Penn State Mont Alto forestry technology students provide first aid to Kyle Williams during Mont Alto's sixth annual trauma-scenario training exercise.
Penn State Mont Alto held its sixth annual trauma-scenario training exercise for forest technology and nursing students on May 1. During the event, students worked with multiple agencies to rescue injured individuals who were in tree harvesting accidents in the forest near the campus. One injured individual was forest technology student Kyle Williams, who feigned a broken arm, the other was a mobile, high-fidelity human-simulation patient, named i-Stan.
During the event, the forestry students reported the incident and provided first aid, local emergency response teams rescued the individuals and along with nursing students provided treatment. In addition, i-Stan was prepared for air transport to Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Following the event, the instructors and students met to review, discuss, and evaluate the event.
“This integrated, hands-on simulation exercise enhances the education of all involved,” said Carranda Barkdoll, campus coordinator for Penn State Mont Alto Nursing Programs. “It allows nursing and forestry students to practice their field first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) skills,” she said. “Nursing students have the opportunity to strengthen their teamwork skills for receiving a trauma patient and all participants gain experience in mountain terrain rescue, fire and EMS (emergency medical services) collaboration, air-medical transport protocol, and in working with local and federal government agencies.”
The organizations assisting in the exercise included Franklin County EMA/911, Franklin Fire Company, Mont Alto EMS, Mont Alto Fire Department, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, Rescue Hose Fire and EMS Co., South Mountain EMS, Waynesboro Advance Life Support (Medic 2), and Waynesboro Hospital. The Penn State Hershey LifeLion helicopter also was scheduled to participate but an emergency diverted its arrival to the Mont Alto campus.
