Glasgow School Pupils Visit the Scottish Ambulance Service
A group of Glasgow high school students have visited the Scottish Ambulance Service’s ScotSTAR base to learn more about the service and explore future career opportunities as part of the groundbreaking Young Minds Save Lives Programme, currently funded by NHS Charities Together.
Thirteen students from Hollybrook Academy, which supports young people with additional learning needs, visited the base at Glasgow Airport which is home to the air ambulance team, the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service (EMRS) and the neonatal and paediatric teams.
The students were given an overview of the unique service which operates as a team of paramedics, nurses, advanced practitioners, and doctors, supported by pilots. All staff work together to provide specialist care to seriously ill babies, children and adults across Scotland using specialist helicopters and planes.
They then heard from John Prichard, an air ambulance paramedic who gave an engaging overview of his role and then demonstrated the specialist equipment they use on a day-to-day basis.
John also explained to the group how they communicate while in the helicopter, showcased the safety gear essential for flight operations, and explained the contents of the medical bags they carry on every mission.
To round off the visit, the pupils were given a guided tour of the base where they had the opportunity to see some of the specialist equipment used for transporting critically ill babies and children, explore the GAMA Aviation workshop where aircraft maintenance takes place, and step inside an ambulance specially designed for neonatal and paediatric transfers.
Mariam Rahman, S5 from Hollybrook Secondary School said: “I’ve had the best day, ever! I really liked seeing the aircraft and hearing from staff about the jobs they do. Looking in the back of the ambulance was fun and I loved trying on the helmet that the paramedics wear when they’re in the air. I can’t wait to go back to my family and tell them all about it.”
John Prichard said: “It was an absolute pleasure to speak to the young people today about my role as an air ambulance paramedic, to show them round the base and to also answer the many interesting questions they had.
“It’s important that all young people have the chance to see what kind of opportunities there are for volunteering and future careers in healthcare. Hopefully, I’ve inspired some of them today to consider these roles going forward.”
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Contact Information
Scottish Ambulance Press Office
Notes to editors
Notes to Editors
The Young Minds Save Lives programme, which is run by the Scottish Ambulance Service and is currently funded by NHS Charities Together, is uniquely co-designed with young people and provides them with vital knowledge and skills on how to respond in a medical emergency and preventative healthcare. It also aims to raise awareness about future careers in health and opportunities for volunteering, whilst developing skills in when and how to access healthcare.