Operational Duties
St John Ambulance covers a wide range of event all around London; everything from the small local school fair to big central London events at Trafalgar Square to the large cross London events such as the London Marathon. As a member of LINKS, you also have access to these event where not only do you get to experience the event for free: you also have the chance to use all the skills and knowledge you have learned in real situations, on real casualties, alongside experienced members, and make a real difference in the community.
If you have any queries or problems, please get in contact with the Operations Officer (ops@sgullinks.sja.org.uk).
Requirements For Going On Duty
Before starting to look for duties please make sure you meet the requirements and are eligible to go on duty:
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You are a Trainee First Aider or above.
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You have an in date ID card and valid St John Ambulance CBR check.
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Your first aid certificates are in date and, if you have been in St John Ambulance greater than a year, you have attended your yearly revalidation.
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You have been given your personal issue green shirt and personal issue steal toecap safety boots (the unit does not store such items).
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You have attended a training unit meeting at least once in the last three months.
The uniform requirements for going on duty:
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1x Green St John Ambulance Shirt - Personal Issue
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1x Green / Black Revisable St John Ambulance Fleece - Personal Issue / Limited Unit Stock
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1x Black Trousers / Combat Trousers - Personal Issue
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1x Black Steel Toecap Safety Shoes - Personal Issue
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1x Hi-Vis Coat or Light-Vis Tabard (depending on whether conditions) - Personal Issue / Limited Unit Stock
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1x Fully Stocked First Aid Response Kit (can be shared between one per pair per duty) - Personal Issue / Limited Unit Stock
It is your responsibility to look after your personal issue uniform and kit. They must be kept clean and in good condition. Personal issue first aid kits should be appropriately well stocked with equipment equivalent to that of your training and level. You must not have equipment in your first aid kit that are beyond your level of care. Failure to do so may result in you being turn down from duties. From our store cupboard we can offer to loan some peices of uniform and kit to members going on duty.
Searching For Duties
Once you’re eligible to go on duty there are two ways to find duties and events to go on and help out with:
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The Operation Officer will send round emails with upcoming duties about once a month.
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The CHQ LINKS team also keeps a calendar for upcoming duties at http://tinyurl.com/ldlinksops (though this only contains basic information).
Signing Onto Duties
Once you have found a duty that you would like to do (and are free to do), you now need to sign up to the duty. There are two / three steps to this, and these are provided here.
Whilst On Duty
When you get to the duty, the first thing to do is to meet up with the Duty Manager, Treatment Centre Manager or whoever else that has been designated in charge. You will be given an operational briefing before the event starts, where you will be told your allocation, radio signs, operational procedures for the event etc and any important information for the day. Each event is different so each briefing is unique: this is why it is important to arrive on time. If you treat any one make sure you let Radio Control know. At the end of the event, the person in charge normally provides a de-brief. Normally the patient report form is taken by the Duty Manager at the end of the duty: but if not, you need to get the form to the Operations Officer as soon as possible.
Other helpful tips for when your on duty:
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Unless you know the event really well, it is always a good idea to bring some food with you.
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Never work alone: you must always work as a pair at least. This is for your safety. Though very rare, members have been attacked in the past.
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Do not rely on your uniform to protect you. Just because you’re a hi-vis uniform doesn’t mean you’re immune from being hurt.
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Be prepared for any weather, rain or shine. Don’t presume you won’t need your fleece on a hot day for example; you may be posted to a cold room.
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Radios seem scary to use the first few times: but practise does make it easier.
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Trainee First Aiders (TFA) will always be paired with an experienced First Aider (FA) or above. Stay with your partner, you cannot treat independently yet as a TFA.
Reporting After Duties
Once you've finished and come home from your duty, there's still a few things to do. You need to fill in a Duty Report to the Operations Officer, which is explained on here.
You will also need to return any uniform or kit you have loaned from us.
There is always the chance you may see some unpleasant things on duty, whether you were actively involved in the situation or not. It’s a painful reality but please do not let that get you down: you are not alone and there is support available. It can affect everyone and anyone regardless of your grade of training, your job, or your experience. Do not heist to get in touch with the Operation Officer (ops@sgullinks.sja.org.uk) and Member Support Officer (member-support@sgullinks.sja.org.uk) via the quickest means – they will be able to help and guide you further. You can call our partnered counselling service, Oasis, on 01937 541700; or get in touch with the University’s Counselling Service on 020 8725 3628 [ext 3628].
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