Multiple Hospital In-Situ Mass Casualty Incident Training Simulation for Emergency Medicine Residents: A Sarin Bomb Scenario

Abstract

Introduction: We simulated an on-site, multi-hospital mass casualty incident (MCI) to educate emergency medicine providers in the principles of trauma resuscitation and collaboration with administration and staff during an MCI.

Methods: We implemented high-fidelity manikins, inflatable manikins, and actors to simulate a sarin gas bombing. Learners triaged patients at a decontamination tent using the simple triage and rapid treatment (START) tool, or they participated in a simulation in a resuscitation bay.

Results: Forty participants anonymously rated the learning impact of the exercise, the clinical relevance to emergency medicine, and the effectiveness of the faculty facilitation and debriefing on a 1-5 Likert scale. The average responses to all questions were 4.45 or greater, and 98% of respondents recommended adding the scenario to the standard curriculum.

Discussion: We successfully executed a novel, multi- hospital, MCI drill that was rated to be a better alternative to sequential simulation in a simulation center.

Keywords: emergency medicine; mass casualty incident; sarin; simulation; toxicology.