Are training courses the complete answer to improving survival in emergencies?

Attending a training course is only part of the package of trying to improve survival from emergencies. Other elements include equipment, policy and crucially simulated scenarios. It is these scenarios that ‘test’ an organisations response to emergencies. When delivered by experts in simulation, who can give good structured debriefing & feedback, these scenarios can help you to ensure your organisation has a robust system in place to ensure the best chances of survival are achieved. Evidence shows that industries that regularly undertake simulated exercises have much better outcomes in crisis management (aviation, nuclear power etc). However, healthcare is rapidly catching up with the concept of simulation and Steve Furnell one of our Director’s recently became one of the first people in the UK to complete a MSc in Medical & Healthcare Simulation. Steve commented that simulation is a very powerful tool that can help not just individuals consolidate learning from their training courses, it can also help organisations question where and how their systems are either failing or working. However, many organisations are reluctant to move towards regular simulated exercises on top of regular training courses because of the increased costs as they are just seeing it as extra training. Steve noted that this can be a risky choice that can have very costly implications in the long term… A good deal of training courses now have very long expiry of certification (for example ALS is 4 years for HCP’s and the HSE FAW is 3 years for lay persons) but the evidence shows individuals skill retention after 6 months can be very poor. Simulation can help maintain knowledge and skills. Furthermore attending a training course cannot test an organisations ability to respond to an emergency. The cost to the patient and the organisation can be far greater in the long run… This has been highlighted in the media this week where we have heard of the outcome following the tragic death of a young 25 year old lady who drowned in a gym swimming pool (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2621545/Sir-Richard-Bransons-Virgin-Active-gym-criticised-death-ex-model-drowned-swimming-pool-staff-failed-carry-CPR-correctly-FILMED-dying-mobile-phone.html). The gym group in question have been fined £100,000 (with an added £32,000 for costs) following a criminal prosecution over the drowning. The prosecutors in the case reported that the death were ‘entirely foreseeable’ and said managers were responsible for a string of ‘serious shortcomings’. With this case in question it appears that trained staff and equipment were available. However, the skills learnt on a course were not applied correctly with a poor outcome for both the patient and the organisation. Of course there is the possibility that had all the skills been performed correctly the patient may still not have survived… but we will never know. What we do know is that the system in this case failed and this has resulted in a costly legal case. Therefore, it is crucial to regularly test your emergency drills in a similar way to how we regularly have ‘fire drills’. That way you will know you and your organisation are ready to give someone the best chances of survival should a medical emergency occur. Here at RAMC Ltd we are able to help you establish regular simulated exercises and emergency drills. We are able to offer a range of packages to help you achieve this, so for any advice or to ask a question about this blog please contact us at info@ramcltd.com