Academics

Students to receive hands-on experience in trauma training event

Penn State Mont Alto to hold annual trauma training exercise for forest technology and nursing students

Penn State Mont Alto forestry students move an injured forester out of the woods during the 2015 trauma training event. Credit: Debra Collins / Penn StateCreative Commons

MONT ALTO, Pa.— Penn State Mont Alto will hold its seventh annual trauma-scenario training exercise for forest technology and nursing students from 8 a.m. to noon on April 29 at the campus.During the event, students will collaborate with multiple agencies to rescue two injured foresters who have been in a tree harvesting accident—one will be a mobile, high-fidelity human simulation patient, named i-Stan. They will be treated for their injuries by forestry, nursing and paramedic students. The forestry students will report the incident and provide first aid, nursing students and local emergency response will rescue them and provide additional treatment in preparation to airlift the patients to a medical facility.“This integrated, hands-on simulation exercise enhances the education of all involved,” said Carranda Barkdoll, Penn State Mont Alto nursing program campus coordinator. “It allows nursing and forestry students to practice their field first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) skills,” she said. “Nursing students have the opportunity to strengthen their teamwork skills for receiving a trauma patient and all participants gain experience in mountain terrain rescue, fire and EMS (emergency medical services) collaboration, air-medical transport protocol, and in working with local and federal government agencies.”The following organizations will assist in the exercise: The AirMethods Maryland Life*Net 8-1 helicopter, Franklin County EMA/911, Mont Alto EMS, Mont Alto Fire Department, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, Rescue Hose Fire and EMS Co., South Mountain EMS, Waynesboro Advance Life Support (Medic 2), and Waynesboro Hospital.For more information, contact Debra Collins, director of public relations and marketing at 717-749-6112 or dlc43@psu.edu.

Last Updated April 19, 2016