We did our disaster training a couple days ago. They used an elementary school that's being torn down to simulate a building collapse. It was an amazing way to learn, and I can't believe how in depth they go. The police and Fire Department worked with us. Police making sure no one tried to get into the building, Fire going in and smashing walls to rescue people and bringing us our patients who we in turn treated and took to a hospital, where the staff there practiced how to manage getting that many patients at once and triaging them all. They get dozens of volunteers for these things, all dressed up in makeup to make it look like they have actual cuts and bruises. One of my patients even had fake glass embedded in his face.
When we first arrived it was a little bit rough, everyone was trying to figure out things, and my partner disappeared after the first 30 seconds because he was chosen to be the transportation officer. (It's a terrible feeling losing your partner. I stood stock still for a good two minutes before I could think of something to do). Afterwards when all the patients had been cleared to the hospital we got to put on some hard hats and walk around. It was exciting, seeing all the spray paint markers used to identify unstable walls, or to see the huge gaping holes the fireman had made trying to get into certain locked rooms. Plus it was very dark because the power was off, and there was water everywhere because the firemen had a simulation fire they had to put out in one area. I would like to point out that no EMS workers or volunteers were injured during this exercise.
But I learned some valuable lessons that day.
#1)You can fit 7 paramedics in one ambulance.
#2)Never assume anything from a patient. Even though he has gray hair and wrinkles and bifocals doesn't mean he's a senior citizen. He instead, could be an 11yr old boy.
#3)You can study and memorize and gain experience, but nothing will ever prepare you for an actual disaster. Let's pray one never happens here, or if it does, that all of us who are responsible for the victims are in the right frame of mind to react appropriately and work to the best of our abilities.
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4 comments:
That sounds pretty intense.... I just have one question. Did you get to drive the ambulance really fast to the school? And how do you mistake an 11 year old for a senior? oh wait, crap, that was two questions....
that sounds amazing. i'm glad to know our city is in good hands!
No I refused to drive fast and dangerously for something that I knew wasn't real. Oh and about the whole senior child thing - because it was an elementary school our patients were pretending to be children. So my patient had gray hair and bifocals but when I asked him how old he was he said 11.
That is the most awesome thing ever!
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