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Angela Croucher
From Huntingdon
Full-time paramedic student and NARS critical care nurse volunteer.
When did you first start volunteering with NARS?
I became a community first responder in June 2018 and moved to the critical care team as a nurse in July 2019. I work with the critical care paramedics and do at least one shift every month.
What is your day job?
I am currently a full time paramedic student at the Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. Before that, I was a paediatric sister at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. In addition to volunteering for NARS, I am also a community first responder in the area where I live. As well as providing support and potentially lifesaving care to people in my community, another part of my role which I love is to teach children and adults basic life support and other emergency interventions.
Why do you volunteer for NARS?
Critical care is vital, and through my work with the hospital I have seen the difference that early preventative care makes. I was also involved in a horrendous car accident sometime ago and was a passenger in the car. I sustained life threatening injuries, pelvic ruptures and internal injuries. A big part of the reason I am alive today is that a doctor who was part of a scheme similar to NARS gave up his time on a bank holiday to help save my life. In addition to this, I worked as a Sister on a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit for over fifteen years and during that time I saw first-hand the effects of both early and delayed initiation of basic life support and critical care on children and their families. I want to give something back and am really passionate about NARS and helping people.
Have you done a charity walk before?
I have never done a walk like this, but I have done a half marathon. I won’t be able to carry the heavy kit, like the others, due to some injuries, but I will be carrying coats and whatever else I can!
As soon as I found out about the walk and was asked to do it, it was an immediate yes as fundraising and raising awareness of NARS is so important. It will be really nice to spend time with the other ladies as we all work different shifts. My secret weapon will be lots of jelly babies!
You also have a drive to get to Norfolk!
Yes, it takes me one hour and 40 minutes, but I am passionate about NARS and want to help. People often ask why I travel over 70 miles to our base in Dereham to do this voluntary work and the reason is that I have seen the difference pre-hospital critical care teams and community first responders can make from both a personal and professional perspective. Knowing that I am now helping other people in similar situations to the one that I, and the families I care for, were in is incredibly rewarding and makes the journey time irrelevant.
What are some of the situations you deal with in your role with NARS?
We deal with a variety of difficult situations, life threatening medical conditions and traumatic injuries. Sometimes we aren’t able to save the person, so it is then providing that emotional support for family and friends.
What do you do when you get some spare time?
We are an active family and enjoy holidays in the Lake District, and like walking, hiking and being outdoors. I have two children, Sam and Emma, and I love spending time with them.
Why is fundraising for NARS so important?
NARS is entirely dependent on its team of volunteer doctors, paramedics and nurses and public donations to provide this level of critical care – we receive no government support. To help raise these essential funds, in January I am going to be walking along the Norfolk coast with an amazing group of ladies who will also be carrying around 60kg of our kit! This is a massive challenge so please support us if you can. Every donation is very much appreciated and nothing is too small.
