Page 5 - TTMNSpring2025

Health and Medicine
Teaching Today Minnesota | Spring 2025 Page 5

EMTs in Training Put in “Pressure Cooker”

Spring Lake Park Schools event. There are three different scenarios
Visitors arriving at Spring Lake Park running simultaneously. Teams are split into
High School on Saturday, February 22, found groups, and they rotate between the three sce-
what appeared to be a major emergency event. narios along with a stop for a written exam.
Instead, nearly 70 high school students train- The scenarios are based on real situ-
ing to become Emergency Medical Technicians ations and kept secret from coaches and
were testing their skills at the State Youth EMS students until the moment they enter the
competition. situation. Past scenarios have included pool
The 39th annual State Youth EMS com- rescues, simulated vehicle accidents, the
petition included 17 teams, four members release of radioactive material in a crash, and
each, representing 15 schools. With a growing other high stakes situations. Students go into
shortage of emergency medical technicians, each scenario blind and are scored on how
these efforts to train the next generation of well they handle each situation.
emergency responders are more important At the pool, the teams scattered around
than ever. While teams were full of smiles the pool deck. They were handed a piece of
and sporting fun names like Floo Fighters and paper with a brief situation report. They read
Awesome Aorta’s, the purpose was serious. quickly.
“This is a pressure cooker,” says Bill A young adolescent hit his head in the
Neiss, conference chair and director of the water. The lifeguard performed a rescue, and
Opportunities in Emergency Care program at the child is lying unconscious on the pool information is revealed – similar to a real life full CPR. You can hear the intensity in their
Spring Lake Park High School. “We want it deck. The near drowning has resulted in mul- emergency. voices.
to feel real. Each scenario is taken from a real tiple injuries and imminent cardiac arrest. “Wipe all the water before shocking,” Then an abrupt, “Stop all action.”
situation. Students’ skills and knowledge are The victim’s grandmother, who is nearby, is says one student. Everyone freezes. Teams slowly come back
tested on everything from patient assessment agitated and wheezing. At some point in the to life — and gradually put away their gear.
to oxygen administration to bleeding control situation (they’ll learn later), she will refuse A Gentle Cadence Continues The judges convene for scoring and the
to CPR and more.” care.
After reading the initial situation, the “Checking airway. Checking breathing. teams prepare to move to the next scenario.
Three Real-Life Scenarios EMT team quickly communicates with Checking pulse. Applying pressure to lacera- In the Panther Gym, a diabetic patient
the judge their plan of action. The judge’s tion.” has accidentally overdosed after taking the
What does an EMS competition look response is tailored to the plan the team Over the course of 15 minutes, the situ-
like? Well, it looks a bit like a mass casualty shares. With each step and check, more ation escalates to chest compressions and Continued on Page 6

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