How we support the nation's emergency response system
Whether it's responding to a national disaster or an individual medical emergency, St John Ambulance staff and volunteers form a vital part of the nation's emergency response system. We work on the front line, alongside the emergency services.
Our volunteers are fully-trained and always on hand to offer assistance and support to those in need.
We respond quickly providing vital help for:
- major emergencies
- road accidents
- weather incidents
- fires.
During severe winter weather conditions, our 4x4 vehicles can help patients that can't be reached by traditional ambulances. They can also transport Community Nurses to provide patients their routine care and medication.
We also work with other charitable, voluntary, and statutory organisations to provide a high-quality service. This is often through the Local Resilience Forums and the ResilienceDirect network.
Our impact
In recent years, we have:
- supported the 999 emergency service, allowing the NHS to focus on major transport accidents
- provided ambulances, 4x4 vehicles, and command and control vehicles during severe weather conditions
- provided first aid cover at evacuation centres and a house-to-house welfare service in areas of inland flooding or at risk of flooding, such as during the 2015 winter floods
- evacuated residents from care homes where a utility failure has occurred
- supported A&E departments where an ‘internal major emergency’ has been declared due to exceptional demand.
