UPD8

Emergency

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Curriculum link

KS3 Science National Curriculum
Key Concepts: Applications and implications of science: 1.2 a, b (applying science to developing technology, ethical implications)

Key Processes: Communication: 2.3 a (communicate scientific information)
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Range and Content: Organisms, behaviour and health, 3.3 a,c (cells, tissues, organs and body systems)
 
Personal, learning and thinking skills: Self Managers & Team workers

Careers element - Equality & Diversity (images of people at work)
 
STEM Leadership Qualification: Unit 13: Level 2 Learning with Colleagues and Other Learners

Running the activity

There has been a road traffic accident and a family is brought into hospital accident and emergency department. The father was driving the car and seems to have a broken leg, the son (aged 16 years) has a serious gash on his head and losing a lot of blood, his sister (aged 8 years) escaped injury and the mother is semi-conscious and her condition is complicated by the fact that she is 6 months pregnant.
 
The paramedics who bring the family in and the triage* team in the hospital write up their notes and you need to interpret this information so that you can explain to each family member their condition and suggested treatment.
 
This activity shows the practical applications of classroom science by illustrating the various career routes possible with the knowledge and skills learned.
 
Pupils take the role of hospital medical professionals (Family Liaison Officers) who have to research various aspects of cell biology and then explain the injuries using this knowledge.
They can work in small teams or individually on different aspects of the cell biology, but then write their own explanation of the different injuries.
 
An optional additional activity would be to have the pupils work in pairs and when they have completed their notes to then explain what they have been doing to each other as if their partner is the person that their notes are for e.g. they are explaining the father's condition to his daughter (their partner). The partner can then rate the explanation and compare what they have heard to the original medical record.
 
The activity offers the opportunity to assess pupils' understanding and application of cell biology, their problem solving, team working and communication skills.

Web links

News links

Biotechnology and bio-informatics

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry site covers biotechnology, DNA sequencing, Human Genome Project, careers website

Medical careers

exploring options, including careers in medical research

Health-related careers

Prime site for all health/medical related careers. Look in Resources for Education. There are a number of teaching resources that are useful for careers education and PSHE

Skills for health

The sector skills council for health sector - labour market information and qualifications and learning pathways.

New Generations

A website that looks at allied heath professions and includes a number of teaching resources and job role descriptions

Icould

Millie Johnstone and Nikki Ross, Lead Nurses in Accident and Emergency

Geri Project

Geri project works to combat stereotyping in careers. The resource pack called Want to do Something Different can be downloaded free and includes gender statistics and stories of four male healthcare workers. You can also search for male role models in healthcare.

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