New ambulance simulators at Saskatchewan Polytechnic are giving paramedic students a realistic glimpse into what they’ll be doing on the job.
One of the simulators, which are the first of their kind in the province, allows students to practice driving an ambulance in different settings and weather conditions. The other is a hydraulic ambulance box that shifts with the driver’s motions. There are pictures of both with this story online.
Matt McGurk, Academic Chair for Paramedic Programs at Sask Poly, says with the click of a button, the precipitation and road conditions can be changed on both simulators to mimic the ever-changing Saskatchewan weather.
“In reality, we know that (during) our emergency responses, you’re dealing with real traffic. You’re dealing with pedestrians. You’re dealing with weather, many things that we don’t want to mimic (in real life) because we like to keep our real ambulances functionable. These ones, you can crash it, and you can feel what that’s going to feel like as a student in the back.”
Brady Gaucher is a primary care paramedic student at the Saskatoon campus. She says prior to receiving the new technology, students either practiced on mannequins laying on the floor, or in the back of a real ambulance driving slowly around the parking lot.
“You don’t want to go out on practicum or out on the work force and not be prepared, so I think it’s a huge positive thing that’s added into our training days, just so we know what to expect.”
One of the students who use the new technology, Janie Kennedy, used to work as an emergency medical responder. She says the simulators closely resemble the real thing.
“It’s very accurate, I’d say, especially knowing our Saskatchewan roads. It’s very rough, and our weather is very unpredictable. In this instance, you get to feel how the box moves, especially because you’re sitting on the axel, so it moves differently than if you were in the front seat.”
At Saskatoon’s campus, the purchases and subsequent renovations cost about $1.5 million. Regina also installed the new technology.
