Ambulance Hero

The Be An Ambulance Hero – Dial Zero Zero Zero school education program has been designed for Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students (ages 5-8 years). It has been developed in consultation with and endorsed by the NSW Department of Education, Catholic Education Commission and Association of Independent Schools. The program has been distributed to all NSW primary schools and is a non-compulsory free program.

The program assists teachers educate children on the following topics:” and also change the dot points to

Simple decision making skills
The difference between a little accident and a big accident, including how to identify an unconscious person
Understanding how to call an ambulance in an emergency
The emergency number in Australia - 000 (not 911 or any other number children may have heard on overseas television shows)
Increase the number of children able to effectively call for an ambulance in an emergency
Develop the confidence and skills necessary for children to be able to call an ambulance in an emergency and answer questions asked by 000 call takers.

Research consultants were contracted by the Ambulance Service to conduct a trial and evaluation of the program to ensure that its objectives were met. A sample of metropolitan and rural state, catholic and independent schools across NSW participated and the program was reported as a huge success. Since the rollout of the program in February 2007, 10,500 students have participated in it with enthusiastic feedback received from teachers.

Program Resources

Teacher Resource Booklet

The Teacher Resource Booklet supports the teaching of safe living as part of the key learning area Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE), a mandatory part of the curriculum taught at all schools and is linked to curriculum indicators and outcomes. The duration of the program, including roleplay, is approximately 60 minutes and can be adapted to different classroom situations depending on age and time available.

The resource booklet enables teachers to deliver the following lessons:

Recognising an emergency - This is explained using terms such as 'big accidents' and 'little accidents' to assist in comprehending the types of situations that require an ambulance.
What to do in an emergency - Children are taught how to identify an unconscious person by shouting their name and squeezing their shoulders (referred to as 'shout and squeeze'). In a situation where there is an injured person, children are taught to find assistance from appropriate helpers including Mum/Dad, big brothers and sisters and adults they know.
Calling an ambulance - If there is no adult available children are taught that the emergency number in Australia is 000 and to dial this in a medical emergency.
What happens when you call an ambulance - When calling 000, a standard set of questions is asked by Ambulance call takers to ensure that an ambulance is sent as quick as possible. As part of the Teacher Resource Booklet, these questions are explained so that children not only understand the meaning of the questions and how to answer them, but develop confidence in their ability to know what to do in an emergency situation.
Calling 000 roleplay - Students practice calling 000 based on a number of different emergency scenarios.

Download the Teacher Resource Booklet [PDF, 419kb]

flashcards

Flashcards
A set of five flashcards (A3 in size) has been developed as visual teaching aids to assist teachers in explaining different medical emergency scenarios - referred to as a 'little accident' or a 'big accident'. The scenarios include falling out of a tree, a person unable to be woken, falling off a bike, breathing difficulties and a cut finger.

Every ambulance station has been sent a set of flashcards for staff to share. These will need to be taken on the day of your visit.

Download the five flashcards

student kit

Student Take Home Kit
A student take home kit has been developed to further reinforce key messages. Prior to delivering the program, teachers are advised to order the required number of kits for every student participant.

Click on each of the following links for a complete kit.

The Hooley Dooleys tm 'Zero Zero Zero' Theme Song
The Hooley Dooleys children's entertainment group are proud supporters of the 'Be An Ambulance Hero: Dial Zero Zero Zero' school education program. They produced and performed this fantastic song at the program launch.

Click here to listen to The Hooley Dooleys 'Zero Zero Zero' song

The ‘Be an Ambulance Hero - Dial Zero, Zero, Zero’ program has been designed for children under eight and covers topics such as recognising an emergency, what to do in an emergency, calling an ambulance, what happens when you call an ambulance and a calling 000 role play.