More than 100 CPUT Emergency Medical Sciences students recently participated in a 48-hour first-year rescue exercise.
The rescue exercise, also known as the ‘Three Peaks’ took place from 27 to 28 August 2009 at the Chrysalis Training Academy, Tokai.
The exercise was organised for first-year National Diploma students by second years and monitored by third-year students.
The purpose of the event was to expose first-year students to sustained rescue activity so that in return they received experience on how to endure physical exhaustion and mental stress over a number of days while still keeping their focus on rescue and patient care.
According to Lloyd Christopher, Head of the Emergency Medical Sciences Department, lecturers need to prepare students to be able to manage and respond to emergency rescue incidents (including natural disasters like earthquakes or floods) once they complete the programme.
“It is therefore important that these students regularly engage themselves in physical activities,” he said.
Second-year students, who have had their turn last year, were involved in the pre-planning and the co-ordination of the project, while third-years critiqued the second years’ performance in the exercise.
They did this by looking at safety aspects and also conducted an audit function.
The first 24 hours was broken up into key exercises.
One of them involved an activity called ‘Trauma Retrieve’ as there were injured people and students had to hike up the mountain to rescue those patients.
Hans du Toit, a second year student and one of the organisers, said: “It was a big exercise for second years as we had to put a lot of effort.
“As it was just not about the hike, but also a 36-hour exercise, we spent a lot of time working around all the logistics, but in the end we were happy with what we did.”
The second day involved a second mountain hike and a swim across a dam, which was part of the ‘Water Rescue’ activity.
To wrap up the day, the team went to Hout Bay for a community project.
Part of the students’ 48-hour exercise is to reach out to the community and make a contribution where it is needed.
The latest beneficiary for this year was the James House, a child and youth care centre operating in Hout Bay.
The students R5000 to the organization and handed out party packs to the James House children.
This non-governmental organisation has been in existence since 1986 and provides holistic care needs to children from around the area.
Christopher said: “The reason we want students to involve themselves in community projects is that when they are working as professionals, they must appreciate the daily challenges many communities face.
“We don’t want them to just go there and help and then forget about these communities. They must understand that disasters have a greater impact on poorer communities that are vulnerable and in need help”
The hike ended with a ‘Mass Casualty Exercise’ at the Bellville campus, where students received their certificates.
By Andiswa Dantile
Written by CPUT News
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