It is designed for senior high school students. The goal of the program is to provide young people with information about trauma injury that will enable them to recognise potential injury producing situations, particularly related to alcohol and risk taking, help make prevention orientated choices and to adopt behaviours that minimise unnecessary risk.
The students spent the day with various trauma services at Liverpool Hospital. They had the opportunity to meet with ED doctors and nurses, ICU nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, allied health professionals, trauma nurses and patients. Students were confronted with real life examples, simulated clinical scenarios and were exposed to the journey of a trauma patient. In addition, they learnt about the various types of trauma injuries, rehabilitation and equipment used while in trauma care. The highlight of the excursion was hearing from a young man who was involved in a car crash that was preventable. He was able to powerfully convey the horrendous impact the trauma has had and continues to have on his life.
A big thank you to Mrs Nevenka Francis, College parent, Area Trauma Clinical Nurse Consultant and P.A.R.T.Y Program Coordinator at Liverpool Hospital who conducted and organised the program on the day. The program was professionally run, well organised and no doubt will deeply impact the futures decisions and safety of our Year 12 students.
Some of the reflections from Year 12 students can be read below.
Mr Kent Weir
PDHPE Coordinator
Year 12 Student Reflections
“I had absolutely no idea about the impact of the risks we as young people take> this excursion was really confronting as you could see the extent to which rash decisions can impact not just our lives, but the lives of people around us. By seeing and hearing the confronting stories throughout the day, it undoubtedly put things in perspective for me. I definitely left the excursion a wiser and more educated individual who was reminded of the importance of making smart decisions and being safe”.
“The P.A.R.T.Y program not only thoroughly informed me about the dangers of risk taking and how this could affect my life and the people around me as a result of a split second decision. People who make these decisions are not bad people they just make a rash choice in the spur of the moment. I also have a great appreciation to all the people in the emergency services who treat and see these young people come in to the hospital in these critical conditions.”
“The PARTY program will certainly change my life and the decisions I make. It really put things into perspective, showing me how one bad choice can change my life. I highly recommend this excursion to anyone as it is a great learning experience that may benefit someone one day”.