Essex staff head back to school for new education initiative

Essex staff education initiative

A team in Chelmsford EOC has been taking youngsters through what to do in an emergency in a new initiative.

Twenty schools in Chelmsford and Brentwood have been visited during the engagement programme, which sees Year 1 pupils play ambulance themed games and talk about what happens when they dial 999.

Call Handler Alison Latham set up the project after giving an impromptu talk at a school about calling for an ambulance, and enlisted 15 call handlers and dispatchers. They include Lisa McGee, Tom Williamson, Beccy Carroll and Tamsin Jae Smith, Emma Sainsbury, Sarah Wylie, Julie Davis, Beth Carter, Keri Drury, Jenny Coventry, George Lock, Aimee Morgan, Harriet Davis and Lauren Pemberton-Skingley.

“I discovered that a lot of children don’t know the correct use of the ambulance service and I was approached about giving presentations at more primary schools,” said Alison. “I produced a leaflet for the children that has a ‘for grown ups’ section which we hope will provide adults with more information about using us as well. It has been hard work but rewarding and I'm very proud of all my staff members who have been out on visits. We are also starting to go to schools in Colchester too.”

George said: “It was very rewarding and great fun. At the end of the session the children got to try on the green shirt and every one of them loved it.

“There’s another important message in there too that calling for an ambulance is serious and if the service is misused someone else’s life could be put in danger.”

The programme was a hit with the children, with one saying: "I liked learning about the different ambulances and how many workers are needed. I loved the ambulance pictures I got to colour too!"

Published 18th July 2015 

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