Graduation Day!

The word is in:  everyone passed their National Registry EMT Basic scenarios!   The test consisted of six stations, ranging from managing a multi-system trauma to caring for a patient in cardiac arrest.  These are stressful times for students and instructors alike.  It's not surprising that they passed but a relief nonetheless.  It's a great accomplishment for this incredible group.

As we speak, students are cleaning up at the Rich Ranch and heading down to Missoula for a (non-alcohol) BBQ and graduation ceremony.   We have prizes for the Med-War winners, certifications, a slide-show, some cheesy home-movies of the course,  and pizza for everyone.  We'll post pictures of the event later.

Med Wars and Student Presentations

Well, we continue to find ways to fill our days and heads with learning while also continuing to have fun. A perfect example of this occurred at the end of last week. The students competed in the first ever Aerie Med Wars! In teams of two, the students had to navigate to different locations around the Rich Ranch and perform tasks such as constructing improvised litters and caring for patients in different medical scenarios. The scores have yet to be tallied for determining the victorious duo (mostly because we are having trouble deciding who had the best costume....see below). 

Med Wars

In addition to Med Wars, the students continue to improve in the patient assessments. The National Registry practical test is on April 10th so don't forget to call and wish your kid/friend/partner luck!

Medical assessment performed by Des as Lex plays the patient

 Instructor Becca looking on as students ace their patient assessments

 

Adam remembering to warm the stethoscope 

As the weather warms up, we've tried to extract some extra vitamin D by relocating the classroom to the outdoors.

We also continue to practice our wilderness medical skills. Please admire the improvised femur traction device constructed by Kyle, Blake, and Andrew on instructor Trenton in the picture to the left.


Perhaps the best part of the week has been the student presentations. Adam and Tyler taught us how to create improvised stoves. Blake and Andrew discussed how some of the surrounding flora can be used for herbal, medical remedies. Kyle and Bren provided us with insight on disaster preparedness. We learned about medical preparation for events such as adventure races and concerts from Tom and Peter. Lizzy and Lex provided insight about vaccinations, while Dara and Lauren covered international medical aid. Finally, Carolan and Des taught us how to make proper snow shelters. Below are a few pictures from the presentations.

Peter and Tom teaching about medical aid organization for events

Tyler and Adam showing us how to make a backcountry stove (we each got to make our own)!

Backcountry stove

Douglas Fir tea

Sizing an igloo

Check back in soon!

Hazmat and Mass Casualty Incident Management

Sorry about the delay in a post. We have had a busy week!

Friday began with another day in Missoula where we visited with Life Flight at Saint Patrick Hospital and later learned about hazardous materials - related medical emergencies from HazMat specialist Dan Corti.

Life Flight is one of Missoula's two air ambulance programs.  It is outfitted with a rotor wing, fixed wing, and ground transport to provide medical support in the greater Missoula area. The Life Flight team is composed of experienced Critical Care Nurses and Paramedics as well as skilled helicopter and fixed wing pilots. The students had an opportunity to visit with some of the Life Flight crew and also ascended to the roof of Saint Patrick Hospital to visit the helicopter.

In the afternoon, Dan Corti, who works for the University of Montana as their environmental health expert, provided us with a lecture regarding medical emergencies due to hazardous material exposure. Post lecture, students got to apply their new knowledge in a scenario with the Missoula Police and Fire Departments. Below are some pictures of this scenario.

Lex directing

Carolan and Andrew

Lauren, Tyler, and Des

Missoula City Firefighter Rick Pechta helping students assess a scene

A member of the Missoula Police Department relating some of his knowledge regarding hazardous material situations

On Saturday, Missoula County Search and Rescue joined our group back at Rich Ranch. Later that evening, the somewhat unsuspecting students were confronted with a mass casualty incident (MCI). They were told to search  for a lost skier. The students departed from Rich Ranch around 8PM. Navigating to specific coordinates, they came across an avalanche involving 8 victims (three skiers and 5 University of Montana Forestry students). The students had to organize and implement a plan for accessing, sorting, treating and evacuating all patients. They did a great job and stayed positive even when the scenario lasted throughout the entire night. Exhausted, the students (and instructors) crawled into bed at 7AM the following morning to catch a few hours of sleep.

Dara, Adam, Carolan, and Lizzy practicing with some of the search and rescue equipment

Tyler helping recover an avalanche victim during the MCI

Peter heating water for his patient

Incident Commander Dara hard at work

Taking care of a patient

Bren and Kyle caring for a patient

Bren and Kyle moving a patient on a SKED

The avalanche

Des helping Bren and Tyler get their patient down the avalanche slope

Adam joining the crew on the way to meet ground ambulance