Blood, gore, and many casualties…a paramedic’s bread and butter. As part of developing the simulation centre at the University of Greenwich, the Paramedic Team created an event to simulate a mass casualty scenario from a plane crash. “My initial vision was a few mannikins and some students.” Gareth explained. “But the idea grew with the excellent input and skillset of the Greenwich Learning and Simulation Centre (GLASC) Team. Patients ranged from being impaled on a branch, walking wounded, and even simulated amputations, with some excellent simulated patients (actors).”
“As the first day ran, and I approached what the GLASC Team had been busy creating - my wild imagination and planning together with the Paramedic Team came together.” Gareth continued. “Students, the Paramedic Team and even some university staff were astonished of the scale of the incident - with an ambulance to transfer patients - thanks to Rob Slee for securing this.”
Students’ learning objectives were to be able to safely triage, treat and extricate patients, while experiencing the realism and the chaos of a major incident. This gave an excellent learning opportunity for the implementation of their clinical and non-technical skills into paramedic practice. “Despite a hot day in their High-Vis and helmets, the students left beaming with confidence, laughter and enjoyment.” Gareth said.
The Mass Casualty Sim Day will be continuing in mid-June with other year cohorts who will be working together. “Our future vision is to be able to scale this even further with multi-disciplinary working, with student paramedics handing over to nursing students at the newly developed Critical Care Unit, ODP students, and even possible student midwives.” Gareth shared. “The possibilities are endless - one day we might even have plane debris, smoke, and sounds of sirens, screaming, fire or even different scenarios like a train incident or a car crash.
Gareth told us that he is excited to develop this further with the Paramedic Team, the GLASC Team and the different disciplines in the school. So, watch this space!
