My first placement and being out on the road

When I started the paramedic science course in September, I received my timetable for the entire first year. Although I didn't know my shift times yet, I knew the start and end dates of the blocks that I'd spend either at university or out on placement. I spent some time considering what I had to look forward to in the coming months when I suddenly realised that once fresher's week was over, I had just 5 weeks at university before I'd have to complete my first 12-hour shift on a vehicle responding to 999 calls—it was a terrifying thought. Don't get me wrong, I'd been waiting to get out on the road for a very long time but those few weeks sped by so fast. I soon found myself driving to High Wycombe ambulance station wearing full South Central Ambulance Service uniform for the first time, knowing that all I had learned so far was basic life support, the use of an automated external defibrillator and how to perform the primary survey.