Why volunteer?

There's been a discussion recently on neenaw.co.uk, inspired by a comment made by a Community First Responder in response to a shift Mark did with the Ambulance Service:

I’m a neighbourhood responder, and we have the same jolt every time the pager goes - half hoping to have to resus some poor soul, but secretly grateful if it’s Mrs Wobbly fallen off her commode again. I’ve attended three suspended, two as first on scene, one attempted (but hopeless) resus. Definitely NOT glamorous for anyone involved. A successful resus might be exciting but as poor neenaw has discovered in reality purple mostly means dead, not ‘waiting to spring back to life having been defibbed by a hero’.

Unfortunately, a HCP under the name of Sharon replied to this with a few, what I thought to be, harsh words:

erm “Treasure” after reading your post I now completely understand why ambulance staff dislike community responders so much.

>>the same jolt every time the pager goes - half hoping to have to resus some poor soul

>>A successful resus might be exciting

>>waiting to spring back to life having been defibbed by a hero

absolutely pathetic is what I think of these comments. I’m hoping I don’t live in the community that you operate your “heroric” (snigger) scheme.

Now, at the risk of being called "pathetic", I, to an extent, agree with Treasure's comments. As a member of St John Ambulance, I'm used to standing around for ages on duty. I'm very, very used to it in fact. And sometimes, in those dark moments, you do find yourself hoping for something to do. Something to relieve the boredom.

Normally, your humanity returns quite quickly and you realise that it's sick, and twisted, and demented that in order for you to have something to do, somebody out there has to injure themselves. (Either that, or you remember the amount of paperwork that you'll have to do, at which point you decide otherwise! )

Of course, patients aren't just something for us to do - as Sharon quite rightly pointed out, they're real peple. With feelings. Just like me. Just like treasure, and just like the thousands of other volunteers out there who work damn hard to help people. We don't do it glory, nor the money, but for our own personal reasons.

Personally, I like the challenge. When you go on duty, you never know what you might see. You might see nothing at all, or you might end up up to your eyeballs in really, really, really, really, really sick patients. And the challenge of having to assess and react to each one of those situations correctly and in good time is an immense challenge.

Sticking a plaster on isn't exactly my idea of a challenge, nor is putting Aunt Betty back in bed. Something more serious (such as an arrest) is a challenge though, so does that make me too keen? Does that mean I'm in the organisation for the wrong reasons?

Thoughts on a postcard please...