Ref. 72658-64 Stephanie Wilson and Jenni Young who have graduated as ambulance technicians

THERE aren't many parents who would feel able to take on a demanding career dealing with life or death situations and working unsociable shifts.

But then, not everyone has the qualities to be a lifesaver.

Mother-of-four Jenni Young, of Pinehurst, is prepared for whatever her new job as an ambulance technician throws at her and is looking forward to the challenges.

She will be answering emergency call-outs to anything from someone having a funny turn to a motorway pile-up.

And the 33-year-old has the enthusiastic support of her family husband Mark and their children Cameron, eight, Aileen, 10, Calum, 12, and Dale, 16.

She starts work this week with Wiltshire Ambulance Service as an ambulance technician, along with 25 other people who have also just qualified. Ten of them are from Swindon.

"I wanted a caring job. I also wanted a challenge," said Jenni, who previously worked at North Swindon Library.

Stephanie Wilson, 29, who trained alongside her, also decided she wanted complete change of career.

She had been a sales administrator at the Evening Advertiser, an assistant food and beverage manager at a hotel and a business travel agent, as well as spending a year travelling round the world.

But she has now found her vocation with Wiltshire Ambulance Service. And she reckons she and her newly-qualified colleagues could put the BBC's Casualty scriptwriters right on a few points.

"Some of us have been watching the programme and saying that's not the way to do it," she said.

Now Stephanie, who lives with her boyfriend Greg in West Swindon, is ready to deal with the real emergencies that face ambulance crews every shift.

Like all the trainees, she has been taught anatomy and physiology, how to administer oxygen, pain relief and certain other drugs, how to lift heavy patients on stretchers, how to reassure them and their relatives and how to defuse difficult situations.

It's not unusual for ambulance crews to be abused and threatened physically but the new recruits are fully aware and prepared for what they could face.

Now she faces a three-week intensive driving course. She admits manoeuvring an ambulance, won't be as easy as driving the Fiesta company car she had in her previous job.

Kerry Stanyer, from Lyneham, applied to join Wiltshire Ambulance Service after serving as a part-time medical assistant with 4626 Auxiliary of the RAF.

"It's not glamorous, not like in Casualty. But there is going to be real job satisfaction," she said.

Shirley mathias