SPENDING a day at work with your parents could be an eye-opening experience.
And this was precisely the case for Jordan Clarke-Rivers – who despite being an ambulance service call handler was surprised to see exactly what her paramedic parents did when out on the road.
The 19-year-old joined dad, Jim, and mum, Joanne, for a shift on an ambulance last month when she was treated to a less than conventional family day out.
Jordan, who lives in Horndon-on-the-Hill with her parents and younger sister Jodi, 17, said: “We’ve grown up knowing our parents have always been paramedics but when I actually went out with them I realised it’s a lot different to how I imagined. They are very sympathetic with elderly people and people who really need an ambulance. It was lovely to see them being that caring towards others. I’m really proud of them.”
Having started with the East of England ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) last November, Jordan feels that the experience has helped her in her job taking 999 calls in the Chelmsford control centre. She said: “When you are on the phone you just have to imagine what’s going on. Out on the road you see the other side of it. It makes it more real.”
Jim Rivers, a paramedic since 1980, normally works alone on a response car but occasionally does ambulance shifts with wife Joanne. He said: “It was nice to be out on the road with both of them. Jordan saw the other side of it. Afterwards, she became so appreciative and understanding of the kind of work we do. She saw that we do a good job and realised that we’re not quite the daft parents she thought we were!”
Joanne Clarke-Rivers, a paramedic since 1988, said: “Some patients were surprised that mum, dad and daughter had gone into the same career. Jordan thoroughly enjoyed it and there was a job that touched her heart, but thankfully she didn’t see anything horrific. At the end of the day she was proud.”
On working with Jim, Joanne added: “We usually have a good day together. A lot of people wouldn’t be able to tolerate working with their other half but we get on well.”
