Friday 8th July 2016 – 3.35pm – Jamie Arrowsmith.
It has been a week like no other for a group of students from throughout the region as they have experienced what it is like to work for the ambulance service.
Ranging from school years ten to 12, youngsters from schools in Staffordshire, the Black Country and Birmingham have spent the week at Dudley Hub as part of the Trust’s work experience programme.
The 12-strong group met a range of operational staff, including paramedics from the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and motorbike paramedic Mark Hayes to find out more about their roles and responsibilities. This included how 999 calls are handled, basic life support, how to use a defibrillator, what causes a cardiac arrest and the work of community first responders amongst much more.
They also got to explore the back of an ambulance and sample some of the various equipment staff use on a daily basis to treat patients.
Diane Pittom, the Trust’s Organisational Development Officer, said: “It has been a really enjoyable week and we have been pleased to host another group of very keen students.
“They have shown great enthusiasm to learn and hopefully this has given them an appetite to apply for jobs with us in the future.”
One of the students, Tom Partridge, who attends Summerhill Secondary School in Kingswinford, said: “It has been a really interesting week and I’ve gained lots of information about what the ambulance service does.
“Being a paramedic wasn’t something I had thought about doing before, even though my dad is already one, but now it is something I would be really interested in.
“As well as learning lots about the service and the wide variety of calls that people make to 999, I’ve also made lots of friends this week, it has been a really good experience.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
If used please credit the image to West Midlands Ambulance Service.
Pictured (left to right) with Aaliya Mohamed (Aston Manor Academy), Tom Partridge (Summerhill Secondary School, Kingswinford), Sally Hale (High Arcal School, Dudley), Stephen Sault (Thorns School, Quarry Bank), Cerys Harris (Smith’s Wood Sports College, Solihull), Amiee Mansell (High Arcal School, Dudley), Mark Hayes (WMAS), Oliver Leach (Bournville School and Sixth Form Centre), Callum Burkitt (Health Futures UTC, West Bromwich), Liam Brittle (Health Futures UTC, West Bromwich), Megan Canning (Health Futures UTC, West Bromwich), Laura McCann (Wolgarston High School, Penkridge), Erin Roache (St Peters RC School, Solihull), Diane Pittom (WMAS).
Thank you so much my son Stephen sault as really enjoyed the week and now he knows what he wants to do when he finishes school once again thank you Bryan sault
So glad he enjoyed it Bryan.
i am trying to apply for work experience how do you apply
Hi Ellie, thanks for your message. Please could I ask you to email diane.pittom@wmas.nhs.uk to enquire further.