You called an ambulance for what?

By Kimberly Grabham

Tim Booth (pictured above) is the son of Lyn and Ken Booth, formerly of Hay.

Tim has written a book, titled, You Called an Ambulance for What?

“I was surprised it sold so well, it was received well and sold well,” he said. “I am an average bloke from a small town after all.”

You Called an Ambulance for What? details the crazy and curious reasons people calling emergency services, and are situations he experienced while working as a paramedic in Sydney.

“The book is very much a concentrated look at the weird and silly reasons people call on emergency services,” he said. “It was written in a funny, jovial way but actually was written to try and send a serious message.

“90 per cent of all calls made to triple zero are for non-emergencies. This means that for real emergencies, such as serious car accidents, the time paramedics can get to you to provide help can be unnecessarily lengthened.

“Instead of that ambulance three minutes away arriving quickly, a serious accident tragically might be waiting 20 minutes for the next closest ambulance, as that one three minutes away is already tied up answering a call for gastro.”

Tim said that 95 per cent of the time, his role is pretty straightforward, answering calls at aged care facilities, long drives to and from locations and jobs, attending to people with chronic pain, amongst other duties.

“The book is a small sliver of insight into the industry much like reality TV shows about paramedics,” he said.

“A lot of the time, life is a lot calmer.”

After spending the first 18 years of his life in Hay, Tim was bursting to spread his wings, and discover what was out in the world as soon as he could.

Accepted into a Media/Communications degree at Wollongong University, he was thrust into a new part of his life.

In what Tim describes as a lucky break, the first journalistic role he was offered was a role at Top Gear Magazine.

“I felt incredibly lucky, it was a huge opportunity,” Tim said.

“I had completed a little work experience with Top Gear a time before. When a role came up, I applied, and was lucky to get it.

“Suddenly, I was a 21-year-old graduate that got to drive fast cars around and write about it. But, like every job there is always 30 per cent excitement, 70 per cent work.”

After about five years, Tim decided that he was ready for a career change. So, it was back to university to gain qualifications to become a paramedic.

Tim said he would never totally discount a further career change down the line. Constant learning is something he loves and always strives for. However, he is extremely happy in his job, and loves what he does.

It was a bit of a tightrope walk writing a book on this subject while employed for a large health sector, but Tim handled it all well.

He moved to a different area of the state before writing about his experiences in Sydney.

He works for the same employer these days.

One of Tim’s earliest memories relating to emergency services stuck with him for a long time.

“When I was in primary school, we had an ambulance officer visit, most likely Robert Marmont,” he said. “He went through all of the services that ambulance officers undertake, and detailed when to call the ambulance and for why. This talk really stuck with me over time, I never forgot that talk.

“When I began working in the industry, I realised that not everyone had that same talk when they were younger.

Tim did expect the book would be polarising considering the topics covered, but they are important issues that need highlighting.

“In no way am I attacking any segment of society, there are always segments of the population that will waste people’s time,” he said.

Congratulations Tim, the book is fascinating, and aims to get a vital message across; 000 is for emergencies only.

A fantastic read, You Called an Ambulance for What? Is available to read in the Riverine Grazier bookshop.