Young Offenders as Trauma Health Care Providers? a Smart Idea

Abstract

Rhys Jones and Anthony Walker. High profile murders of young people by young people. Both killed by violent penetrating trauma, both witnessed by young people vainly attempting to help. Having been shot on the streets of the UK, victims often have to wait in excess of twenty minutes before paramedics arrive, as police armed response units to escort them to the scene, delaying treatment. In 2007 a group of medical students and junior doctors set up an organisation, The Liverpool Project, to teach young people at high risk of being involved in penetrating trauma to be potential healthcare providers to deliver good quality basic haemorrhage control before the arrival of paramedics. With 14-15 years old being the peak age of assault perpetration, and hospital admissions as a result of knife crime increasing never has such training been so needed. It is also hoped that by providing these skills, it can potentially motivate the young person to provide treatment rather than seek immediate retribution and escalate the severity of a situation. The Liverpool Project has taught 300 at risk young people across Merseyside and it is know that two groups of young offenders have used our teaching with successful outcomes. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the young offenders find the teaching motivating and lifestyle changing.