Student Paramedic Jon Sharp gives us feedback from Ambulex® 2012, hosted at the Fire Service Training College this June. Formally known as ‘Ambex’, the event has grown and is now in its fourth year, attracting visitors from the public and private ambulance sectors with management from many frontline NHS Trusts represented. The event brings UK ambulance and rescue professionals together and puts on show frontline ambulance, PTS vehicles, paramedic vehicles, high performance motorcycles and cars, together with patient care and vehicle support, equipment and services. As expected the venue was lit by the many flashing blue lights from the demonstration vehicles.
Ambulex2012 is free to attend, with over 70 suppliers, demonstrations and prototype vehicles on display along with CPD sessions by the College of Paramedics. Admittedly, the main arenas are aimed towards senior managers, with suppliers wishing to generate new business, but for our student Paramedic, the favorite had to be the “free to attend” CPD sessions hosted by the College of Paramedics. Here the College demonstrated what they do best, presenting a Q&A session after an RTC demonstration by critical care paramedics and gaining input from the spectators. Further CPD sessions were hosted throughout the day by the College with CPD certificates printed on site. Visitors where encouraged to sign up to the college for a reduced price on the day. Amongst the presentations, a session on being newly qualified as a paramedic, looking at what to expect and asking “should we as healthcare professionals be supporting this group more”? Members of the College and British Army presented an informative session on current haemorrhage control and interventions being used in the Middle East. Delegates where able to get their hands on the equipment used whilst taking aboard hints and tips from the professionals who have used these devices in the field.
What is important to remember for our student Paramedic is that although the venue had onsite catering facilities, they did come at a cost! All in all, this is a free to attend expo in a special location and offering a learning experiences, but we will be looking forward to the larger scale shows later this year … see you at the next show.