Youth Health Leaders at the event
YOUNGSTERS from schools across the Fylde coast visited Blackpool Victoria Hospital to learn life-saving skills and educate their peers about NHS careers.
The pupils took part in the annual Youth Health Leaders event, which is now in its fifth year. Its aim is to give pupils the exposure and understanding of their health and how they can educate their family and friends.
Children from Baines, Lytham St Annes High and AKS schools joined in the fun and learned about first aid, how to perform CPR, caring for someone who has taken ‘spice’, the impact of drugs and alcohol and how to live a healthy lifestyle.
Sharon Vickers, Practice Development Nurse in the Unscheduled Care division, organised the event.
She said: “The day was a huge success and we were delighted to see so many pupils engage with our programme. It is so important for us to educate our local pupils on health and wellbeing.
“We empower pupils by giving them the title of “health leader’’ and giving them the tools to get important messages to pupils across their own schools.
Eric Lee, First Aid from the British Cross educating a pupil
“Our aim is not only to educate but to inspire pupils to work for the NHS and their local hospital by giving them an insight into the many career options we have at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
“Not only did we have pupils from various schools but our youth health group, Victoria’s Voice, was also involved in the events.
“I’m very grateful to the people who dedicated their time to make the day the success it was.
“We are so lucky to be supported by voluntary and charity services across Blackpool who offer great learning opportunities for children and we are so pleased to see the new health leaders signing up to join.
“I would also like to thank the Council of Governors and Board of Directors at the Trust for their continued support for this event and the Unscheduled Care teams who agreed to release their staff to deliver the education. Without support from my lead, Lisa Horkin, I wouldn’t have been able to pull this off.”
The feedback from the pupils was fantastic. One said: “I thought the Youth Health Leaders day taught me a lot as it made me realise how much I’d like to work for the NHS.”