Published on 29 September 2022
Student paramedics at the University of Sunderland put their skills to the test this week as part of a staged emergency ambulance 999 call-out simulation event.
The second year Paramedic Science students were faced with four different scenarios on the University’s City Campus designed to prepare them for real-life emergencies they will see while out in an ambulance.
The first involved a young adult male cardiac arrest in the gym. The students had to travel to the scene in the University’s fully equipped training ambulance, take all the required equipment to the patient and carry out Advanced Life Support (ALS). They then had to move the patient onto the ambulance and transport them to Helen McArdle House, making the handover at the nurses’ resus room.
The second scenario saw the students attend to a patient with multiple traumatic injuries. They were required to carry out a full trauma assessment and complete life-saving interventions. To make this particular scenario more realistic, the students were supported by actual Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) paramedics from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), who were there to act as specialised back-up.
The third scenario involved a patient who had suffered from paediatric hanging cardiac arrest. The students were required to carry out full Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
And finally, the fourth was a life threatening asthmatic patient who then went into cardiac arrest. This was very challenging but extremely valuable training for the students as there are many complexities with this condition.
Ian Grey, Lecturer in Paramedic Science at the University of Sunderland, said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to all who were involved in the planning and delivery of this simulation day, particularly to Jemma and John from the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
“Huge credit also goes to the students who were able to attend the event. They showed tremendous enthusiasm and were a credit to the paramedic programme. They were given some extremely complex scenarios which they handled really well.
“I’m sure they have learned a great deal from this day and taken confidence from their performance which will enhance their practice moving forward.”