ATSU-SOMA students experience success with mass-casualty simulation
Posted: February 24, 2020
A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) hosted a mass-casualty simulation on Wednesday, Feb. 19. ATSU-SOMA students recently completed Stop the Bleed training provided by Major Michael Hay, U.S. Army combat medic and civilian paramedic.
On simulation day, ATSU-SOMA students were thrown into an unknown emergency situation. When they approached the scene, victims were in various states of peril across a grassy field, some more critical than others. Students jumped into action to triage injuries and determine the most appropriate course of action to “stop the bleed” until emergency services arrived. ATSU’s Interprofessional and Culturally Proficient Standardized Patient Experience Center provided approximately 80 patient-actors to portray the injured during the 15-minute simulation.
ATSU-SOMA students were supported by the U.S. Army and Mesa Fire Department, who provided feedback and guidance when needed. Following the simulation’s conclusion, students and faculty gathered to debrief and discuss what it felt like to be thrown into a mass-casualty incident.
Students discussed how different it was from simply taking a multiple-choice test to prove their understanding of newly acquired skills. This simulation provided students with an opportunity to practice their situational awareness and adjust clinically to the needs of their patients.
Stop the Bleed training is a national awareness campaign that encourages bystanders of any sort of emergency to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.
