By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Simulated emergency grows in size, opportunity for Lethbridge College students

Mar 24, 2018 | 9:32 AM

LETHBRIDGE – When an emergency call comes in, police and emergency medical technicians spring into action and word soon spreads to media who also race to the scene.

Before too long, nurses get involved as victims arrive at the hospital, this is a real-life scenario that plays out across the world countless times each day.

Lethbridge College students will get a feel for this action as they take part in an annual Simulated Learning Incident for Collaboration and Knowledge (SLICK) emergency exercise today (Mar. 24).

Simulated Patient Health Environment for Research and Education (SPHERE) chair, Sheri Wright, says realistic simulations for students are crucial to help bridge the gap between theory and practice.

“This simulation exercise is aligned with where students are at in their programs to maximize their experience. It helps to break down the ‘silo effect’ where students are only affected by what is happening in their own program. Here they are forced to work collaboratively with students from other programs and the results are often spectacular.”

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The scenario will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Cave in the college’s Centre Core, as well as outdoors on the west side of campus, outside of the Cave.

This is the sixth time a simulated emergency has been staged on campus.

In past years, scenarios have included an active shooter and a fatal multi-vehicle collision.

More than 130 participants, including students from the Bachelor of Nursing, Criminal Justice – Policing, Digital Communications and Media, Emergency Medical Technician and Practical Nursing programs, will take part in the scenario.

Students have no prior knowledge of the scenario they will face and have to respond in real-time which forces them to rely on their knowledge and training, just as they will have to on the job.

Bernie Wojtowicz, Nursing Education in Southwestern Alberta (NESA) Bachelor of Nursing chair, says you really see the critical thinking elements of learning come into play.

“Many students thrive in the controlled setting of a classroom, but this tests them in a way that you can’t replicate in class. We try to make the scenario as realistic as possible to push students to react and rely on what they have learned,” Wojtowicz said.

In recent years, the scenario has run twice on the same day, giving two separate groups of students the opportunity to run through it. This year, there will only be one scenario, but on a much larger scale, meaning more students than ever will be taking part in the exercise at the same time. This creates more opportunity for each student.