The training took place on a farm just outside Lincoln, with Volunteers from EMAS, LEMR, RAF Wittering responder Scheme along with some enthusiastic members of the public who played the part of casualties.
The day began with a brief from Tony and Pippa on how the day was going to run, safety aspects that people needed to be aware of, and the expectations from the trainers, before jumping into the first Scenario.
Not wanting to go easy on the Volunteers, scenario one laid the standard for what was to come.
George, Son of Pippa, played a 12-year-old who had suffered serious injuries after being kicked in the chest by a horse. LEMR crews arrived and began to triage the patient, finding further server traumatic injury to the back of the patient’s head. While initially stable, the patient rapidly deteriorated, forcing the LEMR crew to act swiftly while prioritising the call for back up.
Next up for scenario two, saw a patient (played by a member EMAS staff) knocked from her moped suffering spinal injuries. Initially found face down the team were required to roll the patient onto their back before safely removing their helmet. A pelvic binder was required before the patient was placed onto a spinal board and immobilised prior to transporting.
Scenario three involved Pippa's daughter Connie, who played the roll of a young girl that had fallen from a ladder within a grain silo, suffering an open complicated fracture to her femur. She was immobilised, again with a pelvic binder along with a traction splint.
Sometimes when responding to calls our crews not only have to deal with the patient, but often bystanders too, who often try to be helpful, but at times can hinder the efforts of the emergency services.Scenario four was exactly that. Our crews were called to a patient who had overdosed, however while treating the patient a neighbour arrived causing a distraction to the crew. The team were able to treat the patient while waiting for back up, while also dealing with the unhelpful neighbour. As the patient deteriorated, the constant monitoring carried out by the crew quickly highlighted the requirement to assist the patient’s respiration efforts while updating control of the situation requesting urgent back up.
Our next scenario saw the team visit a ‘holiday park’ where a middle-aged gentleman began suffering with chest pain while in the bathroom. Clearly distressed the crew began to carry out their clinical observations just as the patient escalated into a cardiac arrest. Given the location the patient was moved into the front room to allow for better access to carry out CPR. Our crews, trained by EMAS, are up to date with EMAS policy and procedures relating to Cardiac Arrest protocols, and quickly adopted the ‘Pit Crew’ technique for CPR, meaning uninterrupted and effective CPR is carried out with the arrival of Paramedics on scene.
Our second last scenario was in a bar where a male had been assaulted suffering head injuries. As crews arrived one began to treat the patient while another gathered a history of what had happened. It was stated that the patient had been violently attacked and kicked in the head. On examination the patient was found to be suffering with a lowered Glasgow Comma Score (GCS) and confusion. The patient then deteriorated into a seizure. The crew quickly reacted and treated the patient, ensuring he was safe at all times prior to back up arriving.
For final scenario it quickly became apparent that the trainers had saved the best to last. Warning, graphic detail and content contained. An RTC involving 2 cars and a moped with one vehicle on its roof.Arriving first on scene our crews quickly implemented the ’10 second triage’. Ten Second Triage (TST) is a rapid, simple triage system designed to quickly prioritise casualties in mass casualty incidents, focusing on immediate life-saving interventions and is intended to be used by a wide range of responders. A METHANE report was quickly sent to control. M – Major Incident,E – Exact Location, T – Type of Incident, H - Hazards, A– Access, N – Number of Casualties, E – Emergency Services.
Inline with the 10 Second triage a 12-year-old girl was not treated as they were non-responsive with an open wound to the head and visible brain matter protruding. The young girls mother, understandably distressed, was suffering with a an open arterial bleed to her upper arm. The driver in the second vehicle was suffering with a visible wound to the lower leg and chest pain from the seat belt. The mother became the priority patient due to her catastrophic bleed, which if not treated would become fatal. The first crew on scene delt with the bleed by using a tourniquet, before treating the second driver prior to another crew’s arrival.
While initially stable the driver of the second car deteriorated and went into cardiac arrest. The traumatic cardiac arrest protocol was enacted and the patient treated, while one member of the team remained with the mother who was understandably hysterical.
Scenario days such as this are invaluable for our crews, who can respond to all scenarios detailed above, working closely alongside EMAS and other agencies such as Fire and Rescue and Lincolnshire Police.
Events like this would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of a number of people who give up there time, not just on the Saturday, but prior in the planning and organisation of such a fantastic day.
We must recognise a few people, and it is only right we thank them publicly for their commitment to our scheme. Pippa and her Family. Pippa, an EMAS paramedic, and her family for the use of their farm and equipment. For their enthusiasm in the role play scenarios, and for the BBQ that followed after!
Tony Mather for his unwavering support to the scheme. A former scheme member, EMAS paramedic of a number of year (we wont mention how many…) and trainer at the EMAS training school in Lincoln.
Les Dawson, one of the founding members of the scheme, Les supports us by providing Anatomy and Physiology training when required, along with some amazing photographs and drone footage.
All other volunteers from EMAS who attended on the day – we must thank them for their guidance and enthusiasm.
The amazingly talented Katie, the makeup artist who created the life like injuries on our patients throughout the day.
All our volunteers who gave up their weekend to attend.
And finally, our Ops Manager, Matt. Without Matts drive none of this would have been possible.
We hope this gives you a small insight into our capabilities and commitment as a scheme to the people of Lincolnshire and EMAS. Without your help and funding LEMR would not be in the position we are in today.
If you would like to support LEMR in the future you can do so by donating, there is a donate button on our homepage, we are part of the Lincoln Lottery, you can sign up to support us with the chance of winning some fantastic prizes! Or you could host a local fundraiser, be that in your child’s school, a charity cake sale, nominate LEMR for a local charity fundraiser or run a marathon in support of LEMR! If you have any questions on supporting us,please get in touch with our fundraising manager at Publicity@LEMR.co.uk
