Woke university stages mock GODZILLA attack for medical students training for a real-life disaster - because a fake terror atrocity or train crash would be too triggering
A university staged a mock 'Godzilla' attack for medical students training for a real-life disaster as staff felt a fake terrorist atrocity or train crash would be too 'stressful'.
Bournemouth University used a large blow-up dinosaur doll wearing a red T-shirt to portray the giant Japanese monster.
Students had to deal with devastating 'injuries' inflicted by the beast, including severe head wounds, eviscerated bowels and arterial bleeding.
Make-up students applied fake blood and realistic-looking flesh wounds to actors that students had to treat.
The major incident exercise, which involved paramedic, nursing and mental health nursing students, took place in an underground car park in Bournemouth.
The site was divided into three zones including a fully equipped paramedic response area, physiotherapy treatment spaces and nursing stations addressing the mental health needs of patients.
Bournemouth University has previously staged similar exercises where student paramedics responded to an alien invasion and a zombie apocalypse.
Una Brosnan, paramedic lecturer and co-organiser, said the university aims to make the disasters 'tongue and cheek' to reduce the level of stress for students.
Bournemouth University used a large blow-up doll of the giant Japanese monster to simulate a mass casualty event
The major incident exercise, which involved paramedic, nursing and mental health nursing students, took place in an underground car park in Bournemouth
They said: 'We could have done a natural disaster or a terrorist attack which would be quite scary for everyone and we decided to go for a more tongue-in-cheek approach.
'The premise might be quite farcical but the injury patterns and mechanisms are very real.
'It's a bit of fun but it also teaches the students to work with multiple casualties and patients.
'They have to get in, triage and work out who they are going to treat first.. They have to make some hard decisions and the pressure increases, but we don't push it to fail.'
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance and University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust helped with the Godzilla simulation.
Ben Abbott, advanced practitioner in critical care at Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance, said: 'The first year students are very junior and new to this - we are looking for them to be able to do basic triage and patient assessment and they all did really well once they got over the nerves.
The site was divided into three zones including a fully equipped paramedic response area, physiotherapy treatment spaces and nursing stations
Godzilla is an iconic Japanese prehistoric sea monster that has appears in popular culture
'The third-year students are looking to qualify in the next six to nine months so it's a different vibe with them.
'They are expected to know more about the medicine, the drugs, the therapy and the treatment that they can offer.
'They were very good - it's a stressful situation but it does push them to do the job that they are going to need to do at some point.'
A spokesperson for Bournemouth University said: 'While the backstory adds an element of fun, the simulation itself is an intense and immersive learning experience.
'It unfolds in a noisy, high-pressure, and fast-moving environment, with highly realistic injuries that challenge students to triage and treat patients with time-critical injuries.
'The event is delivered in collaboration with serving clinicians from several NHS Ambulance and Air Ambulance Trusts, many of whom completed similar training as students here at Bournemouth University and recognise firsthand its value in preparing for complex, high-stakes incidents.'
