“I have some amazing memories of meeting people who I’ve impacted, whether that’s by saving them or a loved one.”
Paramedic Lee Salmon has been working at GNAAS for nine years and is the charity’s head of operations for Cumbria and Isle of Man. We had a chat with Lee to find out more about his role and previous career…
Lee, could you talk us through what your role at GNAAS is?
Being the head of operations for Cumbria and the Isle of Man is an incredibly rewarding yet ridiculously challenging role. Each day brings the responsibility of orchestrating life-saving missions across some of the UK’s most beautiful yet remote and rugged landscapes. Coordinating with a dedicated team of highly skilled pilots, paramedics, and medical staff, I ensure that world-class critical care and emergency transfers are delivered swiftly to patients in need. The diversity of the region, from the fells of the Lake District to the isolated communities of the Isle of Man, adds an extra layer of complexity to logistics and operations. Yet, the gratitude of the communities we serve and the lives we save provide an unmatched sense of accomplishment and purpose.
How long have you worked with the charity?
Cumulatively nine years of a 23-year career as a pre-hospital care medic.
What made you want to work for GNAAS?
I was eight years old when I saw a helicopter land on a Northern Ireland airbase when I was visiting my uncle who was an army captain – the seed was planted then! The opportunity to serve the region in which I live both fulfils and energises me. I don’t mind the responsibility of caring for your loved ones, but I do crave the community and corporate support in return.
Did you always know you wanted to be a paramedic?
Being a paramedic is a true marker of myself, it means I stand up when things get tough, I help those most in need and I challenge those that need to be challenged. I’m not sure that’s what I thought being a paramedic was, I thought it was about driving fast cars and saving lives, when really it’s about beholding the privilege of being in a community.
If you weren’t a paramedic what would you be?
I’m a typical wantrepreneur! (typo intended).
I am driven mainly by two things – helping people and a challenge. Dress it up in whatever form, as long as it’s a challenge I will attempt to succeed, whether that be a business, a role in a charity, or as a professionally registered paramedic. I would only ever leave my role to better myself. I’m 50 this year and I would be lying if I said it hadn’t crossed my mind. At times my shoulders feel heavy with the expectation, my heart feels full with the empathy and more importantly the sorrow.
Talk us through your career path?
At 12 I wanted some money, my late mother suggested I could wash her windows. Then next door asked if I’d do hers, next moment I was cleaning windows across the village.
Then onto waiting tables, I didn’t like having cold fingers! I learned to talk to people and make them happy as it resulted in a good tip!
My roles evolved, my aspirations grew, and I followed my passions.
In and around my paramedic career I have trimmed cows’ feet, been a shepherd, waited tables, served alcohol, renovated pubs, and finally established a coffee business with my wife, Anna.
Her combined drive, passion, and ethic of working hard have helped us develop a coffee business and taught us both to be baristas. So after saving a life, I can make you a lovely cup of coffee!
What’s the hardest part of your job?
We only have limited resources and can only be in one place at a time.
We are bound by so much legislation and anchored by a lack of funding and slowly edging forward takes energy that at times is truly difficult to muster. We are on a pedestal, we do attract negative comments, but often people forget, we are funded by the public and we must do what’s right for the public over everything else.
How do you cope with difficult jobs?
I have multiple layers of armour yet sometimes a job gets through.
Over my 23 years, there have been a handful of jobs that have taken a small piece of me that I won’t ever get back and that’s a shame, but those details are too precious and too difficult to share.
Being prepared to take your time to reflect -reflection and honesty is the true strength that keeps the armour strong and your passion alive.
What are the team like to work with?
A nightmare! Just kidding. They are all phenomenal people, so driven, so passionate and so unbelievably switched on it’s a constant battle to stay afloat amidst the tide of truly amazing people. Somebody chuck me a life vest!
Do you have any advice for your younger self?
Understand that everything you achieve, you will need to fight for, so be prepared to fight.
What is the biggest career hurdle you have faced?
Managing my own time because you can never tell how long things will take to achieve.
What kickstarts your day but it can’t be coffee?
The sun!
I don’t have curtains so the morning light energises my soul- most of the time anyway!
What do you like to do outside of work?
Have fun. In my role, I see people’s lives shattered daily and it’s never lost on me.
I encourage my daughters to enjoy every moment, explore the possible, and challenge the impossible. Life’s for living and loving, not for being anxious or scared.
Lee, do you have anything to add?
Every single one of our team recognises the absolute privilege we hold to care for the people of our region.
Our supporters are all so important to us that we compromise our family time to practice that privilege.
Thank you for your continued support and for the love you show us time and again.
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