Guernsey’s ambulance service is providing preventative care advice for people heading into St Peter Port for the Liberation Day celebrations on 9th May.

John Atkins, Head of Resilience and Education said: “Liberation Day is a great event which brings the community, young and old, together. Attending outdoor events like Liberation Day is great fun but there may be a lot of standing around waiting for the parade in the morning or the cavalcade in the afternoon and, as we know from experience, it is not unusual in these circumstances for some people to become unwell or feel faint. The Ambulance and Rescue Service is therefore sharing some tips on how people can take care of themselves and avoid becoming unwell.”

Before you head out in the morning, have something to eat and drink.

Check the weather and dress appropriately, remember the weather can change.

Pack a bottle of water, suncream and a hat.

Inform companions of any medical conditions you have and what to do in an emergency.

Take any medications as prescribed.

During the day:

Stay hydrated during the day.

Avoid too much alcohol and caffeine, as they can contribute to dehydration.

Use oral rehydration solutions or isotonic sports drinks to replace lost salts and minerals

Avoid standing still for long periods; move around gently to promote circulation.

If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, sit or lie down.

Take a break. There will be additional seating at locations around town, including North Beach, Crown Pier, the Tea Tent on the Albany and 500 seats at the bus terminus.

Look out for the signs of heat exhaustion, such as dizziness, nausea, and excessive sweating.

If symptoms occur, move to a cool place, rest, and hydrate.

Be alert for heatstroke symptoms, including confusion, rapid pulse and high body temperature.

Follow the advice and directions of marshals and officials. They are there for everyone’s safety.

Look out for others and ask for help if you need it.

Know the whereabouts of the toilet facilities. There are extra toilets at Salerie Corner, North Beach, Crown Pier, Albert Pier and Castle Emplacement.

St John Guernsey first aider volunteers will be on duty for anyone feeling unwell or suffering from minor injuries.For more serious or life-threatening medical emergencies call 999 and the closest ambulance response will be deployed.

Paramedic team leader Andy Adam will represent Guernsey's ambulance service at the national VE Day parade in London on 5th May.

Andy, who is Guernsey’s longest serving paramedic and is due to celebrate 40 years of service this summer, will be part of the Civilian Services Contingent for the national event. The Civilian Services Contingent is made up of nominated representatives from various agencies including the Police, Fire, Ambulance and Prison Services, St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross.

The VE Day parade will act as a symbolic focal point to remember those who died in World War II and as a celebration of peace. Military personnel and uniformed representatives will march from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, passing the Cenotaph, which will be draped in Union Flags for the occasion.

Andy also represented Guernsey at the Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph last year.

Andy said: “It is a great honour to be invited to represent Guernsey and the ambulance service at this national event and historic occasion. I was lucky enough to attend the Remembrance Sunday parade last year, so I know a bit about what to expect, there are several days of drill practice before hand because everything has to be just right. I think the emotions will be very different to November because this event is both an act of remembrance and a time to celebrate.” 

The parade is part of several days of commemorative events taking place in London, which also include the VE Day flypast of historic and modern military aircraft on 5th May and a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on 8th May. Street parties are also being held in towns and cities across the UK, to reflect the public celebrations that took place in 1945.

Meanwhile on 9th May in Guernsey, Chief Executive Officer Mark Mapp will attend the Liberation Day church service at the Town Church, St Peter Port, before which the Head of Operations Dean de la Mare will carry the Ambulance and Rescue service standard at the Liberation Day parade and inspection on the quay.

The two Ambulance and Rescue cycle paramedics will provide a skilled first response to medical emergencies around the quay and piers in St Peter Port where large crowds are expected on 9th May.

The cycle resonders will have the ability to negotiate crowds and deliver urgent treatment and life-saving interventions in areas which may not be immediately accessible to other ambulance vehicles.

The bikes which belong to the St John Guernsey charity Cycle Response Unit, have upgraded frames, strengthened wheels and specially designed panniers, to cope with the additional loads associated with carrying essential medical equipment. The equipment is a slimmed down version of the kits carried in double crewed ambulances.

Although the Cycle Response Unit with volunteer first aiders has been present at some Liberation Day events in previous years, it is the first time since 2015 that paramedics have used bikes to get to incidents in St Peter Port.


Head of Operations Dean De La Mare said:

 “The cycle paramedics will enhance our resilience and give us greater flexibility as part of the overall medical cover for Liberation Day. With large crowds expected and restricted vehicle movements, the bikes will allow us to deliver enhanced care quickly in the event of a medical emergency. While we hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable day, we do need to be prepared for the possibility of someone becoming unwell or getting injured, so the cycle paramedics will be an important addition to our event plans.”

The St John Guernsey charity will also have volunteer teams on duty around town to provide first aid for minor injuries and support for other medical incidents.  In addition to the cycle paramedics, an Ambulance and Rescue Operational Commander will be stationed in St Peter Port, to oversee and coordinate incidents.

The Ambulance and Rescue Service  is also increasing the total number of ambulance crews on duty on 9th May to enhance island wide resilience and preparedness. The ambulance service will have emergency vehicles stationed at standby points around the island to counter any possible congestion around St Peter Port.

Mr De La Mare added: “Although a lot of the focus will be on St Peter Port it is important that we continue to maintain cover for the rest of the island, with the ability to respond to the types of urgent and emergency cases that occur on a daily basis.”

Ambulance crews have taken part in a multi-agency major incident exercise at Guernsey harbour.

The scenario which involved a car fire in the ferry compound with reports of multiple casualties, was designed to test the response of the emergency services, contingency plans and resilience.

Commanders followed the principles of joint working by co-locating, communicating effectively, co-ordinating priorities and resources, sharing a joint understanding of risk and situational awareness.

John Atkins, Head of Resilience and Education said: “Exercises such as this enable us to test and validate our emergency plans, and give both our commanders and clinicians valuable practice at performing their duties in a major incident scenario.  The exercise went very well, with all key learning objectives met for SJARS.  Our new triage system worked well and our commanders were able to employ the latest joint emergency services interoperability principles very effectively – working collaboratively with colleagues from the Police, Fire & Rescue Service, Civil Protection and Guernsey Ports.”   

Ambulance crews have to be prepared for a wide range of situations, so our teams regularly train with colleagues from the other emergency services and undertaken a combination of classroom based and practical scenario based major incident training to test resilience and response plans. 

A Paramedic Officer from Guernsey has been gaining valuable experience on a placement with specialist paramedics at the UK’s busiest ambulance service.

Ross Senior spent four days shadowing a range of different clinical and leadership roles within London Ambulance Service (LAS).

Ross spent time with the London’s Air Ambulance (LAA) Advanced Trauma Team, considered to be one of the most advanced major trauma team in the pre-hospital environment, anywhere in the world, providing hospital-level lifesaving surgery and full anaesthetic procedures at the road side. He also shadowed an advanced paramedic in critical care, giving him the chance to observe the clinical interventions and clinical leadership skills of a senior paramedic response for treating London’s sickest patients.

On one shift Ross was deployed to a significant fire at the prestigious Chiltern Firehouse Hotel, which involved twenty fire appliances and one hundred and twenty firefighters. On that occasion he was working with one of the capitals eight Incident Response Officers, who are dispatched to complex incidents to oversee the ambulance response, manage the scene and co-ordinate with other agencies.

Ross said: “I am incredibly grateful for my time with London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance, I have gained a valuable insight to their services. The objective was to identify what I could learn to bring back to the ambulance service in Guernsey from both a clinical care and a service delivery perspective. I also had the opportunity to consolidate and develop my operational commander skills. This opportunity has helped me personally and also identify potential areas of improvement for our own service.”

Ross also spent some time in the emergency operations centre (EOC) which takes London’s 999 calls, and dispatches specialist resources. London Ambulance Service deploys between 400 and 450 ambulances at peak times each day. Serving a population of 9 million, it is the busiest ambulance trust in the UK, responding to more than 6,000 calls on a busy day, meaning that the Service responds to almost as many calls in a day as Guernsey’s ambulance service does in a year.

Chris Doyle, Incident Response Officer at London Ambulance Service and Flight Paramedic at London’s Air Ambulance, said:

“Having recently worked closely with Ross and his colleagues on Guernsey, it was a pleasure to host Ross here in London.

“Working with various departments within London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance, we brought together an observation programme that reflected the delivery of critical care and complex incident management within the capital. I’m glad that the time Ross spent here in London was useful and that we continue to work in partnership to improve patient care in both organisations.”

Ogier partner Martyn Baudains, who is a member of the firm’s local CSR Committee, said: “The Flying Christine is a vital resource, delivering pre-hospital paramedic care and emergency transport for patients across the islands. In hearing of the charity’s appeal, our local CSR Committee was keen to contribute. We hope that Guernsey’s community will rally together to help Ambulance and Rescue raise the necessary funds for the refurbishment of the Flying Christine III.”

The donation from Ogier means the appeal, which was launched two weeks ago, has already reached £10,000 - half of its £20,000 target.

Ambulance and Rescue Chief Executive Officer Mark Mapp said: “The Flying Christine III relies on charitable donations to continue its lifesaving work across the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses, and organisations, we can keep the marine ambulance operational and keep our volunteer crew safe —even in the most challenging weather conditions—ensuring paramedic care reaches all corners of the Bailiwick. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Ogier for their support, which moves us closer to our target and which will help us ensure the refurbishment can be completed.”

He added: “We have received a number of donations ranging from small amounts to some of larger value. Every single donation makes a difference and is hugely appreciated. Without these funds, we simply wouldn’t be able to safely deliver the high standard of care that our communities rely on.”

Work on the Flying Christine III is already underway at the Diverse Marine boatyard in the Isle of Wight. The current project, which is the second phase of the 30-year refit, includes upgrading navigation and communication equipment, updating the clinical treatment area to bring it in line with modern infection control standards and improve reliability.

The purpose-built marine ambulance is due to return to service in Bailiwick waters in the spring, providing prehospital paramedic care for the islands.

While the Flying Christine is out of the water for maintenance relief vessels will be used to maintain cover for the other islands, under existing and well-rehearsed contingency plans.

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Guernsey’s ambulance CEO receives King’s Ambulance Medal at Windsor Castle

The Chief Executive Officer of Ambulance and Rescue and Guernsey’s Chief Ambulance Officer has been presented with the King’s Ambulance Medal (KAM) by the Princess Royal at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Mark Mapp was named as a recipient of the prestigious award in the King’s Birthday Honours in June last year and was invited to the Royal residence in December.

Mr Mapp was accompanied by his wife, son and daughter at the event. He said: “It was a delight to be invited to Windsor Castle for the investiture. I understand that Windsor is used only around four times a year for such events, and the Castle being closed to the public for the day added to the sense of occasion. There were approximately sixty honourees present, and I felt deeply privileged to be among individuals from across the country and the Commonwealth who had been recognised for their outstanding contributions. It was truly fascinating to talk to others and learn about their achievements and the what they do. Before the presentation, we had the privilege of a private tour of the castle, which was both captivating and rich with history, showcasing its grandeur and immense historical significance.”

He added: “The ceremony was nothing like I expected, I thought everyone would be in one room together and we’d be called up one by one, but it is just you and your family, the Princess Royal and her Guards. There was an orchestra playing regal music as you enter the grand reception room, all adding to the occasion. Because I was the last recipient of the day I was there as the orchestra played the National Anthem and Her Royal Highness left the room. I can hardly comprehend the significance of the occasion—it’s only when I look back at the photos that I truly believe I was there and that it actually happened”.

Mark’s connection to St John Guernsey began as a 15-year-old when he joined as a St John Cadet. His ambulance career started at Ambulance and Rescue in 1998, later qualifying as a paramedic. He left full-time employment with the service in 2011 and spent eight years working in various roles at Health and Social Care (HSC) while continuing part-time as a paramedic. Shortly after returning as a senior officer to the ambulance service in 2019 he was appointed as Chief Ambulance Officer.

Mark guided Guernsey’s ambulance service successfully through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and he has been instrumental in the development of the service as part of Health and Social Care’s Partnership of Purpose.

His focus is on enhancing patient care and compassion, improving quality, delivering clinical excellence and financial stability. He works closely with government and the heads of the other blue light services, ensuring Ambulance and Rescue is prepared to support the islands in all eventualities.

Today, Mark continues to be a registered paramedic and although his main role is to deliver strategic oversight, he remains operational and from time to time works with frontline crews responding to medical emergencies.

Mark has also held a number of senior volunteer roles with the St John Guernsey charity and continues to volunteer as a Community First Responder. He also sits on the board of the St John charity. Mark was appointed an Officer of the Order of St John in 2023, he is a member of the College of Paramedics and a committed supporter of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) and The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC).

Talking about what it meant to receive the King’s Ambulance Medal, Mark said: “I am truly honoured I have been fortunate to have worked with so many dedicated individuals committed to delivering care and compassion to islanders in their time of need. Guernsey truly has a remarkable team within the ambulance and health care service, making a difference in people’s lives every day. I am also proud of my long-standing association with St John, where my ambulance career really began, and I hope this award reflects that as well.”

The KAM was initially introduced by Royal Warrant as the Queen’s Ambulance Medal in 2011, to recognise exceptional service and dedication in the ambulance sector in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. It became the King’s Ambulance Medal in 2022.

It is part of the UK Honours System, intended to honour individuals who have shown outstanding commitment, leadership, or innovation in their work. It aligns with other awards, such as the King’s Fire Service Medal or the King’s Police Medal, which similarly honour extraordinary contributions within public service professions.

In November 2024 we marked the 30th anniversary of the Flying Christine III with a special event to celebrate the marine ambulance and her dedicated crews.

The event took place at the Guernsey Yacht Club and was attended by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, the Bailiff of Guernsey, former and current volunteer crew members and supporters. The Dean of Guernsey conducted a short ceremony from the Yacht Club, while the St John Chaplain performed a blessing on board the marine ambulance.

Thanks to Element Films for this short video of the evening.

Have you joined the 2025 ambulance subscription scheme or renewed your membership?

Ambulances in Guernsey are not free, but you can get annual cover by joining the subscription scheme.

Without a subcription you could be charged up to £562 for an ambulance call, but a subscription for an adult is £68.

Benefits of joining the subscription scheme include up to five free emergency ambulance responses, including assessment and treatment by qualified clinicians for subscribers; up to 10 non-emergency patient transfers; up to five Flying Christine marine ambulance transfers.  

For the first time ever this year, people have been able to buy the subscription at any Guernsey Post branch – making it easier than ever to take out cover. This new arrangement has proved popular with islanders.  

Ambulance and Rescue Finance Director Simon Gardiner said: “No one wants to think 2025 is going to be a year they need an ambulance, but the truth is we respond to 7000 callouts every year. The subscription means if you’re one of them, you won’t receive a bill. We know it’s a time of year when money is tight, but it really is something you’ll be extremely glad you took out if you need to call us.  

“We are talking about the equivalent of 19p per day, for an adult. You can pay at any Guernsey Post branch and online. It just takes a few minutes and could save you a lot of financial worry.”  

Join online or at any branch of Guernsey Post

An ambulance subscription also covers the Flying Christine III, which is currently celebrating 30 years of service and assists people needing emergency transfers from other islands in the Bailiwick.  

Anyone without a subscription faces a bill of £622 if they’re transferred from Herm, and £2329 if  transferred from Sark. The Flying Christine III has responded to more than 1000 callouts in its history.  

“We keep these costs as low as we can, running an efficient and effective service for visitors and residents alike. This is why we’re urging you to buy a subscription for just £68 for an adult, to avoid having to pay these full costs should the worse happen.”  

Anyone with an existing direct debit does not need to take any action as existing direct debits will updated and automatically be renewed.  

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Demand for Guernsey’s ambulance service remained steady in 2024 with the total number of calls almost equalling the figure for 2023.

Ambulance and Rescue responded to a total of 6852 cases last year, just 5 less than the previous 12 months. Therefore, the daily average of 18 calls a day remains approximately the same. The figure includes emergency and urgent calls and transfers.

Head of Operations, Dean de la Mare said: “Due to the dynamic nature of ambulance work the ambulance service experiences periods of high demand and periods when call volume dropped below average. On one day in December we had a record equalling 36 cases in 24 hours. At times like this all ambulance crews can be committed to jobs, with ambulance managers redeployed to frontline duties and additional staff called back into work to maintain emergency cover for the island.”

Ambulance and Rescue experienced episodes of high demand during the Christmas and New Year period, with a peak in calls on Christmas Eve night, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Between 0800-1600 on Christmas Day emergency crews responded to 26 cases, then on New Year’s Day there were 6 incidents in 3 hours just after midnight.

“It is very rare for ambulances to have to queue outside the Emergency Department, but on the few occasions when this does happen we have plans in place which include sending a Hospital Ambulance Liaison Officer to the PEH to assist with the triaging and safe handover of patients,” he added.

In Guernsey, 999 calls are answered and categorised by the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre (JESCC) using a world-class clinical triage system which ensures the most appropriate response for all cases. The most serious and life-threatening Category 1 cases are quickly identified, so the nearest ambulance resource can be dispatched immediately. Category 2 cases also get a blue light response, with a target of 14 minutes for the ambulance to arrive. Category 3 and 4 are for less urgent cases and are responded to at road speed. At times of high demand it may take us longer to get to these cases.

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