A GROUP of teenagers have been learning about life behind the nines with West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Health service savvy students from schools in Worcestershire and across the West Midlands spent a week at Erdington Hub in Birmingham as part of the trust’s work experience programme.

The 12-strong group of teenagers aged between 14 and 18 met a range of operational staff, including paramedics from the trust’s hazardous area response team, to find out more about their roles and responsibilities.

The students discovered how 999 calls are handled, the work of community first responders, the management of trauma patients and how the Midlands Air Ambulance helps patients.

The teens also got to grips with the back of an ambulance and had a go at using an automated external defibrillator - a device used to restart someone’s heart when they’ve suffered a cardiac arrest - to test their life saving skills.

Diane Pittom, the trust’s organisational development officer, said: “We’ve been really pleased to, once again, host students for a work experience placement.

"Engaging with young people is an important investment for us and helps to further enhance the quality of our future workforce.

"This opportunity has allowed the students to see beyond the blue lights and explore the service behind the scenes to discover a broad range of roles that make up the ambulance service.

“Their enthusiasm to learn, confidence to ask questions and unique personalities have made this week incredibly successful and I hope it’s given them food for thought to apply for future jobs with us.”