not the time. 7 years ago

I had a cyber-chat with the new boss. He will only give me clearance to sign up for the training if I’m more involved as a paramedic in the next few months. He says that, as a driver, I’ll often be alone in the van (when my team is with a victim, or when I fetch the van at the garage, and so on), so I have to be able to work alone as well as in team. He’s right. I can’t let people down just because “Sorry, I know I’m a trained paramedic in a Red Cross ambulance, but my teammates are busy with a victim in the building behind you, and I’m more accustomed to work with one or two other people, so that’s too bad if you’re bleeding your guts out, I just can’t operate all the machines and do everything on my own. Please postpone your death for at least 25 minutes, they should be back by then.”

I like it that the new boss is responsible and demanding. This way I can trust him. 7 years ago

It’s not that big a deal to learn either. You have to take a class on emergency vehicle driving, which includes a road test at the end, but the best part is getting to use lights and sirens. Plus if you’re the driver, you don’t have to do the tripsheet after the call. 7 years ago

I talked to S. about the training course… yesterday. I should have done it weeks ago.

Anyway, he’s still okay with my becoming an ambulance driver. He’ll start training me in mid-August. I’m really happy.

I’m really frightened, too. Driving fast with sirens screaming, burning red lights, taking one-way streets the wrong way, with four colleagues behind me, and injured people waiting for us to save their lives is, well, a bit of a responsibility. 7 years ago

HA!
S., who’s directly responsible for ambulance driver training, agreed to sign me up – J., his boss, is still a prick, would still try to prevent me from being included in the program… and simply hasn’t been told. I certainly won’t mention it to him either.

I just have to go through some paperwork with S. and whoosh! the wheel is mine.

L. will be in charge of most of the lessons, too. 8 years ago

Well, as soon as J. stops being a prick, I will begin training.
Which gives me time, obviously… 8 years ago