18 Students taking part in the first ever Medquest camp in Owen Sound, along with city firefighters and Grey County EMS personnel got to practice responding to a potentially deadly disaster situation on Thursday morning.
A mock disaster based on a methamphetamine lab explosion took place, with Medquest students participating as victims, and emergency responders practising their skills.
Medquest Coordinator Allison Whyte says the 18 victims had varying levels of injuries.
She says the meth lab scenario was chosen because it’s a topic people need to be more aware of and was a good practice opportunity for EMS and fire personnel.
Medquest participant Wade Walker says he had to pretend he was sleeping in the meth lab.
He was graphically made up with a simulated head wound and had to be taken away immediately by ambulance.
The grade 11 student from Grey Highlands Secondary School says he’s interested in all things medical and wants to head into the research field.
Participant Alex Larson was one of the “walking wounded” from the blast and says it was interesting to experience a disaster from the perspective of a victim.
The grade 12 student from Saugeen District Secondary School in Port Elgin is thinking of becoming a paramedic and also competes in first aid competions as a lifeguard.
Firefighters got the scene of the explosion and resulting smoke under control while paramedics triaged victims and took them to hospital by ambulance.
Some victims had to go through the decontamination shower tent.
Medquest is a project of the Schulich School of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario in London and is designed to get high school students interested in careers in medicine or other areas of health care.
This is the first year a camp has been held in Owen Sound.
Other activities the 18 students from across the region have been taking part in this week include setting casts and learning how to apply sutures.
Three medical students also act as camp counsellors.
The meth lab mock disaster was the first of its kind for fire and EMS staff and it took them about 45 minutes to respond, get the situation under control, triage victims, and send them to the hospital.
Grey County EMS Duty Supervisor Jeff Adams says they have to practice and stay on their toes.
He says it’s a great exercise and helps them decide what needs to be fixed, what went well, and what to change for next time.
Owen Sound Fire Department Training Officer Doug Sim says hands-on training is always the best.
He says they don’t use hazardous material response equipment like a decontamination shelter very often, so it’s good to get it out and practice.