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You and your colleagues are just relaxing into a long-awaited lunch break; taking a moment to unwind from an already long shift. As your partner makes a joke about little rest for the weary, you catch site of a disturbance in the corner of the restaurant, a crowd begins to form around an elderly man and his young granddaughter. You notice the man has slumped against the table and is beginning to collapse to the floor. On closer observation you notice secretion coming from the corners of his mouth, his coloring is ashen and he isn’t breathing; you and your team spring into action….. A pit crew CPR approach empowers a team of emergency responders to work together to support a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) victim. The crew ensures the delivery of chest compressions is conducted by a team of emergency responders, guaranteeing the SCA victim is fully supported. The first emergency responder to arrive administers chest compressions to the right of an SCA victim's chest. After the first responder engages chest compressions for a minute the second responder then delivers the chest compressions from the left side of the victim's chest; relieving the first.  The third responder then stands at the patient's head to ensure proper Airway management, ensuring the mask is securely placed to administer the vital oxygen required. This triangle of trust improves the likelihood of SCA victim survival and effectiveness of CPR administered by the responders. Moulage realism combined with scenario development provides a powerful tool in training efficiency, enabling teams to quickly assess and mentally prepare based in skills sets practiced and rapid recognition response, all  vital components when time is crucial to successfully assess the SCA victim’s needs. Improving upon a team’s innate skills of chest compressions, secondary Airway clearance, and chest compression transitions, the training provides opportunity to improve trust, enhanced skills and stability amongst the players, improving adaptability, quick response and assessment adjustments. As teams assess and decide on an appropriate course of action, the goal remains the same, to quickly and successfully navigate through their vital roles of CPR. Moulage combined with team training strengthens the pit crew approach to CPR, enhancing a crew's training preparedness, providing critical cues through sensory storytelling and supporting the efficiency of critical thinking skills and overall team comprehension. As you and your team hand off to the ambulance crew who have just arrived on scene, you notice the elderly man’s color has returned and he is beginning to respond to simple commands. As you return to your lunches you think back to your training, the non-verbal cues mixed purposeful practice enabling you to think clearly, assess quickly and move rapidly toward the best course of action in a stressful environment, remaining  adaptive and objective in accomplishing the needed course of action.
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Bobbie Merica is the owner of Moulage Concepts Inc., a medical-trauma moulage company and author of several moulage training books specific to the simulation communities including “Medical Moulage – How to Make Your Simulations Come Alive.†Upon discovering the absence of Moulage specific to a clinical/hospital setting, she designed and developed the first of a series of 3D clinical wounds that can be triaged, sutured, debrided and drained in addition to medical & trauma moulage kits, workshops and wound development specialized to the MCI, clinical, pre-hospital, military, pandemic and veterinary simulation communities. Mrs. Merica is a contributing author at: EMSWorld magazine, “Wound of the Month†Trauma Moulage specialized to the pre-hospital communities SimTalk Blog: Discussions in healthcare education from Pocket Nurse “Bridging the Gap in Simulation – A Collaboration of Experts†a free Medical Moulage Tutorial Blog (available at www.moulageconcepts.com) Subject Matter Expert: TCCC Talon Tactical Medicine TECC Peaceful Warrior Training Group Technologies Specialist Advisory Board member Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program (HSEEP) certified.]
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You and your colleagues are just relaxing into a long-awaited lunch break; taking a moment to unwind from an already long shift. As your partner makes a joke about little rest for the weary, you catch site of a disturbance in the corner of the restaurant, a crowd begins to form around an elderly man and his young granddaughter. You notice the man has slumped against the table and is beginning to collapse to the floor. On closer observation you notice secretion coming from the corners of his mouth, his coloring is ashen and he isn’t breathing; you and your team spring into action….. A pit crew CPR approach empowers a team of emergency responders to work together to support a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) victim. The crew ensures the delivery of chest compressions is conducted by a team of emergency responders, guaranteeing the SCA victim is fully supported. The first emergency responder to arrive administers chest compressions to the right of an SCA victim's chest. After the first responder engages chest compressions for a minute the second responder then delivers the chest compressions from the left side of the victim's chest; relieving the first.  The third responder then stands at the patient's head to ensure proper Airway management, ensuring the mask is securely placed to administer the vital oxygen required. This triangle of trust improves the likelihood of SCA victim survival and effectiveness of CPR administered by the responders. Moulage realism combined with scenario development provides a powerful tool in training efficiency, enabling teams to quickly assess and mentally prepare based in skills sets practiced and rapid recognition response, all  vital components when time is crucial to successfully assess the SCA victim’s needs. Improving upon a team’s innate skills of chest compressions, secondary Airway clearance, and chest compression transitions, the training provides opportunity to improve trust, enhanced skills and stability amongst the players, improving adaptability, quick response and assessment adjustments. As teams assess and decide on an appropriate course of action, the goal remains the same, to quickly and successfully navigate through their vital roles of CPR. Moulage combined with team training strengthens the pit crew approach to CPR, enhancing a crew's training preparedness, providing critical cues through sensory storytelling and supporting the efficiency of critical thinking skills and overall team comprehension. As you and your team hand off to the ambulance crew who have just arrived on scene, you notice the elderly man’s color has returned and he is beginning to respond to simple commands. As you return to your lunches you think back to your training, the non-verbal cues mixed purposeful practice enabling you to think clearly, assess quickly and move rapidly toward the best course of action in a stressful environment, remaining  adaptive and objective in accomplishing the needed course of action.
Vlad Magdalin
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