By CASEY NEILL
PARAMEDIC Peter Simpson has dedicated more than three decades of his life to helping strangers when they need it most, but he considers the role a privilege.
The 56-year-old was among 59 paramedics and ambulance employees presented with Ambulance Victoria staff service awards late last month.
Mr Simpson accepted 30-year awards for long service and safe driving at a ceremony at SkyHigh Mt Dandenong.
He only pursued the career because his application for the police force – following in his father’s footsteps – was turned down.
“I had a very mild colour vision deficit, which wouldn’t stop you getting in today,” he said.
He came across an advertisement for paramedics while looking through a newspaper, and thought back to a car accident he encountered at age 19.
“I just had a natural instinct to pull up and to help,” he said.
“There were adults there older than me, panicking.
“That fuelled the ambition to go for it. Rather than be scared, I wanted to know what to do.”
He applied for the job – along with 1000 other hopefuls.
“I had no credentials at all. I thought ‘I need something medical, I haven’t seen a sick person in my life’,” he said.
Mr Simpson worked at Dandenong Hospital as an orderly for 12 months, completed first aid courses and reapplied.
That was in 1981, and he hasn’t looked back. He worked in the city then did a stint in Gippsland before completing Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) training in 1986.
“Then I went up to the helicopter,” he said
He worked as a flight paramedic with the air ambulance for 12 years, and came to the Dandenong MICA station four years ago for a change of pace.
His regular call-outs range from patients with shortness of breath to car crashes, to farm accidents involving tractors and chainsaws.
“You’re there to help, do the best you can,” he said.
“Often luck plays a part, why some survive and others don’t. You don’t take it personally.
“But you’ve got to remain human, and you’re not bulletproof.”
Mr Simpson said it was a privilege to treat people.
“It could be someone with a stubbed toe, or delivering babies, or someone with their head blown off,” he said.
“The trust that people have for you. You walk into their homes a complete stranger.
“I don’t think you get that in many other jobs.”
He found himself on the other side of a medical emergency less than a year ago when he suffered a heart attack. He’d thought his chest pain was indigestion.
“You can get caught out,” he said.
“We’re getting more people like that.”
Mr Simpson returned to the job he loves – and surfing – after two months.
“I haven’t had any other issues since. There’s still life in me yet,” he said.
