Page 46 - QARANC Spring 2024

46 The Gazette QARANC Association
JHG North in training
to cope with crises
Healthcare assistants, emergency care, general
and ITU nurses from JHG North, joined the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and other military personnel to support medical training for OP NEPHITE last November.
Our week in training was eye opening and educational in terms of advanced pre-hospital care and evacuation. As a unit, we benefited from the clinical teaching and contributed to the course by providing casualty simulation (Cas Sim), utilising JHG (N)’s bespoke training mannikins, and participants as live actors.
Day one was an introduction to Pre-Hospital Emergency Anaesthesia (PHEA), the kit involved from the ventilator to drugs and emergency airways to deliver RSI (Rapid Sequence Intubation). This was followed by clinical moulages with scenarios involving drowning, stabbing, head injuries and agitation, and sedation for humanitarian reasons.
On day two, enhanced ALS (Advanced Life Support) teaching began with an introduction to the history of resuscitation as far back as ancient China using reeds to ventilate patients, whilst considering who gets to be resuscitated. Early modern drivers of resuscitation practice were developed to keep workers alive longer to save costs on training replacements during the industrial revolution.
We built on our knowledge of ALS in special circumstances with real life examples from the GNAAS crew body cameras of resuscitative thoracotomy and resuscitative hysterotomy. We helped run a series of clinical moulages again to reinforce the teaching. Later, came an introduction into pre-hospital ultrasound and how it can aid decision making in trauma. We also learned how to use USS to aid IV-line placement and practised with simulation kit.
Day three was held at Dirty Dog Airsoft with multiple agencies to simulate care under fire and multiple
The scenario involved smoke grenades and airsoft pellets flying around a noisy and chaotic environment
casualties. We worked with Northumbria Police Armed Response crew and Durham and Darlington Fire Rescue Service (FRS) as well as GNAAS and the military. We played a mix of enemy, hostages and casualties as live actors to test their ability to provide scene management, clinical care and evacuation. The Cas Sim team worked hard to produce lots of casualties in a short space of time whilst the scenario involved smoke grenades and airsoft pellets flying around a noisy and chaotic environment.
County Durham and Darlington FRS and Cleveland Fire Brigade lead the training on day four. We benefited from their experience of a team approach to scene management. This was followed by a live demo from the Cleveland team utilising various methods to extricate a casualty from a vehicle. The afternoon involved another mass casualty scenario simulating a motorway pile up with many overturned cars / vans / motorbikes, with many of us as live casualties.
The final day was a series of clinical simulations involving the full spectrum of clinical skills learned over the week. After a relaxed lunch at the end of the course, we were treated to a tour of the GNAAS aircraft, the onboard kit and equipment (particularly where it differs slightly from the training kit) and how the operational desk works to identify emergency calls where HEMS critical care skills may be required.
Pte Musgrave and Cpl Littleboy deserve special mentions for their amazing skills to make up and design realistic injuries on mannikins and actors throughout the week adding significant value to the GNAAS ran course. Overall, we have had an amazing week while developing our clinical knowledge and skills.