Disaster Day gives mass casualty experience to fire science, EMT and nursing students

Fire science, emergency medical technician (EMT) and nursing students combined skills in April for the inaugural Disaster Day held in front of Engel Hall on Chandler-Gilbert Community College's Williams Campus. Volunteer students were assigned roles of victims involved in a multi-vehicle accident who were assessed by fire sciences and EMT students. They were then taken by stretcher, if appropriate, to the “hospital” inside Engel Hall where they were triaged by nursing students and treated according to their injuries. A debrief and discussion period followed the exercise where participants including faculty shared their observations.

“This event gives students a better understanding of the interactions between pre-hospital and hospital staff in the event of a mass casualty incident,” said Maria Reyes, dean of career and technical education at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.  “Participants gain experience in triage, treatment and transportation of simulated victims in an exercise designed to be a positive learning environment that will assist students in expanding their skills and preparing them for real-life scenarios like these.”