Every day, our paramedics are asked dozens of questions about SA Ambulance Service. Here, Intensive Care Paramedic Jenni Reeves answers some of the most common ones.

When we arrive at work, my partner and I check the ambulance to make sure that the vehicle and all the equipment is properly stocked and in good working order.

At the start of our shift, the Communications Centre calls us to make sure we're in communication and ready to respond.

As soon as they have a job for us, the Communications Centre will call us and tell us the suburb and priority of the case. While we're driving to the scene, the communications officer continues to update us with additional details of the patient's condition as well as other relevant information, e.g. whether police or the fire service are in attendance, or whether fuel or power lines are down at the scene.

When we arrive, we firstly treat any life-threatening conditions. We gather a history of what's happened to the patient and decide the correct treatment to give. While we transport the patient to hospital, one paramedic continues the appropriate treatment for the patient in the back of the ambulance and completes a case history, while the other paramedic drives. We take turns treating and driving.

Sometimes a family member or friend of the patient will ride in the front, and the paramedic driving will explain to them what is happening.

When we arrive at the hospital, the patient is taken into the emergency department. We explain to the doctor and nursing staff what has happened and the treatment we have given, and we leave them the case details, which we've recorded.

We have a place to sit in the ambulance station; and we might read, study, watch TV, or wash the ambulance. If we're on night duty we can get a few hours sleep if it's not busy, as long as we're ready to go as soon as the Communications Centre calls us.

Paramedics are trained to work in difficult conditions and to take care of people in emergency situations. When we arrive at a scene we know what to do and we're busy caring for the patients. Although it may look very bad and people may be very upset, once we've assessed them and started treating them, in most cases we can see an improvement in their condition. Being actively involved in dealing with a situation puts us in a different position to the general public. We're not just looking on. We're always doing something; and so, our viewpoint is often very different.

However, if we feel stressed, or our partners notice the signs of stress developing, we have a group of experienced paramedics who have special training in counselling. They're available for us to talk to about the cases we've attended.

No. Not everyone who calls an ambulance needs to go to hospital. Sometimes when we're called, the patient turns out to be alright or we can treat them where they are. It's always better to call us if you aren't sure because we're able to assess the patient and decide whether any emergency treatment is needed.

As well as attending emergencies, paramedics also take patients to clinics and pre-arranged medical appointments. A Doctor decides whether the patient needs an ambulance for this.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us by mail or email . We will be pleased to find out the information for you.