Celebrating International Paramedics Day

Today is the first ever International Paramedics Day, recognising and celebrating the work carried out by paramedics and first responders around the world.

The day has been created by the College of Paramedics, with the 8^th July chosen as it was also the birthday of Dominique-Jean Larrey, who is often referred to as the ‘father of the modern-day ambulance services.’ Larrey was Napoleon’s chief surgeon and introduced the idea of transporting wounded soldiers from the battlefield via horse and cart.

International Paramedics Day sets out to:

Celebrate paramedics and first responders around the globe and the vital role they play
Acknowledge the difference paramedics make to people's lives in almost every imaginable situation
Raise awareness of all the settings where paramedics work including primary and secondary care, GP surgeries, military, offshore, helicopter emergency medical services, education, research and telephone triage systems
Promote the profession to aspiring paramedics and students

This year’s theme is #ProudToBeAParamedic and we’ve asked some of our own colleagues to share their thoughts on what makes them proud.

Our colleagues from Cambridge Ambulance Station have also put together their own video to mark the day.

You may have seen that Leading Operations Managers Joe Cartwright and Dave Tamarro have taken the Internet by storm with their hilarious outtakes video. The outtakes were from the video below, sharing their important message about being paramedics and what it means to them.

You can join in the celebrations over on social media accounts by using the hashtag #ProudToBeAParamedic.

Thanks to all of you who respond to our patients, on behalf of ourselves, our families and friends, we’re all very glad that you’re there when we need you.

Published 8th July 2022