time and has a special training. Paramedics have to learn more than regular nurses, because they sometimes have to do things that only doctors are usually allowed to do. The EMT also has specialist training in order to be able to drive safely through traffic very quickly and to provide assistance to the paramedic.