Heather Latter
The Fort Frances High School “First Responders” are thrilled with a recent financial donation from New Gold.
“From the community involvement New Gold Fund, I requested funding to provide new scenario programs for [the] METIman medical simulator, as well as new tools for P.A.R.T.Y. [and] Fatal Vision marijuana simulation experience program kit, both of which the FFHS ‘First Responders’ are involved in,” noted program co-ordinator and local paramedic John Beaton.
He said he requested a total of $5,035.53, which was approved.
Beaton noted the FFHS “First Responders” need simulation learning programs designed specifically for the $60,000 medical simulator they fundraised for and received back in 2012.
“This simulator is a very unique learning tool that no other high school has to use,” he stressed, adding it simulates true physiology automatically without trends, handlers, or palettes.
“The modelled physiology delivers a more objective learning experience,” Beaton explained.
He noted the simulator, nicknamed “Rory Paulson,” will talk, breath/chest rise, bleed, and get real pulses and blood pressures.
Rory’s pupils will react to a light and first responders will be able to hear real lung and stomach sounds, as well as do chest tubes, intravenous lines, and catheter insertion.
“This simulator acts like a real human would and reacts to interventions from first responders,” Beaton noted.
“This shows them exactly how a real person would react either good or bad, which you can never do with actors,” he remarked.
“These scenario simulations will improve their assessment, medical skills, and confidence by actually seeing and reacting to real-time medical emergencies,” Beaton added.
“This allows them to make mistakes and learn from them so when first responders have similar real patients, they won’t make mistakes.”
While the first responders have been utilizing “Rory” for practice, Beaton said being able to purchase additional scenarios is beneficial.
“By having these software scenarios, it saves me a lot of volunteer time to write scenarios as it will take about 20 hours for me to write each one,” he noted.
“Anytime any of those big corporations are able to donate money, it just allows us to bring up the level of training and our readiness to respond within the school and communities,” said Grade 12 student Andrew Roth, who has been a first responder for four years.
He added the funds from New Gold also will help to maintain the METIman medical simulator, as well as to purchase life-like moulage wounds to fully immerse learners in trauma situations.
“What that is is fake injuries that we can put on the mannequin,” Roth explained, noting the wounds can be hooked right up to the bleeding system and offer very realistic training scenarios.
“It’s happening right in front of you. You have to figure it out,” he stressed.
“It has just added that whole new element to our training.
“It’s brought our skills and readiness to respond to a much higher level,” Roth added.
“I love the whole idea because you know better than I do that as first responders when you respond, you’re responding to a real person who has emotions, who has pain, shock, and a variety of things going on,” said New Gold general manager Grant Goddard, who stopped by Fort High on Friday to speak to the group.
“So there’s all kinds of reactions as opposed to a plastic practice dummy,” he noted.
“That’s part of what you are trying to manage besides the person’s injury—their emotions, nervous system, shock.”
Goddard said he’s very proud to support the “First Responders” program at Fort High.
“This is very unique,” he remarked. “There’s nothing like what you are doing. It’s really incredible.
“The fact that it takes place outside of class in your own personal time, hats off to you,” Goddard told the teens.
“You take this outside with you to different events, you bring it to your families, the school, and you’re giving a gift to people.
“And that gift is not only the ability to respond to an incident, but actually the ability for them to be thinking about the fact they could have an incident to prevent an incident.
“So that’s an incredible gift.
Goddard added it’s a great opportunity and an honour for New Gold to be able to participate and support the first responders and the work they do.
“The ability to reach out and be there, to respond, gives that sense of comfort and security for events,” he reasoned.
“I would highly commend all the students and faculty that support it. They are incredible individuals.
“The confidence they have, the pride they have,” he noted. “It’s just fantastic to support this.”
Anytime Roth has been out in the community, he hasn’t had to respond to any incidents. But the first responders have been called within the school.
“We practice our skills but hope we never have to use them,” he said.
Beaton added a portion of New Gold’s funding also will go towards the group’s awareness program, such as the P.A.R.T.Y. (Prevent Alcohol Related Trauma in Youth) program, which runs eight-10 times annually, and other educational tools.
“If [youth] can use hands-on tools to enforce on them the consequences of poor choices they may make, that can have life-changing impact on them and others,” he explained.
Beaton said they presently have a $25,000 package, including the S.I.D.N.E. distracted driving go-cart and educational tools like drunk goggles, etc.
The first responders use these tools at community and regional events to educate people.
They now will be purchasing the Fatal Vision Marijuana Simulation Experience to add to their awareness program.
“The program kit simulates the distortion of visual information and altered visual perception, loss of motor co-ordination, and reaction time that results from recreational marijuana use,” Beaton explained.
The FFHS “First Responders” also held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser yesterday evening for the group’s trip to an EMS conference in Salt Lake City next February.
Members from the group have attended the conference for two years and have found it very beneficial.
