Tips and tricks for equine emergency scenario simulation in pre-clinical student training

Abstract

Emergency and disaster management simulation is a frequently used teaching tool in human medical, volunteer and emergency responder training and is becoming more common in veterinary medicine. At the University of Calgary, an equine emergency scenario simulation has been a part of the second year curriculum since the inception of the school ten years ago. Students at this stage in their veterinary training have limited clinical and technical skills. The scenarios therefore encourage problem solving, leadership, teamwork and deliberate communication, without the need for significant clinical experience. Scenarios are designed to simulate a common equine emergency such as a trailer accident, barbed-wire entrapment or a barn fire. The simulations have grown over time but remain fairly simple to set-up and deliver and are low cost after the initial horse model investment. Students are pre-briefed with basic information about the scene and the available resources. During a simulation, students interact with a simulated horse owner, life-sized horse model, live horses, the “media”, and depending on availability, a local police or fire department community outreach officer. A simulated vet box with medical supplies, drugs, medication formulary and equipment is supplied, along with a faculty member who acts as a “phone a friend”, that can answer specific medical questions. Throughout the simulation a smartphone is used to record the student activities, which are then discussed in detail during a debrief session using the acquired photographs. Topics discussed during debriefing also including triage basics, safety, incident command protocols, ethical considerations, legal implications and insurance and liability.