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Holly Biss
24, from Halvergate
Full time paramedic and volunteers as a paramedic responder and teaches in schools for NARS
Can you tell us about what you do with NARS?
I am a level 1 paramedic responder for NARS and I also help to teach children as part of the schools project, and have done this in GP surgeries too. I try and do some shifts with the critical care team too as that is a role I would like to do in the future. My full time job is as a paramedic in the Waveney area.
How did you get involved with NARS?
I was on a job and bumped into Chris Neil, NARS’s Chairman. We were chatting and he told me to put myself up for the role as I wasn’t aware of the opportunity until I spoke with him. When the opportunity came up, I knew I wanted to do my best in the boot camp assessments. It is a chance for me to deliver care to people who need it, while training and learning. We all want to help and care for people and we all live in different areas, so between us, we can cover a large area.
How do you feel about the walk in January?
Excited and apprehensive. I have done challenges like this before, like a London to Paris cycle ride over four days, so it is great to have a new challenge like this. The best thing is raising awareness of NARS and what we do.
How are you preparing yourself for January?
Taking my dog, Murphy, for more walks. Also just doing more yoga.
What do you do when you’re not working or volunteering?
I like yoga and went on a yoga retreat holiday to Ibiza this year. I also enjoy making changes to my home and have a habit of wanting to rip out and refit bathrooms! I always try to spend my time off work with family and friends.
We also have an app we use where we can log on when we are at home and if someone has a cardiac arrest near us we can drop everything and go, so I do this too. The more people we get signed-up for this in different areas, the more people we can help. NARS has been great at supplying us with life-saving equipment to take to these patients such as a primary kit bag and an AED.
What do you do when you’re not working or volunteering?
I like yoga and went on a yoga retreat holiday to Ibiza this year. I also enjoy making changes to my home and have a habit of wanting to rip out and refit bathrooms! I always try to spend my time off work with family and friends.
We also have an app we use where we can log on when we are at home and if someone has a cardiac arrest near us we can drop everything and go, so I do this too. The more people we get signed-up for this in different areas, the more people we can help. NARS has been great at supplying us with life-saving equipment to take to these patients such as a primary kit bag and an AED.
Can you tell us about some of the situations you have dealt with as part of NARS?
We make contact with so many patients and sometimes we can attend jobs where, despite our best efforts, we cannot change the patient’s outcome, so it’s great when you feel you’ve made a real impact to a patient and their family. It was not a NARS job but this year I got to deliver a baby at home and it was an amazing experience.
I feel so lucky to be part of the NARS team. It gives us the kit and skills we need to be able to respond and help people in our local area, and means we can save lives.
