A paramedic approach to empowering children and their guardians via health literacy

During a pilot PhD mixed-methods study on the feasibility of a Health Literacy Mediator (HLM) role for children's healthcare and education in England, the importance of including paramedics in health literacy research was highlighted. Health literacy is crucial for accessing and navigating healthcare systems, effective communication, understanding health information, empowerment, and reducing health inequalities. Despite their central role in the community, it remains unclear how well paramedics in England understand health literacy. As healthcare evolves, particularly in public health, paramedics are uniquely positioned to promote health literacy among children and their families. This article aims to raise awareness of health literacy in paramedic practice and highlight its importance for patient care and professional development.