LAWRENCEVILLE – Gwinnett Technical College recently partnered with the Alpharetta Fire Department to simulate a Hazmat and Mass Casualty Incident. The simulation gave Emergency Medicine Service(EMS) students unprecedented hands-on experience responding to real-world scenarios in communities every day.
This experience allowed students to participate in a simulated, large-scale incident and interact with specialized training providers from the Alpharetta Fire Department. Students had to respond in real-time to unknown patients and incidents with various needs and conditions and follow proper field protocols. In addition, students were placed in Hazmat, or chemical protective suits and demonstrated the process of decontamination, and participated in triage, transport, and treatment of artificial patients.
Kristen Buoy, Gwinnett Tech’s Dean of Health Sciences, explained, “The mission of Gwinnett Technical College is directly tied to training our students and graduates to enter the workforce with up-to-date, relevant training. By partnering with the Alpharetta Fire Department, our graduates will have the most up-to-date training, increased access and visibility with the fire department, and the skills that will result in a successful career in emergency medicine.”
Buoy continued, “These working and training relationships with our community partners are invaluable. They help our graduates be better prepared to enter the workforce and provide additional experience and training to our community at large. Additionally, it allows our workforce partners to make sure our graduates have the most up-to-date training and hire the best trained EMS personnel. “
For more information about Gwinnett Tech’s EMS program, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580.