Keele paramedic students join prestigious international training exercise in South Africa

Paramedic Science students from Keele University were given a unique opportunity to demonstrate their life-saving skills learned in North Staffordshire on an international stage during a recent visit to South Africa. 

The four Keele Paramedic Science MSci students — third years Francesca Adams, Jake Burns, and Molly Chin, and fourth year Aoife Lecky — travelled to Gariep Dam, South Africa, to take part in an international medical rescue exercise hosted by the University of Johannesburg, joining students from Nelson Mandela University.  

The event was supported by local ambulance services, police, and military helicopter teams, and focused on the rescue element of prehospital care. This typically features more prominently in standard practice for paramedics in South Africa than in the UK, where rescue efforts are normally a multiagency operation with specially trained paramedics. 

The students, accompanied by lecturers Rachel Pogson and Stuart Vallance, took part in five rescue activities and a day in a simulated field hospital, treating many patients who presented with a range of simulated traumatic injuries and medical issue.  

Scenarios included a rope rescue, boat rescue, a near 100-metre descent down the dam wall to access a patient, travelling with patients in helicopters, and even a night swim. 

Rachel Pogson, Lecturer in Paramedic Science at Keele, commended the students and said: "We’re extremely proud of how our students conducted themselves during the trip; they showcased the scope of paramedic practice in the UK through exceptional patient communication and innovative management approaches. 

“This experience offered significant professional and personal development for the students, enhancing their confidence, adaptability, and problem-solving skills in challenging environments. Working alongside international peers and emergency services also gave them valuable insight into different healthcare systems, collaborative rescue operations, and the global relevance of paramedic practice.”