Emergency Scenarios (emergency + scenario)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Retention of drug administration skills after intensive teaching

ANAESTHESIA, Issue 4 2008
D. W. Wheeler
Summary We have identified deficiencies in medical students' drug administration skills, and we attempted to address them with interactive online teaching modules and simulated critical incident scenarios. Short-term improvements have been evident with this intensive effort, but medium-term retention of skills has not been measured. A drug administration lecture, an online module and a simulated emergency scenario were offered to final year clinical students. None of the teaching was compulsory but participation was recorded, along with students' simulator performances and marks in an objective structured practical examination 9 months later. A poor simulator score predicted a poor performance in the later examination. Participation in the simulated scenario only significantly improved examination scores when supplemented by online teaching (p = 0.002). Intensive drug administration teaching using an online module and high fidelity simulation improves drug administration skills in the medium term. Students found simulation much more engaging than online teaching. [source]


Topics of Special Interest in an Emergency Medicine Course for Dental Practice Teams

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 2 2004
S. Weber
Considering increasing life expectancy and population comorbitity, not only dentists but also nursing staff should gain knowledge and skills in treatment of patients in acute life-threatening situations. In cooperation with the State Dental Council, a 1-day course in the management of medical emergencies based on the ERC ALS guidelines was held for primary care dental practice teams. Following a short lecture series (2 hours), a systematic skills-training session (6 hours) was performed in small groups, addressing the following subjects: BLS, airway management and ventilation, intravenous techniques, manual and automated external defibrillation, ALS and resuscitation routine in a typical dental practice setting. For all skills-training sessions, life-like manikins and models were utilized and the emergency scenarios were simulated by the use of a universal patient simulator (SimMan®, MPL/Laerdal). At the end of the course, an evaluation questionnaire was completed by all candidates to find out in which emergency situations the dental practice teams now felt well trained or incompetent. In the first course with 32 participants, 13 were dentists and 19 were dental nurses. In the evaluation results, 53% of both, dentists and nurses, stated to be competent in cardiac arrest situations. 95% of the nurses, but only 69% of the dentists, thought that an automated external defibrillator should be available in the dental practice. 26% of the dentists felt unable to treat patients with anaphylactic reactions adequately, whereas 37% of the nurses felt incompetent in respiratory emergencies. [source]


Technical and non-technical skills can be reliably assessed during paramedic simulation training

ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2009
T. VON WYL
Background: Medical teams depend on technical skills (TS) as well as non-technical skills (NTS) for successful management of critical events. Simulated scenarios are an opportunity for presentation of similar crisis situations. The aim of this study was to test whether TS and NTS are assessable with satisfactory interrater reliability (IRR) during a regular paramedic training. Methods: Thirty paramedics were rated by two independent observers using video-recording and previously validated checklists while managing two simulated emergency scenarios as a team of two. The observed items of the team's TS included type, order, and time of adequate medical care. The NTS were restricted to six team-oriented dimensions. The IRR was quantified by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The z -transformed values of the TS and NTS were correlated by Pearson's correlation. Internal consistency was controlled using Cronbach's ,. Results: The average measures ICC for the IRR was between 0.97 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91,0.99] and 0.98 (95% CI 0.94,0.99) for the TS sum-score, and was 0.94 (95% CI 0.87,0.97) for the NTS sum-score; the Cronbach's , of this NTS sum-score was 0.86. There is a positive correlation between the normalised TS and NTS sum-scores (r=0.53; P<0.05). Conclusion: Assessment of TS and NTS is feasible and reliable during paramedic training in emergency scenarios. TS can be reliably assessed by one trained observer; for NTS, two trained raters provide a suitable condition for excellent observations. There is a significant positive correlation between TS and NTS. [source]


Equine abstracts HELICOPTER RESCUE , TO FLY OR NOT TO FLY

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE, Issue S1 2004
Rebecca M. Gimenez PhD
Improved options for the successful transport of horses trapped in inaccessible areas (floodwater, steep ravines, etc.) during a disaster or emergency are available to practitioners using helicopter assets and the Anderson SlingÔ. Horses present a particularly difficult problem to remove from the rescue environment of a wide flooded area, or difficult steep terrain far from access by vehicles or heavy equipment. Due to their fractious and fearful nature, they may fight any effort to walk, climb or swim them to safety, and those attempts are inherently very dangerous for the rescuer(s). Unfortunately, many disaster or emergency scenarios may occur in areas not conducive to the use of other options (barge, rescue glide, simple vertical lift sling). Veterinary practitioners on scene should have familiarity with helicopter sling-load operations. The use of cargo nets, inappropriate home-made slings, and inadequate equipment has contributed to disastrous efforts by well-intentioned rescuers. There have even been desperate attempts at sling loading of cattle by roping the horns or one leg and transporting them into a waiting truck for removal from public lands. The Anderson SlingÔ has been successfully used for helicopter operations in multiple emergencies and training demonstration flights, and is the only Equine Sling recommended for this purpose. Although it was originally intended for clinical use in long-term recovery cases, it has become the industry standard for helicopter operations with equines because of its demonstrated safety margin, design and strength. In clinical use, leg straps further distribute the animal's weight to the legs, but are not necessary in rescue lifts. In some states, there are Large Animal Rescue Teams associated with the Veterinary School, the State Emergency Management Association, or local private Equine Ambulance Services that may have equipment and personnel trained in helicopter sling-loading. This is a specialty interest that requires prior coordination, significant planning, and training of all personnel involved. [source]