South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) joined emergency service partners for another successful 999 Day in High Wycombe, providing families with the opportunity to meet emergency responders, learn more about their work and find out what happens when someone needs emergency care.
The SCAS presence at the event was organised by David Vickery, Emergency Care Assistant, with three members of staff and four Community First Responders supporting activities throughout the day. Huw Pateman, Public Governor, also attended, spending time engaging with visitors and supporting colleagues at the event.
The event was well attended throughout the day, with positive feedback from visitors and many families returning for a second visit after enjoying their experience earlier in the day.
SCAS staff and volunteers engaged with people of all ages, answering questions, sharing information and providing interactive demonstrations to help visitors better understand the ambulance service and the different stages of emergency care.
The Advanced Life Support (ALS) demonstration proved particularly popular and generated a great deal of interest and discussion. Visitors were able to learn more about the equipment and clinical interventions used by ambulance clinicians when responding to seriously ill or injured patients.
The event also provided an opportunity to use SCAS’s Ambulance Journey books when engaging with children and people with learning disabilities and autism. The books helped staff explain what happens when an ambulance is called and what someone might experience during their journey with the ambulance service in an accessible and reassuring way.
Bringing the emergency services together created a welcoming and informal environment where families could meet responders, ask questions and learn more about the organisations working together to keep their communities safe.
The positive response from visitors, particularly the number of families who returned during the day, demonstrated the value of events such as the 999 Day in building relationships, increasing understanding and creating positive experiences between emergency services and the communities they serve.
SCAS would like to thank David, Huw, all the staff and Community First Responders who supported the event, our emergency service partners and everyone who came along and helped make the day such a success.