North East Ambulance Service launches video series to keep in touch with local community in the run up to Restart a Heart Day

Restrictions on social distancing and infection prevention measures, coupled with demands upon the service and the need to keep ambulance workers and their patients safe have meant that engaging with the public in person has been extremely limited over the past two years.

The videos have been developed in a bid to continue to share information about how and when to use the service, CPR and the role of a paramedic with schools, community, seldom heard and patient groups and future applicants.

Shotley Bridge Primary School took part in the launch to sample the new information and find out what might now be available to them in the classroom.

NEAS engagement manager Mark Johns explains, “Since the pandemic it has been very difficult to get out and about. Covid restrictions, organisations on furlough and concerns about protecting staff and patients have meant most face-to-face engagement has been suspended.

“Our services are in really high demand and it’s not always possible to release staff and vehicles to attend events. We know we would normally visit around 300 groups or events every year and we know people still need information and advice on our services, now more than ever.

“To make it easier for us to reach out to people virtually and especially in the run up to Restart a Heart Day on 10 October, we’ve developed a number of online resources and we’ll soon start undertaking events again.

“We’ll not need to take a physical ambulance off the road now, to show people around in the future, we have a virtual 360-degree tour and hopefully we won’t need to release as many of our front-line team. We still hope to give some of the same experiences, albeit virtually and answer many of the questions that

people have of us.”

The service has produced a range of standard videos for anyone and everyone who has an interest in:

· North East Ambulance Service

· CPR

· Life-saving skills

· How and when to use the services – 999, NHS111

Different versions of the videos have been developed targeting key messages at different audiences. The videos are particularly targeted at Key Stage 2 children (aged 7 to 11) and

adults, along with a patient transport service video, aimed at people with learning difficulties, which is due in the next month.

Pupils at Shotley Bridge Primary School were the first to try out the resources, taking part in a carousel of activities looking at the services on offer from NEAS, the new videos, an ambulance tour, CPR demonstrations, games designed to educate children about ambulance response times and poster design.

Mr Patterson, deputy head teacher at Shotley Primary School said, “This has provided our children with a valuable life skill and whilst we hope they won't need to use it, we can rest assured they will know what to do in an emergency thanks to the work of the North East Ambulance Service.”

Fezeka Klaas. African Women Voices (AWV) added, “North-East Ambulance Service has worked and trained our community on how to use lifesaving equipment to save lives. We now know different teams and various services that the Trust provides in the community. We’re grateful for the support that they gave”.

A virtual tour of the ambulance, which people can control and navigate and interactive quizzes and additional versions in British Sign Language versions with subtitles will follow soon. Now available at: www.neas.nhs.uk · Adult & BSL versions: www.neas.nhs.uk/patient-info · Child and Child BSL versions www.neas.nhs.uk/get-involved/learning-zone