Mock-up Disaster
An Israeli paramedic treats a student playing a mock victim during a drill at a school in Beer Tuvia, near the southern town of Kiryat Malachi, February 14, 2013. Some two million students and kindergarten children on Thursday took part in the nationwide drill simulating a rocket attack during recess, a statement from the Education Ministry said. Reuters/Amir Cohen

About 300 Australian and New Zealand paramedic students will join a disaster mock up on Friday at Federation Square. The event is part of the yearly conference of the Student Paramedics Australasia.

The participants will treat mock victims using realistic blood, burns and broken bones. The event gives the students a chance to use the skills and knowledge they acquired at the university. The aim of the mock up is for the students to do the greatest good for the greatest number.

At the same time, the event would allow them to experience following international standards for mass casualty management, said Dr Peter Hartley, deputy dean of the College of Health and Biomedicine of Victoria University. By joining the conference activities, the students are prepared for the pressure of paramedic work that they will face when employed.

The event is also called the Olympics of Paramedics since teams, made up of three members, compete for points that test their treatment and communication skills based on their assessment, triage and resuscitation. Cash prizes and titles will be awarded to winners who would also compete internationally.

“Australia’s paramedic graduates are considered some of the highest trained and best prepared in the world, with the London Ambulance Service in the United Kingdom among several overseas organisations actively recruiting Australia’s paramedic graduates to fill shortages in their own workforce,” Hartley said in a statement.

After the competition, the 2015 Student FERNO Sim Challenge would be held on Friday night. Throughout the day, there would be pre-conference workshops in the morning and afternoon. The main conference is on Saturday, to be capped by a conference party in the evening. Conference fee is $70 for members and $80 for non-members. Participants could avail of cheap and secured accommodations at Victoria Hotel on 215 Collins Street at $80++ per night for twin rooms and $70++ for triple rooms.

Victoria University is one of the major sponsors of the event. It would provide the special effects make-up that the students would use. The venue of the disaster mock up is the Ampitheatre, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne, across St Paul’s Church.

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