The Science of Sirens: What Really Happens Inside Your Body in an Emergency

The Science of Sirens: What Really Happens Inside Your Body in an Emergency

Join us to learn more about what happens to our bodies in an emergency and how paramedics use this knowledge to make life saving decisions.

Date and time

Location

City St George's, University of London (Tooting)

Cranmer Terrace London SW17 0RE United Kingdom

Good to know

Highlights

  • 1 hour
  • ages 16+
  • In person
  • Paid parking
  • Doors at 16:45

About this event

Family & Education • Education

Blue lights. A front door opens. A patient is breathless, heart hammering, mind racing.
Paramedics see the body’s built-in alarm system at full volume — the “science of sirens.” This session puts you in that moment. We’ll explore how signals surge through the body to sharpen thinking, speed the heart, and prime muscles, alongside what it means when those compensatory systems can’t keep up.


From exam nerves and jump scares to real 999 calls, Specialist Paramedic Sam Thompson reveals the biology of stress and survival, how clinicians recognise the tipping point, and why understanding it can save lives. Fast-paced, science-rich, and highly relatable for anyone curious about health, the human body, or a future career in healthcare. Join Sam Thompson, Specialist Paramedic and Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science at City St George’s, for our November instalment of the School of Health and Sciences lecture series.

This lecture series is designed for those aged 16+ in sixth form and college who are interested in learning more about the field of healthcare and science. Each lecture in the series will explore a different topic, with the series intended to support you to develop your knowledge and help you consider your future options.

Please note, parents/carers and supporters are welcome to join us onsite too. Tickets to the lectures are free but must be booked in advance.

Please note, this event is for those aged 16+. Parents/carers and supporters are welcome to join us onsite for this event too.

For information about getting to campus, please use the following link:

https://www.sgul.ac.uk/about/our-location

Widening Participation Privacy Notice:

We keep your information securely stored as outlined in our privacy notice:
https://www.citystgeorges.ac.uk/prospective-students/apply/widening-participation/widening-participation-activities

Your personal data will be stored on a secure database, with access restricted to authorised staff only and will be used only for the purpose of informing you about pre-application support offered by City St George's, University of London. By completing this form, you give permission for us to hold your data, and use it in this way. For further information on how we use your data, please read our privacy notice (above).
Data retention information: your data will be kept by the Widening Participation team for the time indicated in our privacy notice.

If you have any questions about this event, or the monthly lecture series, please email the Widening Participation Team via wp@citystgeorges.ac.uk

Frequently asked questions

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Nov 5 · 17:00 GMT