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Volunteering With St John's Ambulance

By: Lynne Conner - Updated: 30 Jan 2020 | comments*Discuss
 
Health Volunteering St John's Ambulance

If you would like to offer practical help to people in the area of health then volunteering with St John’s Ambulance could be ideal. It offers the opportunity to train in first aid and then to put it into practice. Members of St John’s Ambulance provide first aid training for others and attend gigs, festivals and events to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those who attend.

How to Find a Group

There are over 40,000 members of St John’s Ambulance so the chances are high that there will be a group operating in your area. Get in touch to find out about training in first aid. This is the first step in becoming a First Aider. The course will take place over several days and lasts approximately 16 hours. It will cover all the basics of dealing with emergencies such as accidents and cardiac arrest as well as showing you how to treat basic wounds cuts, bruises, strains and sprains. At the end of the course you will be awarded a certificate which is valid for up to three years and qualifies you as a registered first aider. There are also specialised courses which you can attend. These include first aid for motorcyclists, first aid for anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock) and first aid for sport.

What Working With St John Ambulance Involves

Once you have completed the course you can then volunteer as a member of St John’s Ambulance to provide support at events. Your role at an event is to monitor for people in need of medical assistance. Often you will be the first point of contact for someone with an injury or health condition. Your role is to assess their situation, inform the necessary authorities if necessary and to provide first aid if required. This will involve either treating the injury/problem or making the person comfortable until further medical assistance such as an ambulance arrives.

What Personal Qualities Will you Need?

To fulfil this role you need to be calm, patient and methodical with a good grasp of conditions and an awareness of suitable treatments. As you will be dealing with people who may be upset or distressed you will need to have a gentle, reassuring manner to help comfort them and put them at their ease.

Experienced first aiders can go on to take on other roles within St John’s Ambulance. For example you could become a cycle responder. You attend events, marches and gigs in the usual way but attend on bicycle, giving you quicker and better access to the crowds. You join a cycling unit and if necessary receive cycling training to National Standard Level three.

Another route for an experienced first aider to follow is to become a trainer. St John’s Ambulance trains over half a million people in first aid every year. Full training is provided to prepare you to run an entire course whether it is a basic three hour course or a more extensive one lasting several days.

In addition to first aid work there are other ways in which you can volunteer with St John’s Ambulance. If you choose to volunteer for a support role you could end up helping out with promoting the service, raising funds or helping out with administration.

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[Add a Comment]
Ex mental health nurse. Good in a crisis. Have done previous basic and advanced life support. Would like to do a defibrillator course please. Thank you. Possibly emergency responder. Thanks again.
Valley_babes - 30-Jan-20 @ 10:20 PM
I live in Harefield Middx I can offer 3/4 hours voluntary service two Friday's a month. How do I find more information
Ali - 11-Jan-19 @ 8:30 PM
St. John Scotland provides volunteering opportunities including transport of cancer &are also patients to their treatment centre. First responders in Angus assist those in cardiac arrest. Full training given.
N/a - 12-Jan-17 @ 11:23 PM
Hi I'm lookin to work for Leeds ambulance as s driver or volunteer worker in Leeds I've no experance wondering if I could stil help as a volunteer
Dolly - 2-Jan-17 @ 8:41 PM
Hi I'm looking to work for Leeds ambulance as a driver or volunteer worker I've no experance jus wondering if I can still do volunteer work in Leeds
Dolly - 2-Jan-17 @ 8:37 PM
SandyPandy113 - Your Question:
Hi, I am looking for a Volunteer working position. I was a student at college for 4/5 years. I studied Health & Social Care (Level 3 BTEC). As I am currently out work. I need something to occupy myself with. So I thought why not volunteer. Is there any number available that I can possibly get in contact with via mobile. Possible if immediate start. I live in East London. Many thanks.

Our Response:
Here's the St John's Ambulance volunteering page you could also try one of the London Volunteer Centre - here is a list.
VoluntaryWorker - 22-Nov-16 @ 2:01 PM
Hi, I am looking for a Volunteer working position. I was a student at college for 4/5 years. I studied Health & Social Care (Level 3 BTEC). As I am currently out work. I need something to occupy myself with. So I thought why not volunteer. Is there any number available that I can possibly get in contact with via mobile. Possible if immediate start. I live in East London. Many thanks.
SandyPandy113 - 22-Nov-16 @ 4:20 AM
One thing again I have a BAA certificate, and registered with HPCSA. I passed my Basic Ambulance Assistant course
Bility - 22-Nov-15 @ 7:27 AM
I wish to volunteer with any local ambulance or firefighting company.I live in rusternburg ,MeritingExt1
Bility - 22-Nov-15 @ 7:24 AM
bel - Your Question:
Hi I'm looking to volunteer my time to help others, I live in Loughborough, Leicestershire is there anybody I can contact in this area to see if I can help? Many thanks Bel

Our Response:
Contact East Midlands SJA on 0303 003 0103
VoluntaryWorker - 16-Nov-15 @ 12:55 PM
Hi I'm looking to volunteer my time to help others, I live in Loughborough, Leicestershire is there anybody I can contact in this area to see if I can help? Many thanks Bel
bel - 14-Nov-15 @ 1:04 PM
@SeanG. In Scotland it's St Andrew's First Aid. here's the page where you can apply to volunteer.
VoluntaryWorker - 31-Mar-15 @ 2:30 PM
Hello I'm currently a lifeguard in Glasgow Life but I am looking for a volunteering opportunity. Do you have a number to contact for the local St John's ambulance in Glasgow? Thank you.
SeanG - 28-Mar-15 @ 9:25 AM
@Shazz. To find general volunteering opportunities try: Doncaster CVS. To volunteer with the Doncaster Area St John Ambulance, contact the Regional office at Ossett T: 01924 268672 or email north-east-hr@sja.org.uk
VoluntaryWorker - 27-Feb-15 @ 2:28 PM
Please could you tel me where I can do volunteering work in Doncaster as I would like to look after people or children how need help and support and I also would like to do volunteering work with St Jonns ambulancethank you.From sharon
Shazz - 25-Feb-15 @ 3:34 PM
@Leeds. St Johns is a great place to start if you want to volunteer in first aid. The contact details for the Leeds area can be found here
VoluntaryWorker - 2-Jun-14 @ 1:57 PM
I have always loved first aid and wanted to become a voluntary worker,I've always been a first responder at work,and also been a lifeguard for many years,I would love to do voluntary work,please can you help me fulfill this smbition
Leeds - 1-Jun-14 @ 10:06 PM
I am very interested in volunteering for St Johns Ambulance and I would like to know how to apply in the Birmingham area.
red - 6-Feb-14 @ 12:42 PM
i really want to voulnteer with st johns ambulance
dannyboy - 21-Jan-12 @ 8:33 AM
will you please tell me where my nearest st johns club is? im in the Derby/Ashbouren area
dale - 7-Jun-11 @ 3:27 PM
I am a dental technician wich has advanced paramedic courses and I'd like to work as a volunteer in an ambulance, and in the future obtain a paramedic job on in an ambulance. Kind regards. Please email me.
- - 28-May-11 @ 11:02 AM
I would like to Volunteer for St Johns Amblance
nicks - 18-May-11 @ 7:26 PM
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