Doctors in race to save lives at Rottnest
September 09, 2016
This weekend, the beaches and tourist hotspots on Rottnest Island will be the backdrop for a series of medical emergencies including a near drowning, a snake bite, a stroke and a potential spinal injury.
Fortunately, they will only be simulated emergencies and 30 junior doctors and medical students will be on hand to ensure the ‘casualties’ are given the best treatment possible.
For the first time, Rural Health West is hosting Rotto Ramble, an ‘Amazing Race’ style medical wilderness challenge on Rottnest Island to help tomorrow’s doctors think ‘outside the square’ when faced with emergency situations in non-hospital settings.
The unique two-day event involves six teams of junior doctors and medical students performing a range of simulated emergency scenarios around the island as they race to the finish. Participants don’t know what medical emergency is coming, or when, but they have to be ready to swing into action, work as a team and save ‘lives’.
Rotto Ramble creator and emergency medicine specialist Professor Tony Celenza, said the uniqueness of the wilderness event enables junior doctors and medical students to utilise a wide range of skills. Professor Celenza works at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the University of Western Australia.
“The doctors and medical students will be responding to medical emergencies that will happen without warning at various locations on the island, which for many will be out of their comfort zone,” Professor Celenza said.
“They’re used to having access to medical equipment and monitors in a hospital setting. In these wilderness scenarios they have to improvise and think laterally under pressure as well as work effectively as a team.”
The event gives junior doctors and medical students the opportunity to become team leaders and develop their emergency medicine and communication skills, whilst working under the supervision of highly experienced practitioners who have worked in rural and remote regions and have expertise in wilderness medicine training.
Rotto Ramble coincides with the start of National Stroke Week on 12 September 2016 and will include a team challenge on Rottnest Island to raise awareness of the signs of stroke among the participants. During National Stroke Week the Stroke Foundation is encouraging everyone to learn the signs of stroke and spread the think FAST and ‘Speed Saves’ message.
Stroke Foundation Western Australia Executive Officer Jonine Collins said the Rotto Ramble event highlighted the need to act FAST when stroke strikes.
“We want the community to be aware that stroke is always a medical emergency. When you have a stroke, your brain cells start to die at a rate of almost two million per minute,” Ms Collins said.
“It is critical that health workers know what to do when stroke strikes. The Rotto Ramble is a great way for junior doctors to learn about stroke from experienced practitioners,” she said.
Albany Health Campus Resident Medical Officer Dr Emma Smith, who is taking part in Rotto Ramble and has participated in other Rural Health West wilderness medical challenges, said being able to take the lead on an emergency scenario is invaluable.
“As junior doctors we don't always have confidence to take the lead because the opportunities to do so are so rare. In addition to the medical knowledge, you also learn about team work, both being the team leader and helping effectively as a team member; things that you can only learn by doing. No classroom can teach you these skills.”
Rural Health West is the only organisation in WA that offers this unique type of practical training event and is a leading education provider of wilderness emergency medicine conferences in Australia. Rural Health West also hosts annual wilderness emergency medicine events in the north and south west of WA.
Rural Health West would like to acknowledge the support of our key sponsor, Rural Doctors’ Association of Western Australia Inc. for helping to make this unique event possible.
Fortunately, they will only be simulated emergencies and 30 junior doctors and medical students will be on hand to ensure the ‘casualties’ are given the best treatment possible.
For the first time, Rural Health West is hosting Rotto Ramble, an ‘Amazing Race’ style medical wilderness challenge on Rottnest Island to help tomorrow’s doctors think ‘outside the square’ when faced with emergency situations in non-hospital settings.
The unique two-day event involves six teams of junior doctors and medical students performing a range of simulated emergency scenarios around the island as they race to the finish. Participants don’t know what medical emergency is coming, or when, but they have to be ready to swing into action, work as a team and save ‘lives’.
Rotto Ramble creator and emergency medicine specialist Professor Tony Celenza, said the uniqueness of the wilderness event enables junior doctors and medical students to utilise a wide range of skills. Professor Celenza works at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and the University of Western Australia.
“The doctors and medical students will be responding to medical emergencies that will happen without warning at various locations on the island, which for many will be out of their comfort zone,” Professor Celenza said.
“They’re used to having access to medical equipment and monitors in a hospital setting. In these wilderness scenarios they have to improvise and think laterally under pressure as well as work effectively as a team.”
The event gives junior doctors and medical students the opportunity to become team leaders and develop their emergency medicine and communication skills, whilst working under the supervision of highly experienced practitioners who have worked in rural and remote regions and have expertise in wilderness medicine training.
Rotto Ramble coincides with the start of National Stroke Week on 12 September 2016 and will include a team challenge on Rottnest Island to raise awareness of the signs of stroke among the participants. During National Stroke Week the Stroke Foundation is encouraging everyone to learn the signs of stroke and spread the think FAST and ‘Speed Saves’ message.
Stroke Foundation Western Australia Executive Officer Jonine Collins said the Rotto Ramble event highlighted the need to act FAST when stroke strikes.
“We want the community to be aware that stroke is always a medical emergency. When you have a stroke, your brain cells start to die at a rate of almost two million per minute,” Ms Collins said.
“It is critical that health workers know what to do when stroke strikes. The Rotto Ramble is a great way for junior doctors to learn about stroke from experienced practitioners,” she said.
Albany Health Campus Resident Medical Officer Dr Emma Smith, who is taking part in Rotto Ramble and has participated in other Rural Health West wilderness medical challenges, said being able to take the lead on an emergency scenario is invaluable.
“As junior doctors we don't always have confidence to take the lead because the opportunities to do so are so rare. In addition to the medical knowledge, you also learn about team work, both being the team leader and helping effectively as a team member; things that you can only learn by doing. No classroom can teach you these skills.”
Rural Health West is the only organisation in WA that offers this unique type of practical training event and is a leading education provider of wilderness emergency medicine conferences in Australia. Rural Health West also hosts annual wilderness emergency medicine events in the north and south west of WA.
Rural Health West would like to acknowledge the support of our key sponsor, Rural Doctors’ Association of Western Australia Inc. for helping to make this unique event possible.