Effectiveness of the Adding High Fidelity Simulation to the Bleeding Control Course in Regards to Proper Tourniquet Placement Amongst School Personnel

Overview

This is a joint project by the White Plains School District and White Plains Hospital regarding the training of over 66 school personnel regarding the American College of Surgeons (ACS) "Stop the Bleed" campaign for mass casualty incidents. This project developed from an outreach from White Plains Hospital and an interest from the White Plains School District to work together to train staff in the event of a mass casualty incident / active shooter.

From January through June 2019, participants will be requested to attend one of six sessions that will be held at the hospital simulation center. Participants will be randomized into 1 of 2 study arms. Each participant that enters the B-Con course will be randomized using a "random generator." At the start of the program, all participants will be explained the purpose of the research study and the two groups (Control versus High Fidelity). An option will be given for participants to be able to opt out. So that our participants all have the same opportunities afforded to their colleagues, we will also offer the control group the option to participate in the high fidelity simulation at the conclusion of the entire program. All groups will sit through the exact same B-Con powerpoint presentation by trained STB instructors. This course includes the powerpoint presentation that reviews how to call for help, assess those affected, identify the location of life-threatening bleed, apply pressure, pack a wound and/or apply a tourniquet and when to do this. Tourniquet placement is taught as is wound packing placement. Participants will each be given tourniquets to practice alongside the instructor. The presentation will cover the first hour of the curriculum. This is considered to be the standard for this course. Upon conclusion of the course, the control group and high fidelity group will be separated into two rooms based on their randomization. In groups of 2, participants will be trained in tourniquet placement, wound packing. The High Fidelity group will have a simulation intervention in addition and the wound packing will be performed on a device that has biofeedback. Upon conclusion of this one hour session, both groups will be tested on wound packing and tourniquet placement. They will again be tested 3-8 months later on retention for wound packing and tourniquet placement.