The first time I was exposed to serious infection was when I transported my next door neighbours’ Mother-in-law to St Andrews Hospital. She had recently returned from a holiday in India and as it turned out, she had contracted typhoid and was now feverish. My crewmate and I found out about this three days latter from a report in the local paper. Panic! Straight on the blower to occupational health. A doctor called back some hours later and told me, “as long as you didn’t stick your un-gloved finger up her arse and put it in your mouth you’ll be all right!” Second time was my own fault. One of those five-to seven jobs on the first of a set of seven nights (At a earlier Newham Ambulance Station we used to do this rotation every four weeks) Adult male unconscious. My crewmate of the shift was experienced and an arse-hole, who went on to become a senior officer in the PTS. When we arrive on scene, nigh on twenty minutes later, blue lights applied just round the corner from the house. On arrival approached by a woman in state of hysteria, I rushed back to the house with her to find an unconscious young male lying on his bed not breathing. I drag him off and onto the floor, about to perform CPR when I realise no bag! Which means no bag and mask? Does something his mother scream and you are buggered. Down I go and have give head, he vomits euck! Back to it. Tree minutes later the “old hand” (25 year old ex cadet) turns up with the resus equipment and we get on with it. Salutary lesson. Meningitis. Two weeks urinating orange juice. Remember your old Boy Scout motto. Be Prepared---for any thing. Last occasion was after being bitten on the arm by a hysterical and very hot African woman. Test for HpB, negative (well I thought it was, what they said was my blood had high levels of Hep anti-bodies) The Aids test was too frightening, ---to much experience of un-protected sex. Its not Aids, Hepatitis or BSE you should worry about! It’s all that negative stress that will eventually do for you. Either you will drop dead a few months after that rather questionable retirement party or the guardians of Waterloo Tower wills oft you at the first opportunity. It is amazing how many of them are escapees from the front line and a bunch of back stabbing arse licking bastards. I can remember being in the training school and been told by people like Mr Flaherty that we shouldn’t develop Old hand syndrome, or driver mentality. I and some of my younger colleagues spent years at Newham complex discouraging this sort of negative attitude. Where was Flaherty and company –in the bunker with their heads hung low and moaning, gutless bastards--- nothing changes!