About Us
We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
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Introducing Graduate Intern: Rebecca
Introducing Graduate Intern: Rebecca
17 November 2020
When Rebecca was young, her dad needed an ambulance. She remembers the amazing Wellington Free Ambulance staff taking care of him that day and how he’s received expert medical care every time he’s needed an ambulance since.
Seeing the level of care for her dad received is what kick started her avid interest in helping others, something Rebecca is outworking at Wellington Free Ambulance today.
“To be a part of this community and help so many people really means a lot to me. It’s pretty awesome to be able to take what you have learnt out into the community and help those who need it,” she says.
Rebecca enjoys working for Wellington Free Ambulance as it’s a community of dedicated people working to help those in need.
The best parts of her year so far include meeting new people – both colleagues and patients, learning new skills and helping Wellington Free makes a difference in people’s lives on a daily basis.
“Being on the road is very different to being a student. The thing that excites me the most about going to work is not knowing what the day is going to hold, what we’re going to be doing or who we are going to meet.
“I remember a patient who collapsed in front of us. It turned out they were having a cardiac arrest. We shocked the patient and got their heart back into a healthy rhythm; they then woke up and started talking to us.”
The impact she has on people’s lives and how awesome the public can be in an emergency is something Rebecca loves.
“The community do a lot in supporting us in our work. There is often people around our patients and they help them before we get there, during the time we’re there, and often after we have left.
“Support for patients is extremely important and sometimes the best thing is to have someone with them, whether that’s accompanying them to hospital, looking after pets or children, or organising phone calls to relatives.”
Rounding out the year, Rebecca is proud to see how far she’s come since finishing her paramedicine degree – being able to advance as an Emergency Medical Technician was just one highlight.
One thing she’d encourage others who have an interest in helping others to complete a first aid course and learn CPR for starters.
“There are so many statistics showing how early CPR and defibrillation increases the chance of survival of those who suffer a cardiac arrest; and potentially, the patients that we are likely going to save are those that often could or are saved by members of the public.”