Adding realism to readiness

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Carissa Parker
  • 22nd Medical Support Squadron
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Earlier this month, a tornado swept through McConnell AFB and a man was impaled in the abdomen with a 19 inch long piece of plastic pipe. He staggered into McConnell's Medical Clinic, clutching the pipe in his torso and pled for help as medics rushed to his aid. Thankfully, this was only an exercise, but the realism of the injury, the dramatic acting skills of the casualty and the response of the 22nd Medical Group staff would not have led a bystander to believe so.

Moulage, the art of injury simulation, dramatically enhances any exercise or training opportunity by exposing individuals to realistic, even gruesome, wounds that simply cannot be achieved by the imagination. Additionally, when the moulaged victim acts the part, the training experience is improved even more. A responder is forced to focus on the signs and symptoms presented and react even more realistically to the scenario. What is the take-away? An experience to solidify knowledge and a more accurate assessment of what skills must be improved upon.

Moulage training isn't just for medics. While deployed, Airmen may conduct convoy operations and an improvised explosive device could be detonated by the vehicle in front of them causing serious injury. Once the scene is deemed safe, treatment action is taken. What is the best way to treat the casualties using the skills acquired from military training? Instincts and honed skills are more likely to present themselves if previous training had casualties that have been moulaged.

Accidents and deployment-related injuries do not commonly occur next to a hospital or a medical tent. Self-aid and buddy care is always the first line of treatment, regardless of the location of the incident. Adding realistic injuries to these scenarios not only brings about an awareness of what a non-medic may be faced with on any given day or at some time during a deployment, but it also assists with honing the skills that often go untested other than every 24 months when an SABC refresher class is accomplished.

The trauma of witnessing a horrific wound can leave a person paralyzed with fear. One of the valuable outcomes of moulage use is desensitizing a person to the shock of seeing and treating a bloody, gory wound. A mere moment wasted in the field with inaction could literally lead to someone losing their life.

Moulage dressing, coupled with appropriate acting by the casualty will improve Airmen's reaction to and performance during exercises and training involving injuries. The realism of the situation gets adrenaline pumping, compels responders to think more logically and above all, allows Airmen the opportunity to perform to their fullest potential in these crucial moments of training prior to being exposed to the real thing.

There are several options for obtaining moulage skills for your next training day or exercise. Many Web sites online offer directions on creating realistic injuries using items either found in your kitchen or garage, or using the professional supplies used in movies and theater. If you are interested in a class, contact Master Sgt. Carissa Parker at carissa.parker-02@mcconnell.af.mil for details.