Developing transcultural awareness: student perspectives of a placement in Johannesburg South Africa

Paramedics have similar aims within their various job roles—to provide emergency medical assistance that preserves a patient's life until definitive care is available. Because of the global need for emergency medical care, paramedics are known to be able to work almost anywhere in the world. Prior to the opportunity of an international placement, I was unaware of just how versatile this role could be and how different practices could be across countries and environments. The opportunity to experience international paramedicine not only offers a unique paramedic education, but also adventures abroad and the chance of new experiences.

As a third (final) year student on the BSc Paramedic Science course at St George's University of London, the prospect of an elective placement was unique and sure to be an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience. The criteria allowed students to organise any type of placement, anywhere, providing it would offer a new and different learning experience. I immediately knew I was going to take this opportunity to learn about how prehospital care differed in an international setting. After careful consideration of all potential placements, language, insurance, similarity of scope of practice and feasibility, I chose South Africa and was off on a 3-week journey with five other final year students from St George's University.