Children and young people

For many children, an emergency situation can feel frightening and unfamiliar. Research shows that early familiarisation helps reduce anxiety and encourages confident, informed decision‑making.

Knowing what happens when 999 is called can help a child remain calm. We may ask questions such as:

• where are you
• what has happened
• who needs help
• are they breathing / conscious

When face‑to‑face school visits became difficult during the pandemic, the Welsh Ambulance Service sought innovative ways to keep delivering essential public education. The Blue Light Hub was developed as a digital solution to continue reaching children across Wales.

Blue Light Hub is a fun, educational gaming app created by the Trust to help young people learn what to do in an emergency. Designed for 7–12‑year‑olds, this free bilingual (English and Welsh) app uses interactive gameplay to teach responsible 999 use, reduce anxiety, and familiarise children with the world of emergency care. It was developed with input from a clinical psychologist and a social development expert to support positive behaviours and build confidence during emergency situations.

The app teaches you:

• What happens when they call 999
• The appropriate use of 999
• How ambulance resources are dispatched and managed 
• The different emergency service uniforms they might encounter on their NHS journey
• How to check if someone is conscious and breathing and perform CPR

The Blue Light Hub is free and available now: Google Play Store (Android) and Apple App Store (iOS).

For more educational resources, head to the StayWiseCymru. The website aims to provide safety resources, activity packs and lesson plans in the medium of Welsh and English. There is also a section for parents and a section for teachers with lessons plans which provides you with a range of resources which can be selected based on the age range you are teaching and the specific area of the curriculum which this topic relates to covers.