So often we conduct our training at the station, yet we don’t always consider other venues that could be used to practice our skills. Station training is great, but it does not always provide the different aspects of performing rehab at the scene of an incident.
Establishing a rehab station is not complex; however, we don’t always have the opportunity to practice rehab skills at a major event. Selecting, setting up, managing and then tearing down the rehab site are all components that need practice at a regular event.
Why not put those skills to use in venues that may not have the same magnitude of emergency, yet gives many of the characteristics found at the incident scene?
There are a few venues to consider when practicing rehab set up, management, and tear down. Granted, some of these venues may not provide the most realistic scenarios like a fireground or major event, but they can offer great practice for our personnel.
Special events
Special events like marathon races, football games and concerts can offer a unique experience for personnel who staff the event. Most of these events require some type of medical care for the participants along with those watching the event. In many cases, a medical-aid station will require multiple personnel in order to staff the medical station.
This is a great opportunity for your rehab team to use their skills. Granted you are not treating firefighters, but you are allowing them to gain hands-on experience with a large group needing vital signs and minor to moderate treatment. In some cases, you may even have major medical events occur.
These events require you to plan your evaluation and treatment site, set-up stations, manage personnel on the level of a rehab provider along with managing the flow of participants through the evaluation and treatment station. Many of the same characteristics are found at an incident scene where rehab is needed.
Disaster drills
Another venue to consider is the disaster drill. These typically have a large number of care providers operating at the scene and also have a number of personnel used as victims. All of these may need some type of rehab.
In addition, disaster events or large events where rehab should be considered for personnel and can be a great mechanism of how to implement rehab during a major disaster. In many cases, there may be multiple rehab sites. Therefore, it will provide your personnel the opportunity to practice establishing rehab at a disaster.
Practicing rehab can be performed in many different scenarios. Sometimes it is a matter of being creative. If you have an opportunity to get your rehab team involved in any event, it allows them the opportunity to practice their skills. Rehab teams in many instances are not always on-duty medical personnel, rather they may be volunteers or auxiliary groups that provide the resources to manage a rehab site.
How you train is how you respond. The more practice, the better the rehab team will be able to function during an incident scene.