Plane crash simulation
On April 25, the Cégep de Shawinigan organized a major simulation of a plane crash. The scene involved 32 victims, including a burn victim, triggering a “code orange”. To achieve this, 199 students, 53 actors and 12 major partners, including Airmedic, joined forces. Together, they provided reliable, rapid and safe care.
“When we deploy a simulation of this scale, I can’t imagine doing it without Airmedic’s participation. As coordinator of the major simulation, my goal is to make this simulation as close to reality as possible, and if that reality were to be, Airmedic would be there to intervene to save lives in collaboration with other healthcare stakeholders!” Luc Grenier, coordinator of the virtual clinical immersion center, Cégep de Shawinigan
Testing emergency measures through simulation
The aim of this exercise was to give students the opportunity to put into practice what they had learned. Students in Nursing, Pre-hospital Emergency Care, Biomedical Analysis Technology and Micro-publishing and Hypermedia were asked to intervene in a crisis situation. To make the simulation even more realistic, several partners took part in the exercise, including :
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the Sûreté du Québec ;
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the Service d’intervention d’urgence civil du Québec (SIUCQ) ;
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Hydro-Québec ;
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Shawinigan firefighters;
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and, of course, Airmedic, who carried out a helicopter evacuation.
“We are proud to have been invited by the CÉGEP de Shawinigan to put our knowledge and expertise in air medical transport at the service of the students during this major simulation. Students develop their skills through theory. However, we believe that there’s nothing like practice to increase knowledge and skills. Working together like this makes a difference on the job market.” Fabian Severino, Flight Nurse, Airmedic.
Airmedic was there to take care of heliported medical transport
Airmedic played an active role in the simulation, deploying a crew aboard the BK117 helicopter. Their mission was to simulate the evacuation of the most seriously injured patient, a burn victim, to a suitable hospital. The crew consisted of a nurse, a paramedic and two pilots. On site, they worked closely with doctors, nurses and other emergency personnel. Their aim was to provide care that met Airmedic’s quality standards. This exercise is as beneficial for Airmedic as it is for the students.
This exercise also enabled students to learn to :
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contact the Airmedic emergency center;
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transmit the necessary clinical information to the coordinator;
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transfer the patient and their medical file.
An educational and strategic exercise for the future of the healthcare network
For Airmedic, this simulation represents a concrete opportunity to demonstrate the importance of integrating helicopter medical transport into the Quebec healthcare network, as well as demonstrating Airmedic’s complementary role within the network. Indeed, as the government’s project for a heliborne service moves forward, it is essential that all players in the network are trained and prepared. This simulation is an excellent opportunity for them to familiarize themselves with our service and our procedures.
“Most of the student nurses, respiratory therapists and paramedics involved in this simulation will probably work with Airmedic once they enter the job market, for both inter-hospital and pre-hospital emergency transport needs. That’s why it’s important for us that they see us in action and understand Airmedic’s role within the Quebec healthcare system.” Émilien Campos, Flight Paramedic, Airmedic.
Significant repercussions of a simulation
“In the future, its participants will become our future professionals, our graduates. Imagine the opportunity that Airmedic gives our graduates to work closely together towards a common goal. In fact, students from Cégep de Shawinigan and other educational institutions have this opportunity to acquire an extraordinary experience, working with Airmedic. I’d like to thank the entire Airmedic team for their invaluable collaboration, and look forward to seeing you with us again next year! Luc Grenier, coordinator of the virtual clinical immersion center, Cégep de Shawinigan
When it comes to training the next generation of healthcare professionals in Quebec, Airmedic is there. It’s a pleasure to demonstrate Airmedic’s expertise in air medical transport. What’s more, this simulation offers significant organizational pedagogical benefits.
In particular, it:
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fosters inter-professional coherence and communication;
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highlights the importance of each role in the intervention process;
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maximizes the effectiveness of care in crisis situations;
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strengthens links between students and the Quebec healthcare network;
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makes future professionals aware of their responsibilities.
In addition to having the necessary manpower and infrastructure, Airmedic is demonstrating its readiness to respond rapidly to the needs of the Quebec population. Thanks to its expertise, the company remains a key player in Quebec’s future heliported medical transport system.
