Ambulance driver has a heart of compassion
AS soon as someone hears a siren, on our roads one of the things we associate it with is an ambulance. For William Dyer, he is one of those behind the wheel transferring or transporting a patient to the hospital’s emergency department.
Hailing from Tailevu, Mr Dyer has been a part of St John Fiji for the past 27 years and the experience has been a memorable one for him, he says.
My Dyer said his mother worked in the hospital while his brother was involved with the morgue service, so one could safely say his background leaned towards the medical area.
Previously, he was working at Save the Children Fiji before applying for a vacancy as an ambulance driver. He shared how his interest in being an ambulance officer started when he joined the profession.
Mr Dyer said it was a pleasant experience when he was asked by a staff to take one of their vans for a test run.
He was told that day his role would include being a qualified paramedic after receiving relevant training.
He said this came as a surprise initially for him as he thought it would just be any other normal driver’s role but he has since appreciated what his work would involve.
Mr Dyer did not think his passion for driving and being a first aid responder would have started from that very first exposure... but it certainly has 27 years later.
He said being able to help a patient by simply transporting them for medical attention was always a worthwhile experience.
"I really enjoy, every hour, and every day of work," he said.
The best part of this job is when you transport the patient to the hospital safe and sound, and they appreciate what you do, he said.
"You should have a heart for this kind of work and you need to be compassionate.
This helps with your daily tasks and duties, he said.
"When you off load a patient they will always thank you genuinely and hold your hand to say Vinaka Vaka levu."
That experience alone can be so satisfying, he shared.
Communication is another important part of his job.
During an emergency run, ambulance officers like Mr Dyer are accompanied by an ambulance crew who perform the necessary medical attention needed for any patient they transport to the hospital.
The work as an ambulance officer is more than just steering the wheel and communicating as the lives of patients are in their hands.
With over 40 years of driving experience under his belt he shared timely advice for all road users on the importance of being vigilant and aware of what’s happening on our roads.
Pedestrians and drivers need to always make way for the ambulance during these emergency runs to allow patients to be safely transported to the hospital.
So the next time you are on the road and you hear the siren of an ambulance make way quickly to allow room for them to safely cart their patients to the hospital. It could very well be about saving a life.