WATCH: Health First, Brevard Emergency Medical Services Providers Conduct Live Action, Realistic Trauma Drill

‘You can’t find that in any classroom’

WATCH: The Emergency Medical Services mock drill was a joint effort between Health First Trauma and Emergency Department teams, Palm Bay Fire Rescue, and the Malabar Fire Department. Coastal Ambulance Services and volunteers also participated in the Tuesday, April 1, mock trauma drill held on Palm Bay Fire Station 5 grounds.

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – It was an agonizing wail that pierced the silence.

“Oh my God! Help!” a distraught woman shrieked in between tears. “You’ve got to save him!”

The woman knelt on the pavement as first responders began arriving to the “incident,” which involved multiple people and cars.

The wreck traumatically damaged the man’s left leg and threatened to take his life.

Thankfully, it wasn’t real.

The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) mock drill was a joint effort between Health First Trauma and Emergency Department teams, Palm Bay Fire Rescue, and the Malabar Fire Department. Coastal Ambulance Services and volunteers also participated in the Tuesday, April 1, mock trauma drill held on the grounds of Palm Bay Fire Station 5.

With multiple scenarios exercised, the drill was as close as possible to the real thing – a mass casualty emergency.

“We can put PowerPoints and slide shows and put a whole lot of people into a room and talk about it all day,” said John Ringleb, Assistant Fire Chief, Palm Bay Fire Rescue.

“But actually being out there and putting rubber to road, the implementation of those physical hands-on skills – you can’t find that in any classroom environment.”

These first responders were able to put into action what they’ve been trained for, as well as how to work in tandem with partner agencies during the “golden hour.”

That’s the critical 60 minutes following a traumatic situation. During that window of time, it’s essential a trauma victim receives surgery. It increases the chances of survival or can reduce the chances of long-term complications.

It’s these first responders who play that essential role in removing, stabilizing and transporting victims to a trauma center hospital for surgery.

Now, these several dozen first responders have experienced what a traumatic incident can look and feel like. Without the casualties.

There were overturned vehicles, multiple medical scenarios, and the arrival and utilization of one of Health First’s air ambulances, First Flight.

The live action simulation provided EMS and trauma care providers an opportunity to review their own protocols and offer feedback on their performance during such a high-stress, life-or-death event.

Exercises like mock drills strengthen the response of Brevard County medics, their leaders, and hospital physicians. Simulations provide an opportunity to reflect on and assess the emergency responses, pre-hospital intervention, and trauma care in Brevard.

The collaboration also fosters positive relationships between first responders and trauma caregivers. Health First’s Larissa Dudley, an emergency physician and Medical Director of First Flight, helped lead the cause for first responders.

“It gives them great insight that they would otherwise not receive,” Dudley said.

“This is just such an excellent opportunity for the municipal first response agencies to collaborate together to make sure that the care they provide, the equipment that they handle, the communication that they are involved with, is top-notch,” said Dudley.

“When patients within the municipalities call 9-1-1, they’re getting these first response agencies who can provide BLS (basic life support) or ALS (Advanced Life Support) care.”

Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne is the only Level II trauma center in Brevard. It offers 24/7 trauma care, including rapid transport by First Flight, Brevard County’s only air ambulance service.

Palm Bay Fire Rescue, the Malabar Fire Department, and Health First’s Trauma team members and emergency department clinicians worked in tandem during the mock training event.

“I’m just so proud to be the Medical Director of these agencies,” Dudley said.

“Their dedication to doing the right thing is just exemplified. It really is. Between First Flight, Malabar, and Palm Bay, everyone coming out today to spend the time, to use the personnel, to use their supplies, to really do the right thing for the community, it’s just, it’s wonderful.”

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