Light rain falls upon a massive, smoldering pile of concrete rubble—the remnants of a once-standing parking structure. The sound of helicopters echoes overhead as fire trucks and ambulances arrive on scene. First responders rush to aid frantic victims, many bruised and crying for help.
The chaotic scene looks, sounds, and feels real. But, it’s actually a well-choreographed training exercise.
On June 5, 12 undergraduate students and assistant professor, Megan Colas, Ph.D. at NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, participated in a staged mass-casualty incident at the Broward Fire Academy, nearby NSU’s main campus in Davie, Florida. The students posed as “victims” in the training exercise, which included firefighters and paramedics from several cities within Broward County.
Prior to the emergency-call dispatch, the students each received specific instructions on how to act during the training, as well as a card listing injuries and health conditions to portray. Some participants even received moulage (faux lacerations and wounds) to enhance the realistic scenario.
“The experience was very bizarre and fun at the same time,” said Fran Imbert, an athletic training major at the college, who volunteered as a victim in the training. “It allowed me to see how the EMTs respond and how quick they work to ensure the safety of everyone involved.”
Over the summer, Imbert and her classmates are completing a six-week Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification course at the academy. The hands-on experience builds upon the skills they have acquired through their extensive athletic training coursework at NSU.
“The athletic training students are great,” said course instructor Jason Friedman. “In addition to basic training, they have determination, motivation, maturity, and the desire to want to learn.”
The 12 NSU undergraduate students who participated include: Logan Armstrong, Andi Burchfield, Caitlin Carney, Candice Drake, Cassandra Garcia, Fran Imbert, Cristina Mesa, Lindsay Minthorn, Wacey Mooney, Hannah Mullins, Anthony Paulino, and Christine Sacramento.