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 is available to all NSW primary schools and is a non-compulsory free program.

The program assists teachers educate children on the following topics:

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 - Triple Zero (000)
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 the Triple Zero (000) call takers.

Since its rollout in February 2007, over 20,000 students have participated in the program with enthusiastic feedback received from teachers. An independent evaluation was conducted in late 2008 with findings revealing that nine out of ten parents whose child had completed the progran felt their child knew what to do in an emergency (compared to just under half whose child had not completed it).

To get your school involved in this free program, follow these easy steps:

Email your name, school's name and postal address to community@ambulance.nsw.gov.au to receive a teachers kit
Once you have received the kit, complete and fac back the 'student take home kit order form' to receive your free merchandise.

Program resources

Teacher Resource Booklet

The teacher resource booklet can be used to teach the safe living element of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE), a mandatory part of the curriculum taught at all schools. The booklet 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 - Explained using terms such as 'big accidents' and 'little accidents' to understand the types of situations that require an ambulance.
What to do in an emergency - Identifying an unconscious person and finding assistance from appropriate helpers.
Calling an ambulance - Call Triple Zero (000) in a medical emergency.
What happens when you call an ambulance - Understanding the standard set of questions asked by Ambulance call takers.
Calling Triple Zero (000) roleplay - Students practice calling Triple Zero (000) based on a number of different emergency scenarios.

Download the Teacher Resource Booklet [PDF, 419kb]

Flashcards

A set of five flashcards (A3 in size) can be used as visual teaching aids to assist teachers explain 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.

Download the five flashcard

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