15th June 2018
Flashing lights, sirens and screaming echoed around the College grounds last term; as the city’s emergency services gathered on site.
The Crash
The day was far from a catastrophe however, as Public Services students enjoyed a day of learning from the professionals during a Road Traffic Collision training day.
A lucky group of 30 teens, all studying Public Services, spent the day working with some of Bristol’s everyday heroes. The day was a one-of-a-kind event, which enabled Avon Fire & Rescue, NHS South Western Ambulance Service and Avon & Somerset Constabulary to collaborate in a unique training session, which provided insight into the challenging and rewarding careers open to the young adults taking part.
The students, many of whom are eager to embark upon a career with the emergency services after leaving College, enjoyed a morning of practical demonstrations and workshops delivered directly from those on the front line; covering a range of topics including CPR and first aid.
The day culminated in one very large bang which saw all services pull together in a mock road traffic collision scenario calling for car roofs to be taken off and the ‘injured’ to be tended to. As emergency services vehicles flew up the College drive and Fire Officers began smashing windows and cutting cars, students and staff gathered to watch the events unfold. Meanwhile, Public Services students donned hard hats and jackets to join the action and put their morning training into practice; shadowing the professionals and providing medical help to the ‘wounded’.
Dave Hodder, Public Services teacher at St Brendan’s and co-organiser of the event said, “As a College we are thrilled that we are able to provide our students with this unique experience and it has been incredibly rewarding to see our young adults in action. A huge thank you to all the emergency services officers who helped to make the event such a success. Our students feel incredibly privileged to have had an opportunity to work with such inspirational and hard-working professionals. After working closely with these students in class and watching them today, I am confident that the Bristol population is in good hands with our future generation of life-savers!”
