North West Ambulance Service Paramedics Experts at Lionheart Challenge

Seven of North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) Paramedics attended the LionHeart Challenge in the role of Expert Advisory Help, at the North West's regional finals held at the Reebok Stadium on July 12.

Two hundred and fifty pupils from schools around the North West congregated at the Reebok Stadium, home of the Championship football club Bolton Wanderers, for the Regional Finals of the LionHeart Business Enterprise Challenge. Seven NWAS paramedics were invited to provide expert advice to the budding entrepreneurs tasked with designing a 'ground breaking product or device that will provide a new and invaluable addition to the Armoury of Tools at the disposal of the Paramedic, and which would improve life chances at the scene of an incident'.

Andy Redgrave, Community Engagement Manager for NWAS, was recommended to head the panel of experts by Phil Crompton, Programme Leader for Paramedic Practice at Edge Hill University, who also attended the event to judge the Product Concepts.

The overall winners of the North West's Regional final were Mount Carmel RC High School and Altrincham Grammar School for Girls. The winning concepts were an on-scene X-Ray and Emergency Response Package, containing a clotting-agent spray, endorphin-releasing plasters, a Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) band and an inflatable leather arm brace, doubling as a bag; respectively.

Andy said "I was really excited to be invited as an expert to the Challenge, and definitely did not have difficulty in finding colleagues to join me.

"When it comes to saving lives, it's the simple things, the basics, that can improve a persons' chance of survival. Young minds are unhindered by preconceptions and feasibility, thought processes aren't over-complicated and so there is a real possibility of finding an innovative design here.

It's also a brilliant opportunity to engage with young people, and to give them a first-hand account of working on the frontline of emergency services."

Andy invited a number of colleagues from NWAS to make up the panel; including Katie Brett and Simon Dykes, a Clinical Paramedic Tutor. Also invited were a number of colleagues who work with Andy in delivering the HeartStart and Chain of Survival initiative to communities across the North West. These included Dave McNally, Community Resuscitation Manager for the Greater Manchester Area, Steve Nicholls, Community Resuscitation Development Officer, and Sara Harris, Chain of Survival Co-Ordinator for the Greater Manchester Area. Completing the panel of experts were Sally Thompson, a former NWAS paramedic who is now a Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science and Pre-hospital Care at Edge Hill University, and Mark Cutler, course leader Pre-Reg Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University.

Steve Nicholls, NWAS Community Resuscitation Development Officer, presented the two winning teams with their Individual School Award.