Emergency Ambulance Services Celebrate Paramedics And First Responders
Created in 2022 by the College of Paramedics in the United Kingdom, the annual event honours all paramedics and first responders and highlights the power of teamwork and collaboration.
Last year, Hato Hone St John's more than 5,000 paid and volunteer ambulance personnel responded to more than 450,000 incidents nationwide and Wellington Free Ambulance's over 200 paramedics and first responders attended more than 54,000 emergencies across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa.
Peter Bradley, Hato Hone St John Chief Executive, acknowledges how the paramedic role has developed significantly over the decades, with St John first responders commencing their service to New Zealanders in 1885.
'For 140 years and counting, our people have served their communities, from giving basic first aid at events, to playing a crucial role in pre-hospital care.
'We are incredibly grateful to all our ambulance personnel who continue to make a life-changing differences in the face of growing demand for emergency services and an increasingly busy public health sector.'
With this year's theme centered on 'Unity and Community', the two emergency ambulance service providers are celebrating the different ways in which paramedics, their colleagues and partners, work together to support each other and their communities, while overcoming challenges to deliver the best possible care.
David Robinson, Wellington Free Ambulance Chief Executive, says, 'This International Paramedics Day, I'd like to acknowledge and thank our incredible paramedics for their tireless dedication and commitment and the difference they make to their communities – 24/7, 365 days a year.
'It's not an exaggeration to say that unity and community are absolutely essential to Wellington Free Ambulance. There's a real sense of camaraderie in our paramedic workforce; they've got each other's backs, which allows them to show up for our communities feeling fully supported. Unified teams that share valuable knowledge, skills, and experience lead to better patient outcomes.
'Caring for, and being supported by, our community is at the very heart of everything we do. It's the ongoing support and generosity of our incredible community that allows us to be here for anyone who needs us in Greater Wellington and Wairarapa, 24/7, free of charge.'
Dan Ohs, Hato Hone St John Deputy Chief Executive – Ambulance Operations, says the day shines a spotlight on the significant contribution paramedics and first responders make across a wide range of roles.
'Ambulance personnel across the country work under high pressure, challenging conditions, when people are at their most vulnerable. We appreciate their skills, knowledge, and commitment to caring for patients.
'A huge thank you to all our ambulance personnel and everyone who supports them. You make a genuine difference to people's lives through the incredible work you do.'
To mark the occasion on 8 July, several national landmarks will be lit up in yellow and green – the colours of emergency ambulances in New Zealand.
Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance invite the public to join them in acknowledging and thanking all the paramedics and first responders who serve in their communities.
The landmarks being lit up on International Paramedics Day include:
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