As part of our preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games, our frontline staff were given special
training. This ranged from a general introduction to the Games and
our role within it, to treating patients with a range of
disabilities.
What training did we give staff?
Clinical staff received four days of classroom-based training.
This included event management, disability awareness and working
with other agencies. A further two days of training was given
around what to do in the event of a major incidents, attending test
events and getting to know the park, venues and surrounding
areas.
Disability training
Specific disability awareness training included caring for
patients with visual and hearing impairments, people with learning
disabilities and also learning about using a wheelchair.
You can read more about caring for patients with disabilities during
the Paralympics in a news release.
Communication booklet
Staff were given communication booklets, featuring
pictures, to help them to interact with patients who had learning
disabilities, could not speak English as a first
language, or had difficulties communicating.
Treating patients with visual impairments
As part of disability awareness training, ambulance staff learnt
how to treat and care for patients with visual impairments, which
involved putting on special glasses so they could experience what
having different visual impairments was like.
Sign language training
Basic sign language was taught to staff who worked during
the Games so they were able to communicate with patients with
hearing impairments who use sign language.