The HARS hangar at Shellharbour Airport was transformed into a fully functioning hospital Emergency Department on Wedneday, as Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) delivered its ninth annual multi-agency emergency simulation training day - and its most ambitious exercise yet!
Months of planning went into Radio to Resus, a large-scale mass casualty simulation designed to test the region's emergency response capabilities, strengthen coordination between agencies and, importantly, prepare hospital teams for the challenges of receiving and treating multiple critically injured patients at once.
Bringing together around 200 participants, observers and representatives from across the region's emergency and health services, the exercise simulated a major incident at Shellharbour Airport, with mock casualties "transported" from the simulated crash scene to a purpose-built simulated hospital ED.
A strong focus each year is on the hospital response, simulating the challenges faced as multiple casualties arrive and clinicians work together to rapidly assess, triage and deliver care in a high-pressure environment.
The makeshift ED was meticulously recreated to reflect the clinical environment hospital staff would encounter during a real-life mass casualty event.
ISLHD Education and Professional Development Manager Jaquie Barrass said the hospital component of the exercise was a critical part of preparing for a major emergency.
"It's essential our hospital teams understand not only what happens when patients arrive at the ED, but also what has taken place before they get there,'' she said.
"An incident of this scale requires a coordinated response from the very first moments at the scene - through to the delivery of care in hospital. This exercise gives our teams and emergency services partners the opportunity to work together, understand each other's roles and practise the communication and coordination that will make all the difference in a real emergency.
"We don't get to practise these scenarios together every day, so creating an opportunity to work through them in a realistic environment is incredibly valuable."
The morning session recreated a post-plane-crash scenario involving approximately 20 casualties. Actors, complete with realistic moulage (simulated injuries and wounds created using specialist makeup), and medical mannequins helped bring the scenario to life.
Debriefs following each activity provided an important opportunity to consider what worked well, identify challenges and consider how insights could be applied in a real-life emergency.
The simulation involved the region's emergency services, including NSW Ambulance, Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service, alongside ISLHD staff and other participating agencies.
The day's program extended beyond the practical simulation, incorporating a series of learning and discussion activities designed to deepen understanding of emergency response and strengthen preparedness across the health system.
A panel discussion brought together representatives from agencies involved in the response to the Bondi attack, providing an opportunity to reflect on the experience of responding to a major real-world incident and the lessons that can inform future preparedness.
Hospital staff also took part in a tabletop exercise, working through the decisions, communication and operational challenges involved in receiving and managing a sudden influx of mass casualty patients.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Simulation and Education Fellow Dr Amila Wickramasinghe said the exercise was an important opportunity to build relationships, test systems and strengthen the District's readiness to respond to major emergencies.
"While the scenario was simulated, the skills, relationships and learning developed throughout the day have real-world significance. The experience will help inform ongoing training, strengthen coordination between agencies and ensure teams are better prepared to respond if a major emergency occurs.''
Dr Wickramasinghe thanked the emergency services partners, participating staff, actors, observers and supporting organisations, including the HARS Aviation Museum and Shellharbour Airport, whose involvement helped make the day possible.
"With around 200 people involved, the exercise represented a significant collaborative effort, reflecting months of preparation and the commitment of agencies across the region to improving emergency preparedness," he said.
