References
A pre-hospital search and rescue training exercise for students
Abstract
In June 2013, Warwick Wilderness Medicine society (WWM) at the University of Warwick, UK, ran a pre-hospital care training weekend culminating in an ambitious search and rescue (SAR) training exercise in the Lake District, England. Seventeen participants were provided with refresher training in wilderness medicine. They were then directed to undertake an area search and subsequent pre-hospital management of three simulated patients. The training was run by WWM without outside involvement. Details of the training day are discussed along with the feedback received from participants and the faculty. Areas for improvement are summarised for the benefit of other organisations planning similar activities.
Neither wilderness medicine as a distinct area of medical practice nor search and rescue (SAR) theory or practice is part of the standard curriculum for medical students or nursing students in the UK. This is despite the fact that when wilderness medicine is incorporated into a formal curriculum or taught alongside it as short courses, it generally receives very positive feedback. Other authors have noted that students undertaking education and training in wilderness medicine topics find the experience both enjoyable and applicable to their future role as doctors (McGraw and Gluckman, 2005; Fielding 2011). In addition, with the advent of the sub-speciality of pre-hospital emergency medicine (PHEM) in the UK, it is anticipated that doctors will have a more prominent role in the provision of all pre-hospital care services in the future (Intercollegiate Board for Training in Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine, 2014). The Faculty of Pre-hospital Care of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh has also developed a competence-based system inclusive of practitioners of all professional backgrounds. The authors felt that an understanding of SAR procedures would assist future doctors and allied health professionals working as part of, or alongside, a SAR team (Cooper et al, 2011), and felt that a practical exercise would be an effective way to expose participants to the difficulties in practising medicine in remote environments. It has also been noted that of particular perceived benefit is the exposure of student practitioners to high-fidelity accident scenarios (Fielding, 2011; Mazoyer and Hardern, 2011). Previously, authors have also noted the current paucity of undergraduate medical training in relation to the initial management of patients suffering traumatic injuries and those suffering from other acute events (Smith et al, 2007; Mastoridis et al, 2011). An extensive search of the literature revealed only a small number of articles discussing the provision of education in the area of wilderness medicine to medical students; no articles were found discussing the provision of a SAR exercise for this population.
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