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Interview with paramedics Emily and Matilda from 'How to Save a Life'.
12 Plays6 months ago
Emily and Matilda are two mums/paramedics/best friends who are also Founders of a business together called How to Save a Life. This incredible business teaches carers, soon to be parents and new parents, and in fact anyone who is around young children, Baby First Aid and CPR Training. Their business began in the front seat of an ambulance, they had spent many hours at university together, worked countless 12 hour shifts as paramedics together and then embarked on motherhood at the same time. They were seeing a real lack of first aid awareness and training within parents and the community, with people relying solely on an ambulance to “save” someone, when in fact there is a lot you can do before an ambulance arrives that can make a difference! Enjoy this amazing chat with Emily and Matilda.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast
00:00:10
Speaker
G'day, I'm Trent Maxwell.
00:00:11
Speaker
And I'm Leigh Mason.
00:00:12
Speaker
And we want to welcome you to our Live, Learn, Survive podcast.
00:00:14
Speaker
Since 2018, Leigh and I travelled the globe and met face-to-face over 31,000 children in six countries across three continents.
00:00:21
Speaker
We created a series of award-winning children's books, a global online education program, and are founders of the Live, Learn, Survive charity, all focused on teaching children and young adults life skills that will not only help themselves, but help others too.
00:00:32
Speaker
We're on a mission to spread awareness about fire, water safety and first aid education to inspire the next generation of first responders.
Special Guests: Emily and Matilda
00:00:38
Speaker
So join us for the next half an hour with some fun, inspiration and kindness and we'll try and learn something too.
00:00:43
Speaker
How are you this week, Lee?
00:00:45
Speaker
Welcome aboard.
00:00:46
Speaker
Maxie, I am great and strangely enough again, I'm sat next to you.
00:00:49
Speaker
I'm in Sydney this time.
00:00:51
Speaker
You are.
00:00:51
Speaker
So, you know, normally, you know, I'm in Brisbane.
00:00:54
Speaker
Today we're together in Brisbane.
00:00:56
Speaker
Sydney and another unique location Maxie.
00:00:59
Speaker
Very unique location.
00:01:00
Speaker
We're in the Holiday Inn here in Mascot.
00:01:02
Speaker
In the restaurant.
00:01:06
Speaker
We're in transit but today is a special day because we've got two
Founding How to Save a Life
00:01:11
Speaker
great guests.
00:01:11
Speaker
One of our favourite day.
00:01:12
Speaker
These ladies are absolutely amazing.
00:01:14
Speaker
So guests again Maxie and shall I go into the intro?
00:01:18
Speaker
I reckon the well-deserved intro.
00:01:20
Speaker
Absolutely.
00:01:21
Speaker
So joining us today are Emily and Matilda, two mums, best friends, and most importantly, paramedics, who are also the founders of a business together called How to Save a Life.
00:01:35
Speaker
This incredible business teaches carers, soon to be parents and new parents,
00:01:42
Speaker
and in fact anyone who is around young children, baby first aid and CPR training.
00:01:48
Speaker
Their business began in the front seat of an ambulance.
00:01:50
Speaker
They'd spent many hours at uni together, worked countless 12-hour shifts together as paramedics, and then embarked on motherhood at the same time.
Paramedic Partnership and Training
00:01:59
Speaker
What they were seeing was a real lack of first aid awareness and training within parents and people relying on the ambulance to save somebody when in fact, as we know, there is a lot that you can actually do before the ambulance arrives that makes a difference.
00:02:15
Speaker
So let's get started and hear more about these two amazing ladies.
00:02:19
Speaker
As we always say, we'll learn something too.
00:02:22
Speaker
Welcome, Emily and Matilda.
00:02:24
Speaker
Thank you for joining us.
00:02:25
Speaker
Hi, guys.
00:02:25
Speaker
Hi, thank you so much for having us.
00:02:28
Speaker
Thank you.
00:02:29
Speaker
It's great to finally make this happen.
00:02:31
Speaker
I know it's been in the pipeline for the last couple of months and it's awesome to see the both of you here and I look forward to everyone hearing the great stuff that you guys do, not just paramedics but with the business that you guys do.
00:02:44
Speaker
Absolutely.
00:02:45
Speaker
Do you want to start off with the first question?
00:02:46
Speaker
I'll get rolling.
00:02:47
Speaker
So ladies, please start.
00:02:49
Speaker
Tell us in first from both of you, how about your paramedic journey?
00:02:55
Speaker
Tell us about that one first.
00:02:57
Speaker
Yeah.
00:02:57
Speaker
So Matilda and I have been paramedics in Sydney for the past seven years.
00:03:02
Speaker
And for about the last five of those years, we've been lucky enough to work
00:03:06
Speaker
together in the ambulance as partners.
00:03:09
Speaker
So we have a lot of fun together.
00:03:11
Speaker
We've gone through a lot together and we literally live parallel lives.
00:03:16
Speaker
We're both mums, as you said before.
00:03:18
Speaker
Matilda has two kids.
00:03:20
Speaker
I am
Working Dynamics and Support Systems
00:03:21
Speaker
pregnant with my second child.
00:03:23
Speaker
So yeah, we're very much living the same sort of life.
00:03:25
Speaker
But
00:03:26
Speaker
Yeah, in 2016, that's when we both met at uni.
00:03:30
Speaker
So we both studied the Bachelor of Paramedic Practice and that was at the University of Tasmania, but Sydney campus.
00:03:38
Speaker
And that's how we met, which is funny because we actually grew up five minutes apart and we didn't know each other before then.
00:03:45
Speaker
But yeah, so Bachelor of Paramedic Practice degree, it's a three year degree, but it was compressed into two years.
00:03:51
Speaker
So it was pretty intense.
00:03:53
Speaker
We didn't have much time off.
00:03:55
Speaker
And it was a pretty practical degree, which was great because I'm a practical learner.
00:03:59
Speaker
So throughout the degree, we did three one month placements where we worked on road in an ambulance with two qualified paramedics attending jobs and treating patients.
00:04:10
Speaker
So that was a really good start to our paramedic training.
00:04:15
Speaker
And then towards the end of the degree, we started applying for full-time jobs.
00:04:19
Speaker
So you could apply for various jobs within Australia, so different ambulance services within Australia.
00:04:26
Speaker
And you could also apply overseas.
00:04:28
Speaker
So lots of people we know applied for London Ambulance Service.
00:04:31
Speaker
So there's heaps of options there.
00:04:33
Speaker
Yep.
00:04:35
Speaker
So it's a worldwide recognised university degree.
00:04:39
Speaker
But Matilda and I both really wanted to work in New South Wales and we were lucky enough to both land jobs here.
00:04:47
Speaker
Yeah, and the interview and selection process was pretty intense.
00:04:50
Speaker
It consisted of a lot of interviews, a lot of exams, a lot of practical assessments.
00:04:55
Speaker
So it was pretty stressful, but we got through it and luckily we had each other by each other's side.
00:05:01
Speaker
Who got the job first?
00:05:04
Speaker
Who had to tell the other one, I've got the job?
00:05:07
Speaker
We actually got the job at the same time.
00:05:09
Speaker
It was been a couple of hours.
00:05:11
Speaker
Yeah.
00:05:11
Speaker
We got the email.
00:05:13
Speaker
Yeah.
00:05:13
Speaker
Who got the email first?
00:05:15
Speaker
Maybe Matilda.
00:05:17
Speaker
I was overseas.
00:05:18
Speaker
I was in Canada at the time on a holiday.
00:05:20
Speaker
So there was a bit of a, yeah.
00:05:22
Speaker
That's awesome.
00:05:23
Speaker
Time difference.
00:05:24
Speaker
Incredible.
00:05:25
Speaker
And what station or area do you guys work in now?
00:05:29
Speaker
So we both work in the north of Sydney.
00:05:32
Speaker
So basically when you finish uni, you do your first year as a trainee paramedic at one specific station and you work alongside a qualified paramedic.
00:05:43
Speaker
And then after that year, then you're assigned your permanent stations.
00:05:47
Speaker
And then we both work at the same station now and have been for the last year.
00:05:51
Speaker
five years or so um that's amazing you really are on on um you know like you say what you're never going to be able to put split your walk yeah do you want to hear people like other paramedics say it all the time like do you guys do anything without each other
00:06:09
Speaker
We go on mat leave together, we come back and then we're pregnant again together.
00:06:13
Speaker
Yeah, we've been very lucky.
00:06:15
Speaker
Yeah, it works well because we're both working part-time.
Importance of First Aid Training
00:06:19
Speaker
We work the same day, same shift, so it's just easy for them to put us together really.
00:06:23
Speaker
Yeah, you make the roster in easier, I bet.
00:06:26
Speaker
Yeah.
00:06:26
Speaker
I know how fun it is to work.
00:06:28
Speaker
At the Bankstown Fire Station I work at, I literally work with three of my best mates.
00:06:33
Speaker
Yeah.
00:06:34
Speaker
I know exactly what it's like to have someone by your side on those bigger, tough days, some of those bigger jobs that we attend as lawyers and as paramedics.
00:06:45
Speaker
So it's very important and we're so lucky to have that support as well, that peer support.
00:06:50
Speaker
It definitely makes the shifts go a lot quicker.
00:06:54
Speaker
Oh, I know.
00:06:55
Speaker
You're north side, you're west, so you've never all been on the same road as yet.
00:07:00
Speaker
Not yet.
00:07:01
Speaker
The big, big one, as they say, if we see each other at the big, big one, maybe.
00:07:06
Speaker
But occasionally, you know, the paramedics are so busy here in New South Wales and in Sydney especially, there's a chance that their car could be in the southwest or they're going to get pulled into different areas.
00:07:20
Speaker
Yeah, we don't just stay in our area, unfortunately.
00:07:22
Speaker
We go everywhere.
00:07:23
Speaker
Everywhere.
00:07:24
Speaker
I think the furthest, I know I'm going a little bit off topic here, but working down Bondi, the furthest we've had an ambulance come to a broken bone or whatever the job was, was from Picton.
00:07:35
Speaker
Wow.
00:07:35
Speaker
Yeah, that's okay.
00:07:37
Speaker
Wow, that's insane.
00:07:38
Speaker
So you just never know.
00:07:40
Speaker
Yeah, well, I'm going to tell you, my husband's favourite show is Ambulance.
00:07:44
Speaker
Oh, really?
00:07:45
Speaker
He never misses it.
00:07:46
Speaker
He absolutely loves it.
00:07:48
Speaker
So I'm going to, I can't wait until I see you girls on there.
00:07:52
Speaker
That's Emily Matilda.
00:07:56
Speaker
All right, your next question, Mati.
00:07:58
Speaker
Yeah.
00:07:59
Speaker
Ladies, so you talked about your paramedic journey.
00:08:01
Speaker
Can you please tell us more about your business, How to Save a Life?
00:08:06
Speaker
Yeah, so we started our business, How to Save a Life, a couple of years ago now.
00:08:11
Speaker
It's basically a mobile first aid training business and we have a big focus on baby first aid.
00:08:16
Speaker
That's really where our passion lies.
00:08:19
Speaker
We deliver training to families in Sydney, Wollongong and the Gold Coast.
00:08:24
Speaker
And basically we come to your home to train your family, your friends, aunts, uncles, whoever is going to be looking after your child.
00:08:32
Speaker
So the only people that provide training under our business are paramedics or nurses.
00:08:36
Speaker
That's something that we feel quite strongly about because we've got sort of the lived experience to be able to share that with whoever we're doing the training for.
00:08:46
Speaker
And we bring all equipment and materials to your home and the training is completed in two hours.
00:08:52
Speaker
And we cover a lot of topics that we see quite often in the ambulance.
00:08:56
Speaker
So things like choking, burns, anaphylaxis, respiratory distress, so any breathing difficulties.
00:09:03
Speaker
As anyone with kids know, they get sick quite often.
00:09:06
Speaker
And then sort of the more serious stuff like infant and child CPR,
00:09:11
Speaker
Doctors A, B, C, D, which is standard in most first aid courses, meningococcal and things like that.
00:09:17
Speaker
Although it's worst case scenario stuff, we'd rather you have the knowledge than not have it.
Impact Stories and Training Significance
00:09:22
Speaker
Just in case, you know, an emergency was to strike.
00:09:25
Speaker
Having knowledge there will make the situation a little bit more calm for you, we think.
00:09:31
Speaker
And yeah, so then we also talk about what happens when you call an ambulance and sort of share some anecdotes from our time working in the ambulance.
00:09:38
Speaker
People always are quite interested to hear those sorts of things.
00:09:42
Speaker
And we also do workplace training as well.
00:09:45
Speaker
So we know firsthand that there's not a lot of first aid training amongst the general community.
00:09:50
Speaker
Mainly we think because it's not enforced in Australia like it is in other countries,
00:09:55
Speaker
And I don't think it's that common to be mandatory in schools either.
00:09:59
Speaker
And sometimes the last time people have done a first aid course was when they're in year 10, which could be 10, 20, 30 years ago.
00:10:05
Speaker
And it's not something that you can do once and then,
00:10:10
Speaker
you know, remember for the rest of your life, you really need to keep updating your skills and just doing refreshes because you never know when you could be called on to provide post-aid or CPR to someone in the community.
00:10:22
Speaker
Yeah, exactly, exactly.
00:10:25
Speaker
It's like practice, isn't it?
00:10:26
Speaker
Practice, practice.
00:10:28
Speaker
It's the same as when we do our school programs, you know, not as extreme and the professionalism of what you guys do as paramedics, but we try and educate kids.
00:10:37
Speaker
I had a school talk this morning in Edgecliff and,
00:10:40
Speaker
Telling the kids about basic CPR and Dr. SABCD and water safety and fire safety, it's stuff that they need to learn and stuff that hopefully we can go back to this school every year.
00:10:52
Speaker
But the crazy what you said is there's people that you probably speak to that haven't done a course in years.
00:10:58
Speaker
Yeah, it's so common.
00:10:59
Speaker
Yeah.
00:11:01
Speaker
The times are changing with, you know, even when I first started surf club, I remember it used to be five compressions to five breaths and then it changed all sorts of different ways.
00:11:11
Speaker
So that's awesome that you guys explained how to save a life.
00:11:17
Speaker
It's such a good, it's a great business.
00:11:21
Speaker
things can change, you know, between the years.
00:11:23
Speaker
So it's just really important that you get a refresher and you keep up to date.
00:11:27
Speaker
I mean, just spread the word of how important first aid and CPR training is because we hear stories of a lot of people who, you know, have done CPR training and actually used it and managed to help save someone's life and what an incredible thing that is.
00:11:41
Speaker
Exactly right.
00:11:42
Speaker
Exactly.
00:11:43
Speaker
So what was the first step that you took to start and create this amazing business you've got?
00:11:50
Speaker
Yes.
00:11:50
Speaker
So, I mean, we always sort of knew we wanted to go into business together, but really didn't know what that would look like, what kind of business we wanted to start.
00:11:58
Speaker
And then we just realized there's such a need for this in our community because, as you said before, CPR and first aid training,
00:12:05
Speaker
is not enforced in Australia.
00:12:08
Speaker
And we were realising that, you know, so many parents and caregivers had no training or very minimal training in first aid.
00:12:16
Speaker
So we realised we should just use our knowledge, skills and experience as paramedics to help educate the community, workplaces and parents and caregivers.
00:12:25
Speaker
So once we had our business plan and rough idea, we just had to
00:12:29
Speaker
I guess, figure out the legalities and qualifications we needed.
00:12:33
Speaker
So we already had the Bachelor of Paramedic practice, but we also needed to attain our Cert IV in training and assessment.
00:12:41
Speaker
And so we did that online whilst we were pregnant with our first kids and then when they were newborns.
00:12:49
Speaker
So it did take us a while.
00:12:51
Speaker
Luckily, we had each other.
00:12:53
Speaker
We got through it.
00:12:54
Speaker
It is huge.
00:12:55
Speaker
And I really wish we did it in person.
00:12:58
Speaker
So any advice for anyone thinking of doing the USERP 4 and training and assessment, maybe look at doing it in person because we did find it quite difficult to do online.
00:13:10
Speaker
So then, yeah, we did complete that.
00:13:13
Speaker
And then, yeah, we just chose our business name.
00:13:16
Speaker
And then we found an RTO to work under.
00:13:19
Speaker
So all first aid training companies have to work under a registered training organisation.
00:13:24
Speaker
And we built our website, purchased equipment, built our baby and child first aid course from scratch because that is a non-accredited course.
00:13:33
Speaker
So we're not providing anyone with that one.
00:13:36
Speaker
Yeah.
00:13:38
Speaker
which is standard for baby and child first aid training.
00:13:41
Speaker
And then, yeah, once we did that, we launched our business when our babies were
00:13:47
Speaker
about 10 months old and then it really just kicked off and um instagram marketing had a lot to do with that as well so we're very fortunate that um yeah it's just sort of it's like i said it's an amazing amazing business and and you guys are doing some great stuff for the communities not just here in sydney but like you said up at goldie down wollongong newcastle
00:14:09
Speaker
And even the things that are on your, like I've been following your Instagram, some of the advice that you've got on your Instagram, like, you know, I saw something the other day choking.
00:14:20
Speaker
Yeah.
00:14:23
Speaker
Just, you know, social media used for good is really powerful.
00:14:27
Speaker
Just to keep reminding people, like as we're always scrolling on our Instagram or social media, just like a 30 second video could literally save someone's life.
Balancing Business and Personal Life
00:14:37
Speaker
Yeah.
00:14:38
Speaker
Even if you're not doing the full course, at least you're getting, you know, bits of information here and there.
00:14:43
Speaker
Yeah, for sure.
00:14:44
Speaker
Exactly.
00:14:46
Speaker
Best piece of advice that the both of you have received in the past?
00:14:50
Speaker
I know it's a big question.
00:14:52
Speaker
Yeah.
00:14:53
Speaker
But best piece of advice you've been given?
00:14:56
Speaker
So much.
00:14:57
Speaker
It's a very hard question.
00:14:58
Speaker
I would probably just say trust your intuition and go with your gut instinct.
00:15:04
Speaker
If something doesn't feel right, it's probably because it's not right.
00:15:08
Speaker
And I very much believe in that in different aspects of life.
00:15:11
Speaker
So, you know, when it comes to work, being a paramedic, like it's so important to trust our instinct when we're entering a scene with, you know, potential dangers.
00:15:20
Speaker
It's the first thing we assess whenever we arrive on scene because we're so vulnerable and we don't actually have
00:15:27
Speaker
anything to protect ourself with um except to hit our duress alarm and run and so i often think that when i watch that show i often think of like you know two women in an ambulance middle of the night you literally don't know what you're walking into exactly and in our personal experiences it's always been the jobs where we've least expected something to happen you know if there's
00:15:53
Speaker
a potential um some information that comes down on our mdt like our um computer system in our ambulance um that we're a bit concerned about we will stage and wait for the police but sometimes it's not like that there's nothing you can do yeah so trust your gut and then also not just paramedic work but that goes like the same with parenting
00:16:16
Speaker
especially when your kids are sick, you know your child better than any medical professional and you just need to learn to advocate for your child.
00:16:23
Speaker
If you feel like something isn't right, go with your gut instinct.
00:16:27
Speaker
Yep.
00:16:28
Speaker
Speak up, be an advocate for your child.
00:16:31
Speaker
And if that means you need to get multiple opinions from multiple doctors, then do that.
00:16:36
Speaker
It's better to be safe than sorry.
00:16:37
Speaker
Yep.
00:16:38
Speaker
Amazing advice.
00:16:40
Speaker
Hmm.
00:16:42
Speaker
Yeah, and Matilda, have you got anything that you want to add on to best piece of advice you've been given?
00:16:50
Speaker
Yeah, I think trust your gut instinct.
00:16:53
Speaker
Mainly, we always tell people in our first aid courses, particularly the baby first aid course, like a mother's instinct is a real thing.
00:17:01
Speaker
And if you feel like something is off with your child, it probably is.
00:17:04
Speaker
So we always get taught to listen to the parents.
00:17:08
Speaker
If there is a high regard of parental concern, you really need to take that seriously.
00:17:13
Speaker
And more often than not, the parents are right in those situations.
00:17:17
Speaker
Yeah, yeah.
00:17:18
Speaker
That's good advice.
00:17:19
Speaker
That links nicely then.
00:17:22
Speaker
Do you have any story or an example where you've had feedback where something has really made a difference and even saved a life?
00:17:30
Speaker
Yeah, we have actually.
00:17:31
Speaker
And obviously, you know, we never want, you know, anyone's child to become unwell or injured or in a situation or anything like that.
00:17:39
Speaker
But it is super rewarding when we hear that someone's seen our Instagram page and followed one of the tips that we've given or done our courses and, you know, use the skill.
00:17:48
Speaker
The most common thing we get is actually probably choking first aid.
00:17:52
Speaker
Choking is really common, can be really common, especially in little kids, you know, when they're learning to process food, start solids, all that kind of thing, going through the phase of putting everything in their mouths.
00:18:03
Speaker
But we've had a few parents actually reach out and tell us that they recognised their children were choking.
00:18:09
Speaker
They started performing back blows and called the ambulance and managed to dislodge the object and clear their child's airway just from the skills that we've taught them.
00:18:17
Speaker
Amazing.
00:18:18
Speaker
That is just super rewarding.
00:18:19
Speaker
And it's not a difficult skill.
00:18:21
Speaker
You know, choking first aid is not overly difficult.
00:18:25
Speaker
It's just about remembering what to do, being able to do it quickly and step in, you know, immediately as something happens.
00:18:31
Speaker
But to hear that where our education is making a difference and like helping little kids and their families is just amazing.
00:18:39
Speaker
I love them.
00:18:40
Speaker
I saw your little video the other day where you had got the running water over a burn.
00:18:45
Speaker
Yes.
00:18:45
Speaker
And you got like the little like running water, you know, cool running water for 20 minutes.
00:18:50
Speaker
And you actually showed the difference of why running water as opposed to just immersing the baby's hand.
00:18:58
Speaker
I thought that was brilliant.
00:18:59
Speaker
Like because that is like such a subtle difference, but makes all the difference.
00:19:03
Speaker
Yeah.
00:19:03
Speaker
And there's just lots of things like that, that you wouldn't think make a difference, but it actually does, you know, little tips and tricks.
00:19:09
Speaker
That's why that's the main purpose of our Instagram to give the community little tips and tricks to remember.
00:19:15
Speaker
So if they're ever in some kind of first aid situation that pertains to a baby child or adult.
00:19:21
Speaker
Yeah.
00:19:21
Speaker
Brilliant.
00:19:23
Speaker
Yeah.
00:19:23
Speaker
And we spoke about it before, but if you're a first person, I'm sorry, you're a person listening to this podcast, what advice or how important is it for them to learn a first aid skill and what would be the first step in learning some of the skills to learn first aid if you've got some advice?
00:19:42
Speaker
It's so important to learn first aid.
00:19:44
Speaker
And like we said before, it should be really done from the time we're in school.
00:19:49
Speaker
But so, I mean, there's so many great first aid companies out there, whether you go through us or someone else, I guess you just need to figure out what kind of training you need, whether it's, you know, workplace first aid training or first aid training if you're working in a school or something like that, whether it needs to be accredited or not.
00:20:08
Speaker
So honestly, just jump on Google.
00:20:10
Speaker
We offer private first aid courses.
00:20:13
Speaker
So we come out to people's homes or workplaces to provide first aid.
00:20:18
Speaker
So if that's something you're interested in, definitely check out our website or our Instagram.
00:20:24
Speaker
But if you don't have a group of people to get together, you can just Google your local first aid training businesses and jump in on a public course with them.
00:20:35
Speaker
But, yeah, there are just there are so many out there just jumping.
00:20:38
Speaker
Like you say, I just said there's so many out there.
00:20:41
Speaker
Everyone should do everyone should do one just like, you know, like anything else that it's just, yeah, annually you should just do it.
00:20:50
Speaker
We mentioned when we release this podcast, we'll see.
00:20:53
Speaker
But just give everyone that's listening an idea of where they can find you.
00:20:59
Speaker
Yes, so you can find us on Instagram.
00:21:02
Speaker
So our Instagram name is at howtosavealifeau.
00:21:06
Speaker
And then we also have a Facebook page and a website.
00:21:12
Speaker
Our website is www.au.
Reflecting on Career Choices and Parenting
00:21:14
Speaker
howtosavealife.com.au and all of our information is on there.
00:21:21
Speaker
But yeah.
00:21:22
Speaker
We'll share the links as well.
00:21:23
Speaker
When we post this, we'll definitely share the links as well.
00:21:27
Speaker
It's very important.
00:21:28
Speaker
Yeah, it's so important.
00:21:30
Speaker
And I don't think people realise this.
00:21:33
Speaker
I think they think, oh, well, I live in Sydney.
00:21:35
Speaker
There are ambulances everywhere.
00:21:37
Speaker
I know I've heard that so many times, but you don't know where an ambulance is
00:21:43
Speaker
where an ambulance is when they respond to you.
00:21:45
Speaker
So on average, it takes about eight minutes for an ambulance to get to an urgent case.
00:21:51
Speaker
In those eight minutes, there is so much you can do in terms of first aid or CPR.
00:21:57
Speaker
Every minute matters.
00:21:59
Speaker
And you can't just sit and wait for an ambulance to arrive before we, you know, start some sort of first aid treatment because that could be detrimental, especially if someone's not breathing.
00:22:09
Speaker
They're, you know,
00:22:11
Speaker
Chances of survival.
00:22:12
Speaker
Eight minutes is way too long.
00:22:14
Speaker
Way too long, exactly.
00:22:15
Speaker
Amazing.
00:22:17
Speaker
So what would you say has been the most stressful part of the journey so far?
00:22:21
Speaker
You have stressful jobs.
00:22:22
Speaker
You have stressful – running a business is stressful.
00:22:26
Speaker
What's been the most stressful part so far?
00:22:28
Speaker
I think the juggle between being parents, first-time parents.
00:22:32
Speaker
We both almost have two kids.
00:22:34
Speaker
I've got two and Emily's about to have her second.
00:22:37
Speaker
working as paramedics, running our households and running our business, doing that juggle.
00:22:42
Speaker
I'm sure a lot of parents feel that way as well.
00:22:45
Speaker
That's the hardest part for us.
00:22:46
Speaker
But ultimately, we both thrive when we're busy.
00:22:49
Speaker
And because we're so passionate about our business, it doesn't really feel like work.
00:22:53
Speaker
And because a lot of the time it's, you know, Emily and I spending a lot of time together talking through business ideas, talking about what videos we're going to do and all that sort of stuff.
00:23:01
Speaker
So we're quite lucky in that it doesn't feel like work.
00:23:03
Speaker
It just feels like fun a lot of the time, but definitely juggling it is the hardest part.
00:23:08
Speaker
But luckily we have, you know, supportive families that help take care of the kids and we're running courses and trying to do all the admin and all that sort of stuff so we can grow our business.
00:23:17
Speaker
Yeah, makes a massive difference.
00:23:20
Speaker
The toddlers are probably the most stressful part of our life right now.
00:23:25
Speaker
Yes.
00:23:25
Speaker
Any advice for someone that's about to have one at the end of the day?
00:23:30
Speaker
Enjoy it whilst they're really little.
00:23:32
Speaker
Yeah, you still have so much freedom when they're babies, when they start walking.
00:23:36
Speaker
One day at a time.
00:23:39
Speaker
One day at a time.
00:23:40
Speaker
Exactly.
00:23:40
Speaker
Well, I'm going to have you guys on speed dial for sure, I think.
00:23:46
Speaker
Absolutely.
00:23:46
Speaker
Hit us up.
00:23:46
Speaker
People are hearing us all the time.
00:23:49
Speaker
The next question is perfect then for you, Matsey.
00:23:50
Speaker
Yeah.
00:23:51
Speaker
So guys, answering that question with your journey so far with the stress, how do you deal with stress and what do you do to kind of de-stress yourselves in these stressful situations?
00:24:03
Speaker
I think it's really great having each other.
00:24:06
Speaker
We bounce off each other a lot.
00:24:07
Speaker
We always, you know, talk to each other if we're feeling stressed, whether that be from a job in the ambulance, we're, you know, right next to each other or we're stressed about parenting.
00:24:16
Speaker
We're always texting each other in the middle of the night about our children.
00:24:19
Speaker
But other than that, I think, you know, we try and, you know, we're both big exercisers.
00:24:25
Speaker
We try and get quiet time, which is a little bit more rare now that I have two children.
00:24:29
Speaker
It doesn't happen that often.
00:24:30
Speaker
Yeah, it's just so important for us to have time to have time.
00:24:36
Speaker
Yeah, read.
00:24:37
Speaker
I love to read, have a bath, try and switch off, but
00:24:41
Speaker
You know, it's a little bit me time is a little bit more foreign these days.
00:24:46
Speaker
Yeah.
00:24:46
Speaker
Grab it when you can.
00:24:47
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely.
00:24:49
Speaker
Exactly.
00:24:50
Speaker
So you just said all those incredible things and get in any time.
00:24:55
Speaker
Do you have any time for any hobby or anything else that you'd like to that you like to do?
00:25:03
Speaker
We're very much homebodies.
00:25:05
Speaker
Yeah.
00:25:07
Speaker
So, I mean, we don't have any exciting hobbies, but, like, I mean, I like to go to the beach and just go for walks, hang out with my family.
00:25:13
Speaker
But, yeah, quiet time, I love that, watch my TV show, go to new restaurants, read a book, get a massage.
00:25:21
Speaker
Yeah, just try and switch off, exactly.
00:25:23
Speaker
Switch off.
00:25:24
Speaker
So important to do.
00:25:25
Speaker
Yeah.
00:25:25
Speaker
Yeah, so important.
00:25:27
Speaker
With the next career goal, have you guys got any career goals with paramedicine or with business or anything like that?
00:25:36
Speaker
I think we both feel the same way that we want to grow our business as much as we can.
00:25:42
Speaker
We don't know where it'll take us, but we're open to sort of every opportunity that comes our way.
00:25:47
Speaker
We're yes people.
00:25:48
Speaker
We say yes to any opportunity that comes.
00:25:50
Speaker
And yeah, I think growing our business to hopefully a national level would be awesome.
00:25:56
Speaker
getting into as many homes as possible to spread the awareness of baby and child first aid and also, you know, maybe look at schools one day or get more into the corporate space because that's, there's not a lot of people that are trained in corporate settings we've found.
00:26:12
Speaker
So that would be another place that we'd like to look at.
00:26:16
Speaker
So yeah, just spreading our business, spreading the word, spreading the importance of first aid for sure.
00:26:21
Speaker
Amazing.
00:26:22
Speaker
You would be surprised how many times we've been in places and Maxie will ask if everyone knows where the defib is and how many times they don't.
00:26:29
Speaker
I know.
00:26:30
Speaker
And it's one thing to know where it is, but do you know how to use it?
00:26:33
Speaker
Exactly.
00:26:34
Speaker
When you need to use it, there's so many things that go like that.
00:26:37
Speaker
Yeah, exactly.
00:26:40
Speaker
So if you weren't paramedics, what do you think you would have done?
00:26:45
Speaker
What would you be?
00:26:47
Speaker
Um, I personally think I would have become a midwife.
00:26:50
Speaker
Um, having gone through birth twice myself now, I've just, you know, it's made me realize how incredible, incredible women are, how incredible our bodies are and just how amazing and, you know, generous the midwives are and how they support new moms and babies.
00:27:04
Speaker
I just think they're amazing.
00:27:06
Speaker
Yeah.
00:27:06
Speaker
Cool.
00:27:07
Speaker
Yeah.
00:27:07
Speaker
That's incredible.
00:27:08
Speaker
And what about you, Emily?
00:27:10
Speaker
I honestly really have no idea.
00:27:12
Speaker
There was no plan B?
00:27:14
Speaker
Is that the case?
00:27:15
Speaker
No plan B. Like maybe something in the real estate, like property industry.
Advice to Their 16-Year-Old Selves
00:27:20
Speaker
I'm really interested in that.
00:27:21
Speaker
But otherwise, yeah, no, I have no idea, to be honest.
00:27:25
Speaker
Amazing.
00:27:26
Speaker
Amazing.
00:27:27
Speaker
And do you think you guys will stay in Sydney?
00:27:29
Speaker
I know you said that you do stuff up on the Gold Coast.
00:27:32
Speaker
Would you just ever move up there or...?
00:27:35
Speaker
I think that I will stay in Sydney mainly because all my family are here, all my support is here and
00:27:43
Speaker
think that's so important when you have kids especially when they're little like maybe later on when they're older I'll move out of Sydney but no for now I need to be close to support that makes such a difference especially because our lives are so hectic so so Matilda that means you're not leaving Sydney anytime soon well I'd be out of this a week would I yeah exactly like you know it's um there needs to be an uh at least a two to five year plan on any of that we have to consult each other before exactly decisions
00:28:12
Speaker
Yes, exactly, exactly, totally.
00:28:15
Speaker
Cool.
00:28:17
Speaker
This is a question to both of you as well.
00:28:20
Speaker
What advice would you give to your 16-year-old selves?
00:28:24
Speaker
I would just say,
00:28:25
Speaker
not to put so much pressure on myself.
00:28:28
Speaker
I think, I mean, I just thought I had to figure it all out as soon as I finished school and like, oh, you know, what do I want to do?
00:28:36
Speaker
Quickly choose a degree.
00:28:39
Speaker
And I think I did have a little bit of pressure put on me by my parents.
00:28:42
Speaker
Like I had to start uni straight away.
00:28:44
Speaker
There was no, I wasn't really allowed to have, take a gap year.
00:28:47
Speaker
And I wish I did that.
00:28:49
Speaker
Took my time, went travelling and just, yeah, experienced the world a little bit more before jumping straight into this career, I think.
00:28:58
Speaker
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:59
Speaker
There's so much pressure put on at 18, isn't there?
00:29:01
Speaker
It's like you just... Sure.
00:29:03
Speaker
You think that your ATAR is everything and it's like...
00:29:07
Speaker
I look back now, 33 next month, and it feels like a lifetime ago leaving school.
00:29:13
Speaker
I left school in 16, not 16, not 18, but it's a whole other life, really.
00:29:19
Speaker
Yeah, I know.
00:29:20
Speaker
It's crazy.
00:29:21
Speaker
So many different opportunities and so many cool things you can do.
00:29:23
Speaker
And, you know, if things don't end up working out, you always got other opportunities that you can –
00:29:29
Speaker
fall back on hopefully and just try different things.
00:29:32
Speaker
Exactly.
00:29:33
Speaker
You have so much time to figure it out.
00:29:36
Speaker
And what about you, Matilda?
00:29:38
Speaker
Piggybacking off what Emily said and what you just said, I think, you know, you go through so many changes from, you know, your teens to your early 20s to your mid-20s to your late 20s and I'm coming into my 30s now and I feel like I'm, you know, such a different person, you know, than I was 10 years ago and I think, you know, you grow with confidence, with age and, yeah, just –
00:29:59
Speaker
to not put too much pressure on yourself you will figure it out and yeah you just change so much you know every sort of few years you ebb and flow and um i think just take it as it comes and try not to put too much pressure on yourself absolutely and like and what you're all already doing i mean it's just incredible so um i just say keep going girls just get better someone who's got a few extra you know just keep going it just literally does get better so
00:30:28
Speaker
I'm just going to go off script quickly.
Essential First Aid Tips
00:30:31
Speaker
What are the top three things that you find on the field as paramedics or when you're doing your courses that people ask you about?
00:30:40
Speaker
What are the top three first aid tips that you can quickly talk about now?
00:30:45
Speaker
People listening at home can kind of get a bit of an insight of learning some new skills that they've never heard before.
00:30:52
Speaker
One thing I think is a big one, mainly with little kids.
00:30:57
Speaker
So people tend to shiver sometimes when they have a fever and it's not because they're cold.
00:31:01
Speaker
It's just the weird, you know, by-product of a fever in some people.
00:31:05
Speaker
And a lot of times parents mistake when kids have a, kids are shivering that they're really cold.
00:31:11
Speaker
So they'll wrap them up in so many blankets and layers and they'll hand us this child at the front door who's just overheating.
00:31:17
Speaker
So I think, yeah, not just to get confused by
00:31:21
Speaker
If they're shivering, make sure you're actually touching their skin.
00:31:24
Speaker
You know, the back of the neck is a really good place to feel before you add or subtract any layers because, you know, you can make your kid a little bit sicker than they already are.
00:31:33
Speaker
That's a big one.
00:31:35
Speaker
Another one I think would be accidental poisonings happen a lot as well.
00:31:41
Speaker
I think.
00:31:42
Speaker
You know, people don't realize it's as common as it is, but we've been to a lot of jobs, you know, where kids, little toddlers have access, you know, the chemicals under the sink or alcohol that's been left within their reach or medication packets that have been left out.
00:31:55
Speaker
And
00:31:56
Speaker
It's really just due to complacency.
00:31:58
Speaker
We just really need to be vigilant.
00:32:00
Speaker
If you have little kids around where you're putting all your medications, where you're storing all your chemicals and everything, because they're curious little things.
00:32:08
Speaker
They love opening cupboards and they love opening bottles and everything like that.
00:32:11
Speaker
So you just got to be really, really careful.
00:32:14
Speaker
Yeah, brilliant advice.
00:32:17
Speaker
Emily, have you got one?
00:32:18
Speaker
Yeah, one would be when it comes to falls.
00:32:22
Speaker
So as a general rule, no matter how the child or adult is presenting after a fall, if your child falls more than twice their own height,
00:32:31
Speaker
that is a medical emergency and they need to be seen by a doctor immediately.
00:32:36
Speaker
So I would be calling an ambulance for that.
00:32:38
Speaker
And that's the same for an adult that is over three metres.
00:32:43
Speaker
So any fall over three metres needs urgent medical attention.
00:32:46
Speaker
Yeah, that mechanism is just...
00:32:48
Speaker
Huge and conclusive.
00:32:49
Speaker
Huge, exactly.
00:32:51
Speaker
Yep, even if they're acting fine, they could have a delayed head injury or something like that or other internal injuries that you may not be able to see immediately.
00:33:00
Speaker
So more than twice a child's height or over three metres for an adult.
00:33:04
Speaker
And you know what, the way you just described that is really easy to relate as a person, you know, twice the height is like very easy to understand and, you know, to make a judgment.
00:33:18
Speaker
Yeah, so for like a child, that could be.
00:33:21
Speaker
off a change table.
00:33:22
Speaker
So when you're changing your baby, always have one hand.
00:33:26
Speaker
They learn to roll so quickly and when they do, it happens so quickly.
00:33:29
Speaker
So if you're reaching for something, put one hand on your baby whilst you're doing what you need to do.
Final Thoughts and Gratitude
00:33:34
Speaker
That could also be off play equipment.
00:33:36
Speaker
Lots of play equipment are just not age appropriate for all ages.
00:33:39
Speaker
So
00:33:40
Speaker
that um kitchen benches or you know of like a table or something like that i think the change table i had a little cousin do exactly that roll off his change table broken leg it happens a lot more than you would think yeah nine months old literally horrified mom absolutely distraught so yeah um but he's he's good today yeah good he's good today oh
00:34:06
Speaker
So again, towards the back end of the podcast, it's been an awesome chat and I know a lot of people got to take a lot away from it.
00:34:12
Speaker
When you're in the ambulance or when you're doing a road trip to your home that you're going to be visiting, have you got a song each that you could add to our Live, Learn, Survive playlist?
00:34:22
Speaker
You know, people that we interview all over the world give us their upbeat, happy, feel good, pump up song.
00:34:28
Speaker
Have you guys got a song that we could add to the playlist for everyone to kind of feel good about their job to?
00:34:33
Speaker
Yeah.
00:34:33
Speaker
Yeah, so one of our favourite songs is Vacation by Simple Plan.
00:34:39
Speaker
We both loved the Mary-Kate and Ashley movies growing up and we played this in the ambulance a lot when we're working together, driving to different jobs.
00:34:47
Speaker
Simple Plan.
00:34:48
Speaker
What was it?
00:34:48
Speaker
Vacation.
00:34:49
Speaker
Vacation.
00:34:51
Speaker
It's a banger.
00:34:52
Speaker
Yes, I got it.
00:34:54
Speaker
Yeah.
00:34:54
Speaker
We've added it.
00:34:55
Speaker
We've added it.
00:34:57
Speaker
We like all different genres.
00:35:00
Speaker
I would say maybe like we love a bit of country, Morgan Wallen, Last Night, I would say that song.
00:35:07
Speaker
So Last Night.
00:35:08
Speaker
Yeah.
00:35:09
Speaker
Bye.
00:35:10
Speaker
Morgan Wallen.
00:35:11
Speaker
Yep, comes straight up.
00:35:13
Speaker
Perfect.
00:35:15
Speaker
Those two songs are added to our Live, Learn, Survive playlist.
00:35:19
Speaker
We'll check it out.
00:35:20
Speaker
I'm throwing in a random question here because I know that on the fire station with the action station at 62, we've got Country Sunday, Rock Friday, whatever it is, Wednesday.
00:35:33
Speaker
Jazz Monday.
00:35:33
Speaker
Jazz Monday, Easy Listening Tuesdays.
00:35:38
Speaker
Girls, do you have a theme in The Ambulance?
00:35:40
Speaker
We have actually a curated playlist.
00:35:43
Speaker
Yeah, we like a bit of everything, a bit of rap.
00:35:46
Speaker
It's very random.
00:35:48
Speaker
Well, the only genre you could think of on there.
00:35:50
Speaker
And we just hit shuffle when we get in the ambulance and wherever the day takes us.
00:35:55
Speaker
And you just think, here we go.
00:35:57
Speaker
Yeah, exactly.
00:35:57
Speaker
Always singing.
00:36:00
Speaker
Excellent.
00:36:00
Speaker
Love it.
00:36:01
Speaker
When will you guys be back on shift together?
00:36:04
Speaker
Is it a little while away with everything that's going on?
00:36:08
Speaker
So our youngest kids will be three months apart.
00:36:11
Speaker
So unfortunately, there'll be a three-month gap where we won't be working together when I return.
00:36:16
Speaker
So I want to know then, will you get the kids in the back of the car and just go for a ride around Sydney with the playlist on just because you miss it?
00:36:27
Speaker
I will.
00:36:30
Speaker
Absolutely.
00:36:30
Speaker
We'll be back working together in about a year.
00:36:33
Speaker
Okay.
00:36:34
Speaker
Amazing.
00:36:35
Speaker
I think at the fire station, myself and Piers, who I work with, he's having a little girl in October.
00:36:42
Speaker
Wow.
00:36:43
Speaker
Oh, me too.
00:36:43
Speaker
I'm having a little girl.
00:36:45
Speaker
Oh, congratulations.
00:36:46
Speaker
And we just found out some other news from other people around that, you know, there's other people in surrounding stations that have got little ones on the way.
00:36:56
Speaker
So it's exciting.
00:36:58
Speaker
There's something in the water in Sydney.
00:37:00
Speaker
There must be.
00:37:01
Speaker
I'm going to get out of town quick.
00:37:02
Speaker
I'm going to leave you.
00:37:05
Speaker
Birds in the vase.
00:37:06
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:37:07
Speaker
I know, that shit failed.
00:37:09
Speaker
So, no, thank you so much, girls.
00:37:12
Speaker
Congratulations on everything you do, on everything that you've achieved.
00:37:16
Speaker
And I just, you know, will be sitting back and watching and cheering you on.
00:37:21
Speaker
So thanks for coming to share your story.
00:37:23
Speaker
Well, thank you so much.
00:37:23
Speaker
Thank you for having us.
00:37:24
Speaker
Thank you for having us.
00:37:26
Speaker
And, yeah, a lot of people are going to take some good stuff away from what you guys put up.
00:37:30
Speaker
So please, everyone that's listening to this, check out their websites, their Facebook and their Instagram.
00:37:36
Speaker
They do some great, brilliant videos to not only look after yourself but help others too.
00:37:40
Speaker
So, yeah, check it out.
00:37:41
Speaker
Yeah, brilliant.
00:37:42
Speaker
Thank you, guys.
00:37:44
Speaker
And everyone, have a great week.
00:37:47
Speaker
Take care, everyone.
00:37:48
Speaker
Bye.