A group of physicians and hospital administrators from national and international hospitals came to CAMLS for a two-day Mass Casualty Incident Training Sept. 7-9.

The USF Health Center for Advanced Medical and Learning Simulation, in partnership with the Center for Emergency Medical Education, recently hosted a group of hospital workers, doctors, nurses, and administrators for a three-day mass casualty incident (MCI) training seminar.

Health care professionals say mass casualty incidents are the one thing you have to train for and hope never happen.  The purpose of the training at CAMLS was so hospital workers understand how important organization and communication are when dealing with MCI’s.

Training participants help a standardized patient to her feet after she simulates collapsing during a two-day mass casualty training event at CAMLS Sept. 7-9.

Clinical providers came from as far as New Zealand and Mozambique, from small community hospitals to large trauma centers, to participate in a variety of roles in several simulated scenarios including, natural disasters, mass shootings and bombings.  Each scenario started with normal hospital activities until they received the call about an incident.  Leaders of groups had to coordinate setting up triage areas, where doctors and nurses would be needed.  Additionally, standardized patients used make-up to mimic injuries associated with the incidents.  Doctors and nurses had to treat the various injuries of all of the patients while sending information to hospital leadership.

A physician participating in the Mass Casualty Training at CAMLS Sept. 7-9 treats a simulated gunshot wound on a mannequin.

Haru Okuda, MD, FACEP, FSSH, CAMLS executive director and USF Health Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice assistant vice president, said that more and frequent training is needed across the board.

“What an incredible three days of mutual learning between our front-line participants and expert faculty as we ran through a multitude of simulation scenarios,” Dr. Okuda said. “We heard from many participants how important and relevant the training was, and how it will help them better respond during the unfortunate, and often chaotic, circumstances of a mass casualty incident. We look forward to continuing the partnership with CEME to deliver much-needed MCI training to a other teams, both in the United States and globally.”

More photos from the event: