When and how to call for help

Pupils will know when to contact the ambulance service for help and how to do so. They will understand that the ambulance service is for situations where they think someone’s life is at risk and the difference between non serious and serious incidents. They will have a better understanding of what other NHS services exist and how they can help.

They will be more aware of how to help themselves to avoid needing an ambulance where possible. 

Show the children the team 999 film                                                                                                                

Discuss ‘emergency’ and what types of emergencies there are

When would you call an ambulance?

When would you go to an Emergency Department? (Show the picture of an ED)

  • Chest pain
  • Choking
  • Blacking out
  • When you are bleeding very badly

How else can people get medical help?

When would you go to an urgent care centre? (Show the picture of a UCC)

  • Sprains and strains,
  • Broken bones
  • Minor head injuries
  • Severe sore throats
  • Rashes
  • Infections

When would you go to a doctor? (Show the picture of a doctor)

  • Back pain
  • Ear pain
  • Stomach ache
  • Vomiting
  • Itches
  • Cuts

When would you go to a pharmacist? (Show the picture of a pharmacist)

  • Headache
  • Painful cough
  • Diarrhoea

When would you help yourself?

  • Cough
  • Cold
  • Sore throat
  • Minor cuts and grazes

What if you are not sure where to go?

  • Call 111

How can people help themselves so they don’t need an ambulance?

  • Show the children the ‘Choose Well’ information sheet
  • Working in small groups, discuss each of the people who help and how they help
  • Mark up corners of the playground or hall with places/people who help, shout out a scenario and ask the pupils to run to the correct place

The People who help

Pupils will learn how to identify the people who can help.

  • The pharmacist –
    • where will you find them?
    • The chemist in your local area.
  • The doctor
    • Where will you see them?
    • Surgery
    • Home visits
    • Urgent care centre
    • Hospital
  • How can you recognise an ambulance crew?
  • What do ambulance crews do to help patients?
  • How can you recognise ambulance vehicles?
  • Why do you think the ambulance service has cars and helicopters etc?
  • Show the children green uniform, hi-vis jackets, ambulance
  • Write a day in the life of a paramedic diary entry
  • Write a job advert for a paramedic, think about the qualities and skills required.

What happens when you call for an Ambulance

Pupils will understand that the location of the emergency is the most important piece of information to the ambulance service, closely followed by the problem/what has happened. They will be aware that more information about the emergency means the ambulance service will be able to respond with the most appropriate resources in the most appropriate timeframe. They will understand that the sickest patients will be dealt with as a priority and that there are only a limited number of resources so they must be used appropriately.

  • How do you call for help?
    • 999
  • What does the ambulance service call handler need to know?

Get the children to listen to a mock 999 call.

  • Address
    • What is wrong
  • How quickly would you expect the ambulance service to help?
    • Discuss how calls can be graded depending on how poorly someone is from the information given on the telephone, so the information given is important to make sure the right people come to help.

Using the car mat and ambulances (this is best undertaken in a controlled classroom setting):

  • Explain a number of scenarios and ask the pupils to allocate the relevant resources to the incidents until they run out of vehicles.
  • Then ask them what they would do if one of their family members became ill and needed and ambulance once all the resources had been used up.
  • Then tell them what if one of the jobs didn’t need an ambulance (eg. They said they were SOB, but really had a cold), should they have called an ambulance and how can it affect other people.
  • So it is important to think about if you should look after yourself, see the pharmacist, see the doctor, or make your own way to A&E.
  • You do not get seen faster just because you go to hospital by ambulance.

How they can help

Pupils will have a better understanding of the types of Equipment found in ambulances. They will learn that ambulance crews are highly skilled and can make decisions about the most appropriate care destinations for their patients.

  • What equipment do you think the ambulance crew carries? Why?
  • What is inside an ambulance?
  • How do you think the ambulance service can help?
  • When would an ambulance crew take someone to an Emergency Department?
  • Where else could an ambulance crew take a poorly person?

Show the children a kit bag, bandages, oxygen mask and cylinder

Describe scenarios or use picture cards and ask the pupils to discuss where the ambulance crew might take the patient for treatment.

How you can help

Pupils will learn how their actions can make a difference and really help a patient. They will understand that keeping calm is important and getting help from adults/professionals is vital. Discuss danger, response, shouting for help, airways, breathing and compressions (DRSABC) and how they can help when they can’t wake someone up /a person is unresponsive.

What is a defibrillator and how is it used?

What can you do to help until help arrives?

Have you heard of DRSABC? What does it stand for?

  • Danger – always make sure it’s safe, you can’t help if you get hurt too.
  • Response – see if you can get the person to talk to you. Hello, can you hear me?
  • Shout for help – always get help from an adult. But it is important to stay calm.
  • Get pupils to act out DRSABC and put a friend in the recovery position.
  • Show the children a defibrillator

Homework

Design a poster about what you have learnt today