The lights and sirens were blazing. A fire truck and ambulance rolled down the Gretna countryside hill to find a smashed-up car and “victims” thrown outside the car and others trapped inside. Some of the victims had minor injuries, others had more serious injuries.
This was part of Outdoor Sim Day, the first training of its kind for the UNMC Department of Emergency Medicine. Held on the property of Tim Larsen, M.D., participants practiced treating injuries in the wilderness and in remote areas, participated in an emergency medical services (EMS) response to a simulated motor vehicle rollover accident and did a medical obstacle course.
See a photo album from the training event.
The emergency department partnered with Gretna Fire and Rescue, UNMC Interprofessional Experiential Center for Enduring Learning (iEXCELSM) and Simulation-in-Motion Nebraska to host a half-day of emergency medicine training for 23 medical residents, five medical students and eight Nebraska Medicine nurses.
The training replaced a Thursday training day in the classroom.
Jason Langenfeld, M.D., assistant professor, UNMC Department of Emergency Medicine and director of simulation, said he was happy with how the training went.
“We have a robust EMS system and we’re lucky to have them on the scene,” said Dr. Langenfeld, who was one of the exercise planners. “Treatment on the way to the hospital is important when minutes matter. Training in the real world with our EMS and nursing colleagues helps us recognize the resources as well as the limitations.
“This training showed us how they work and they got to see how we work. It also builds rapport with our colleagues in the community. Training opportunities at the point of care are very important to our trainees, volunteers, fire departments and critical care hospitals.”
Those who participated made the exercise seem as real as possible. During the car crash scenario, Gretna Fire and Rescue also practiced using the “jaws of life” — hand-held hydraulic equipment — to cut through the car metal to get some of the “victims” out of the car. The wrecked car was donated courtesy of CARSTAR Auto Body Repair, Insurance Auto Auction and Nadrchal Towing.
The serious “victims” were taken to the UNMC Simulation-in-Motion Nebraska truck parked on a nearby driveway. The truck is a customized, mobile 44-foot-long truck used to teach lifesaving skills to EMS and professionals in hospitals throughout the state. Each mobile unit has a simulated emergency room and an ambulance with computerized manikins that talk, breathe, have heartbeats, and can react to medications and other actions.