Saving Lives by God's Grace

Glen Preston (40), owner of Hibiscus Med-Evac Service for the past 15 years and the only nonDepartment of Health recipient of the MEC’s Award for Excellence in 2016 for a rescue in a rural community, felt compelled to save lives from a very early age.

Born the second son to teacher parents in Zimbabwe, Preston’s family emigrated to Johannesburg, moved to Richards Bay, then finally settled in Amanzimtoti when his dad moved into the HR field. He was a school first aider as well as a cub and scout and he completed both his nipper and lifeguard awards in his school career. Preston first caught the paramedic bug when, as a school first aider in Grade 8, he attended the SA Drum Majorette Competition at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. He quizzed DUT National Diploma students and their lecturers for hours to learn about the course, equipment and career. He began volunteering for an ambulance service in Grade 9 and continued until he completed matric at Amanzimtoti High School.

Preston enrolled for his National Diploma in Ambulance and Emergency Care through Technikon Natal full-time from 1998 and describes it as one of the most intense and demanding courses at the Institution. He worked parttime for experience and supplemental income and completed his BTech degree part-time at DUT in 2006.

“We worked super hard and had an absolute blast doing so! There is something about shared danger and challenges/hardship that can’t be explained,” enthused Preston. “Whether it was climbing a mountain or jumping off a dam wall for rescue to the weekly physical training, it forges bonds that last a lifetime and transcend all gender or racial lines.”

After Tech, Preston completed updates and continuous development courses, remaining in the field. He has delivered lectures and assessed at DUT and private colleges and has been involved in a number of advisory/regulatory bodies to train/mentor many practitioners over the years. He is now busy ‘toying with the idea’ of completing his master’s degree.

A self-confessed workaholic, Preston’s business provides employment for 30 staff members. The busy service currently runs four ambulances, two response cars and boats and

Glen Preston DUT BTECH ambulance and Emergency Medical Care graduate

boasts 24-hour service to an average of 300 patients a month.

They regularly assist the local NSRI, SAPS Search and Rescue and Protection Services with complete rescues and body recoveries. “It’s the best part of the field – I can be writing you a mail this moment and launching a boat or hanging under a helicopter the next,” laughed Preston.

What does he consider to be the pinnacle of his career? “Saving a life; there is no greater feeling than walking into a hospital room or bumping into someone whose life you saved. To be there at the start of life and the end of life is something you just cannot verbalise fully.”

A typical morning starts with an early gym session, then a few minutes with his daughters, assuming there are no emergencies. He then gets his paperwork and admin out of the way and still actively responds to calls as well as assists and mentors crews.

“The pandemic is just another day at the office: the Level 5 lockdown substantially dropped our workload due to decreased traffic and industrial incidents, but also as many people were very scared of hospitals and catching COVID19,” he said. “As the levels decreased and the pandemic changed, we saw an increase in caseload, especially after drunken driving became a factor after Level 3 allowed alcohol sales again. In terms of COVID-19 patients, we have seen an increase in numbers as the pandemic grows.”

Preston’s main diversions from work are church, scuba diving and sport shooting/hunting. ‘Saved by God’s grace. To Him all glory’ features on all Preston’s med-evac vehicles, which is indicative of where he draws his daily strength from.

“I tell my staff/students that we don’t change the outcome but we do affect the timetable. The Bible tells us that This is one of the hardest careers emotionally and physically – it can take everything – health, family, sanity if you let it… This is not a career you walk into and learn; this is 100% your passion/calling or it is not.

there are two dates we can rely on: the day to be born and the day to die. The in-between bit is up to us. In my belief, God’s grace offered salvation through the Lord Jesus atoning for sins on the cross – this grace saves us spiritually.”

He has been married for eight years to registered nurse and stay-at-home mom Karen and their girls Caylen and Ella, who are three and five years old respectively. “I try to spend as much of my spare time with my family as possible – watching them see things for the first time and their perspective is such a contrast to our daily lives.

“It is so amazing to watch them grow and there is nothing better than getting happy shrieks and hugs when you get home at the end of the day, especially if it’s been difficult/ busy,” shared Preston. “The flip side is that there’s nothing worse than running out when on standby, especially if you’ve barely been home with them.”