Carroll Community College nursing students train for mass casualty incident

Nursing students at Carroll Community College got a lesson in how they should respond in the event of a mass casualty incident in the area.

The training exercise, held April 3 and 10 on the Westminster campus, was a collaboration between students and first responders, with scenarios involving various injuries and medical conditions.

“It was a great learning experience,” Kim Darby, a fourth-term nursing student said in a Carroll Community College news release. “It was good to have a safe setting in which we could
practice if an incident like this happens.”

The training was intended to simulate a real-life scenario in a controlled environment, ensuring students are well-equipped to handle emergencies effectively, as future healthcare professionals.

The objective was to ensure that the students could work in high-pressure situations that happen without warning. The training consisted of various challenges, including the use of limited resources, prioritizing patient care and working under pressure.

The training exercise is important for nursing students to develop critical thinking skills, teamwork and confidence, the news release stated.

Students gained hands-on experience that compliments their classroom learning.

“Carroll’s nursing program has really prepared us for what we are going to see in the outside
world,” Courtney Witmer, a fourth-term nursing student, stated.

Britney Harden, assistant professor of nursing and event organizer, said students gained the experience needed to deliver competent and compassionate care during a real-life emergency.

“Participating in a disaster simulation can provide an opportunity to develop clinical judgment,
refine prioritization skills and enhance collaboration with emergency responders,” Harden said. “These simulations offer a safe environment for students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life scenarios, allowing them to make critical decisions under pressure.”

Strict safety protocols were in place and professional medical staff supervised the event, according to the news release.

The training exercise was a collaborative effort among local emergency response agencies, the college’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program, paramedic students, Carroll County Emergency Medical Services and Carroll Hospital.