Students to receive hands-on experience during trauma training event

Penn State Mont Alto forestry and nursing students practice emergency care
Mont Alto Forestry Trauma

Forestry students rescue an injured forester — a mobile, high-fidelity human simulation patient named i-Stan — during an annual exercise at Penn State Mont Alto. 

Credit: Debra Collins

MONT ALTO, Pa. — Penn State Mont Alto will hold its annual trauma-scenario training exercise for forest technology and nursing students from 8 a.m. to noon on April 18 at the campus.

During the event, students will collaborate with multiple agencies to rescue two injured foresters who have been in a simulated tree-harvesting accident — one will be a mobile, high-fidelity human simulation patient named i-Stan. They will be treated for their injuries by forestry and nursing students. The forestry students will report the incident and provide first aid, and nursing students and local emergency response will rescue the foresters and provide additional treatment in preparation to airlift the patients to a medical facility.

“This integrated, hands-on simulation exercise enhances the education of all involved,” said Carranda Barkdoll, Penn State Mont Alto Nursing program campus coordinator. “It allows 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 following organizations will assist in the exercise: The AirMethods Maryland LifeNet 81 medevac helicopter, Franklin County EMA/911, Medic 2-Waynesboro Area Advanced Life Support Unit, Rescue Hose Fire and EMS Co., South Mountain EMS, and Waynesboro Hospital.

For more information, contact Debra Collins, director of public relations and marketing at 717-749-6112 or [email protected].