7 Jun 2016
We have launched a new educational app, ‘HELIMED’ which allows users to take on the role of a pilot, doctor or paramedic to undertake life-saving missions in a race against the clock. Designed for school children aged 11-14, but available to download free to all internationally, HELIMED aims to inspire a new generation of enthusiastic, technologically skilled young people in pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects.
The HELIMED app — developed by Milo Creative in partnership with science education centre Centre of the Cell ¬— enables users to understand more about aviation, medical innovation, leadership and teamwork, while experiencing four virtual life-saving missions based on real-life roadside scenarios that our advanced trauma team attends. Players will be tested on a range of subjects including their maths, physics, medical knowledge, and decision making.
Commenting on HELIMED, Dr Gareth Davies, Medical Director at London’s Air Ambulance said: “HELIMED provides a STEM educational platform that will not only engage schoolchildren, but provide an innovative resource for teachers by bringing compulsory Key Stage 3 topics to life. By injecting a little fun and excitement into learning through the app, we also hope to inspire future generations to think about pursuing careers in the air ambulance, healthcare, aviation or other emergency services sectors — which are incredibly rewarding career paths.”
Including scenarios where patients have been involved in a road traffic collision, stabbed, or fallen from a height — incidents that we commonly attend — participants assume roles as our doctors, paramedics or pilots to try and save their lives. They must first decide if the 999 call fits the criteria for automatic dispatch of the advanced trauma team. Next they must use their navigation skills to fly the advanced trauma team to the scene of the incident and choose the most appropriate landing site. Once on scene they must perform surgery and administer treatment before choosing which hospital the patient should be taken to.
We are partnering with schools to roll out the app across the capital, and it is already being used in Tower Hamlets and Newham. The development of the HELIMED app was made possible through funding from the Cisco Foundation. Additional funding towards the project was provided by a United Way Worldwide grant to London’s Air Ambulance on behalf of Wells Fargo, The Simmons & Simmons Charitable Foundation, The David & Claudia Harding Foundation and Shanly Foundation.
Headmaster Grahame Price of St. Pauls Way Trust School in East London, where the app launch took place today, said: “St Paul’s Way Trust School is delighted to host the official launch of this exciting and very relevant app. We fully support the drive to encourage young people to gain an interest, and pursue a successful career, in STEM areas.
"As London's Faraday Science School, initiatives like this, that complement our high quality science offer, ensure that students are inspired by science and decide to pursue it further by choosing Triple Science GCSEs, STEM A levels and STEM based degrees. This App shows science at its finest, it is focussed on the science and technology that saves lives, it is a great education resource and deserves to be used widely in schools."
London's Air Ambulance treats on average five critically injured people in London each day, performing medical interventions at the roadside which are normally only found in a hospital emergency department. Barts Health NHS Trust provide the doctors and some financial support and the London Ambulance Service provides the paramedics and expertise to dispatch the service. The HELIMED app is available on the App Store and AndroidTM.