Critical Care Training

University of Wolverhampton Paramedic students were given an opportunity to take part in some critical care training recently - and it was a case of being positively hands-on!

Thirteen second and third-year students studying for a degree in Paramedic Science at the University's Telford and Walsall Campus, took part in a Pre-Hospital Advanced Surgical & Trauma Emergency Resuscitation (PHASTER) course which involved inter-agency personnel from various organisations across the blue-light spectrum.

The course was facilitated by the West Midlands CARE Team (WMCT) who have been working closely with the University to offer students real-life experiences to enhance their learning.

The teams included WMCT, Midlands Air Ambulance (MAA), The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS), West Midlands Fire Service, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and West Midlands Firearms Operations Unit.

The training exercise was held at West Midlands Fire Services' Safeside Training Centre which is equipped with full size immersive training environments including various buildings, a bus, train and canal.

Stephanie Jones, Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science at the University and Clinical Support Paramedic for WMCT, said: "This was a really exciting opportunity for students to get some real life, hands-on experience of working with emergency services from across the region.

"The training exercise is designed to test enhanced care skills whilst providing Crew Resource Management challenges by setting up realistic scenarios including penetrating trauma, road traffic accidents, rail and drowning incidents and emergency childbirth.

"The students were able to work alongside critical care teams from the West Midlands providing the initial pre-hospital care that would be provided by ambulance crews attending this type of incident. This allowed the students the opportunity apply theory to simulation in cases that are not an everyday occurrence. It also allowed insight to how the critical care teams work and what they can offer in these time critical situations." 

"Also supporting on the day included Faculty experts from within the Prehospital Emergency Medicine Arena (PHEM) to make this an amazing opportunity for the students to be involved with."

Emily Waldron, 29 from Stourport, said: "Prior to the day I didn't really have any expectations, I just expected to be helping out as possibly first crew on scene. I really felt part of the team and felt like the advanced clinicians made the most of our skills. It was really good to see the skills that the advanced clinicians can bring us, and the kit they carry. I think this was an amazing opportunity and think if it was available to more students it would be really beneficial for trauma training. Personally, I have taken a lot away from this day, as it has renewed my interest in trauma and the possibility of further training in the future."