University of Leicester's event to cope with challenging and distressing situations

Oct 7 2009

The University of Leicester will go on 'Red Alert' on Saturday 10^th October, when fire officers, paramedics and international experts in triage, pandemics and major trauma converge on the campus for the staging of a chemical/biological/radioactive incident.

The Leicestershire Fire and Ambulance Services will simulate the chaos, panic and health risks of a serious incident at the one-day conference on the Management of Major Incidents, organised by the Leicester Medical School's student-run Trauma and Acute Care Society.

The highlight of the day will be a simulation in which students will pass through specialist decontamination tents under the watchful eye of the fire and paramedic special response units.

Other events include a series of lectures by senior accident and emergency consultants including Dr Simon Mardel, who is a World Health Organisation expert on pandemics, Dr Rod McKenzie, who worked with victims of the 7/7 London bombings, and Professor Tim Coats, who helped to set up HEMS, London's air ambulance service.

Afternoon workshops will offer life-saving advice on dealing with acutely unwell people.

Eighty students are expected to take part in the day's activities, which aim to make sure doctors of tomorrow can deal effectively with some of the most challenging and distressing situations possible today.

James Maguire, one of the students organising the event, commented:   "The threat of major incidents is often covered in the media but we aren't taught how to cope with these situations.  By giving up their valuable time, these professionals will help us to gain the skills and confidence to deal with such an event so that we can serve the public more effectively, should the unthinkable actually happen."