Son followed dad in service

MATTHEW Johns grew up in awe of his paramedic father, knowing he saved lives.

As a young man, Mr Johns made a commitment to follow in his dad’s footsteps and that dedication led to a job in US.

But paramedics in the US are a little different to their Australian counterparts.

Mr Johns works for the Newport News Fire Department, which doubles as the city’s ambulance service.

“I think it is a good way of doing things,” he said.

“Everyone knows what is going on, and I think they do it to save money, because we are all housed together.”

The blended role will see Mr Johns fighting fires one day than attending to a patient suffering a heart attack the next.

“I have been to six shootings since I graduated from the academy last year,” he said.

“The crime rate where I am is very high, so we get a lot of shootings, gang-related stuff and stabbings.”

Mr Johns started with the emergency services while studying at St Josephs Catholic College, when he joined the Withcott Rural Fire Brigade.

After school, he was a paramedic in the Central Queensland mines and an auxiliary firefighter stationed at Anzac Ave.

The US job made him appreciate our medical system.

“We see a lot of people with chronic conditions who could have been minor if they kept up with their medication, but they cannot afford it,” Mr Johns said.

The working conditions are rough, with a standard shift in the US running for 24 hours.

“If you’re on a paramedic shift, it can be working nonstop,” he said.

“It’s a cultural thing, but they have no concept of fatigue management.

“If you pick up overtime, you can do 72 hours straight.”

DUAL PURPOSE: Toowoomba man Matthew Johns works in the US as a firefighter paramedic. He was inspired to serve after growing up with a father who was in the Queensland Ambulance Service.

Matthew Johns (right) attends a car fire with a fellow firefighter. Dealing with crime is a big part of his job in the US.