Keywords
Search and Rescue, Volunteers, Mass Casualty Incidents, Utah, Wilderness
Abstract
Background: Utah County’s population growth has precipitated a surge in search and rescue (SAR) missions, including mass casualty incidents (MCIs) in remote wilderness areas. Recognizing the critical need for enhanced preparedness in MCI response, Utah County SAR sought assistance to expand the training of their medical team in MCI. This project was initiated with the primary objective of augmenting the knowledge and readiness of Utah County SAR volunteers for managing MCIs in wilderness settings.
Methods: A one-day, on-site MCI simulation event designed by the project team was held at Rock Canyon, Provo, UT, on June 24, 2023. Focused on making the MCI as real as possible, three undergraduate students from Brigham Young University (BYU) and a professional actor were simulated patients. The simulation encompassed two distinct MCI scenarios. A 30-minute debriefing and survey were completed.
Results: Fifteen volunteers from Utah County SAR actively participated in this MCI simulation. Ten (67%) affirmed that the simulation effectively highlighted potential gaps and weaknesses in their preparedness for MCI response within wilderness environments. Seven (47%) reported an enhancement in their skills, and twelve (80%) attested to the overall effectiveness of the MCI simulation as a training exercise.
Implications: Future MCI simulations should assess competencies and skills of new SAR volunteers. Utah County SAR should also conduct periodic, unannounced MCI simulations.
Conclusion: Our quality improvement initiative demonstrated that MCI simulations conducted in wilderness environments constitute an effective and realistic training methodology that significantly enhances the knowledge and preparedness of SAR volunteers.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Smart, Nathan; Summers, Scott; Nuttall, Craig; and Macintosh, Janelle, "The Implementation of a Mass Casualty Simulation for Utah County Search and Rescue" (2024). Student Works. 381.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/studentpub/381
Document Type
Master's Project
Publication Date
2024-03-29
Language
English
College
Nursing
Department
Nursing
Course
Nursing 590R
Copyright Use Information
https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/