Pre-training for the Medical Rescue Team new recruits involves demonstrating a record of satisfactory clinical skills and a minimum of three supervised nights on the Fast Response Car. If after these nights their performance has been satisfactory, they will have a debrief with one of the team leaders before commencing their probationary period, when they will be operational with senior supporting team members.
Fully established members of the rescue team are all expected to train on a regular basis. This will not only maintain and revalidate there existing skills but will also allow them to learn new or specialised techniques and be introduced to new equipment.
Training days run alternate months and they are organised at different locations including hospitals, Fire and Rescue Training Centres or more specialised facilities such as a Water Rescue Centre or a Construction site.
The training may involve clinical or resuscitation issues, human simulation or alternatively may be ‘rescue’ based to enable to the team to safely perform in environments beyond the hospital. The whole concept of the team is centred around cross-training with individuals having a mix of skills, whatever their background. For example, the medics are all familiar with cutting tools and extrication, whilst the fire-fighters are trained in trauma and life support skills. This allows the team to function far more effectively with increased understanding of each individual’s role.
In addition, during the lunchtime break we run a journal club presenting all of the latest publications in the field of trauma, resuscitation and pre-hospital care.
Training days planned for 2005 already include:
- Paediatric resuscitation/trauma
- Mud rescue – with coastguard
- Extrication update – Cheshire Fire Service and MRAS
- Swift Water Rescue – Coastguard
- Blue-light driver training
- FAST scan refresher
- Emergency Thoracotomy course
examples of team training days
Paediatrics – lecture
Packaging – open forum / practical
Journal Scan – update of the literature
RSI – scenarios SIMMan
Rail Safety - Exercise courtesy of British Transport Police