An invaluable experience

Screams for help and sounds of a responding medical helicopter filled the air during a live training exercise at Wright State University’s Calamityville on Sept. 26-27.

Dozens of nursing students from Wright State University’s School of Nursing, Kinesiology and Health Sciences students and Indiana University East and medical professionals participated in an Advanced Disaster Life Support training.

“There’s really no better way to prepare for a disaster than to see it come to life, and that’s what they’re doing here,” said Anna Baugham, a senior Wright State nursing major. “This is an invaluable experience.”

Almost 60 students participated in the real-life disaster situations, which included a bomb explosion and a structural collapse during the two-day exercise. The exercises put students in the middle of mass casualty scenarios in which they practiced triage for disasters, chemical decontamination, health system surge capacity and evacuation.

“The outcome of this program is to support Wright State’s mission,” said Marlene Stuber, a clinical instructor and director of simulation in the School of Nursing, Kinesiology and Health Sciences. “To make an impact on the Dayton community by helping to prepare in any future or potential disasters that may occur.”

Kettering Health Network provided a visit from its MedFlight helicopter and staff, allowing students to learn how to transport critical patients.

“It was so helpful,” said Madison Tamplin, a senior nursing major, who hopes to work as a flight nurse. “It’s leading me towards the goals that I would eventually like to do.”

Students also completed a Stop the Bleed course and received completion certifications from the National Disaster Health Consortium.