BEHIND every emergency response is a person who chooses, every day, to answer someone else’s worst moment with skill, courage and compassion.

These people are paramedics – ordinary men and women who go beyond the call of duty to save lives, who answer the call to bravery, responding to emergencies, with many ending in tragedy.

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Their bravery is celebrated annually on International Paramedics Day, 8 July.

Speaking to the ZO on Wednesday, Empangeni paramedic Joe Kruger of Mounties Emergency Service describes it as more than just a profession; as a calling.

“I never thought I would be a paramedic, but the job has actually chosen me,” he said.

“I think it makes a big difference if you’re doing the job because you want to do something, or if you’re actually called for it.”

Kruger said paramedics have become more than just ‘ambulance drivers’. They are highly skilled professionals.

“The training has become so advanced now. You need a higher certificate, which is a one-year study, or you can go up to four years of study and beyond.

“We don’t do short courses anymore. They are trying to standardise the training at the moment,” said Kruger.

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This call of duty is, however, not without its fair share of challenges.

“I think the biggest challenge is the number of calls we can get through in the day,” said Kruger.

“With the current shortage of paramedics in South Africa, we have the problem of multiple casualties.

“Everybody wants to be treated, but you have only two hands, and can treat only one patient at a time.

“So that’s becoming very challenging. And then we also sit with those motorists who race through accident scenes without slowing down,” he said.

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