First responders, students simulate accident trauma at James Clemens
Madison firefighters, police officers and EMTs joined students in health science, theatre and media to simulate a trauma incident at James Clemens High School. CONTRIBUTED
James Clemens High School, Madison, Madison County Record, News, Schools, Z - News Main
 By  GreggParker Published 
4:02 pm Tuesday, April 4, 2023

First responders, students simulate accident trauma at James Clemens

MADISON – The staged scene was realistic: crumpled cars after a collision caused by distracted driving; accident ‘victims’ laid out on the ground, some lifeless, others writhing in ‘pain’; and first responders hurrying to rescue passengers.

The trauma simulation at James Clemens High School depended on students and teachers with varying aptitudes, along with Madison Fire and Rescue Department, Madison Police Department and HEMSI.

James Clemens’ health science interns applied emergency first-aid skills to treat injured motorists. The interns also applied critical-thinking skills have developed in class.

To develop patient scenarios, Health Science teacher Ashley H. Steinert applied her Master’s of Science degree in Healthcare Simulation. Captain Ryan Gentry with Madison Fire and Rescue helped with this work. These scenes were realistic as possible while meeting specific objectives of Health Science students.

“Patient scenarios were given to Amy Patel’s theatre students so they can research their roles (in character as wreck casualties) and practice improvisation, a component of their course curriculum,” Steinert said. Firefighters, police officers and EMTs enhanced the accident’s urgency.

To prepare, senior internship students completed a three- to four-week unit on emergency situations and first aid, Patricia M. Collins said. She teaches health science internship. “Our culminating project is our mock trauma where students put into practice everything they have learned through this unit. By far, students say that mock trauma is their favorite day of the semester.”

“Simulation allows our health science students to practice their triage and critical thinking skills in a controlled environment where no patients are actually at risk.” Steinert said. Students are encouraged to learn from their mistakes through reflection during our debriefing, which follows the simulation.”

The simulation is “an intense collaboration that involves JCTheatre, Health Science Internships and JETSpress, who film the simulation to create a PSA about safe driving” (and capture the action as reporters),” Patel said. Her theatre students “research the injuries and symptoms and explore their character relationships and given circumstances. Beyond that, it’s all improvisation for about 45 minutes.”

Theatre students portray patients, relatives or bystanders, who create a challenge for the interns, “who have to balance caring for their patient while also comforting their loved ones,” Patel said.

“The injuries looked very realistic. I’m always impressed by the moulage (wound/injury makeup) for head wounds, impalements and injuries that aren’t visible, really testing the interns’ ability to assess their needs,” Patel said.

“Health Science interns are incredibly professional,” Patel said. “Anyone who just walked up on the scene would believe it was a real accident.”

The exercise allowed James Clemens students in the Health Sciences department to practice emergency first aid skills, including injury assessments, patient stabilization, retrieval from crushed vehicles and stretcher transfers to an awaiting ambulance, Public Relations Manager John Peck said.

Also on The Madison Record
City of Madison Update planned for Sept. 10 at VBC
A: Main, Events, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
August 27, 2025
MADISON – Mayor Paul Finley will present “City of Madison Update” as a forum to announce current affairs and future projects for the community. The Ch...
MCS scores big in 2025 school rankings
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Staff Reports 
August 27, 2025
MADISON - Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools once again scored big in the annual U.S. News and World Report “Best High Schools in America” ranki...
City approves hotel market study for historic downtown
Business, Madison County Record, News, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
August 27, 2025
MADISON - The Madison City Council approved a hotel market feasibility study for the downtown area last week. Core Distribution Group, LLC will be con...
Kids to Love celebrates opening of Smith Family Wellness Center
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Staff Reports 
August 27, 2025
MADISON - Amazing. That’s the word that best captures the night Kids to Love officially opened the doors of its most ambitious initiative yet—the Smit...
ShowerUp Huntsville brings showers and laundry services to those in need
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By KADIE TAYLOR news@themadisonrecord.com 
August 27, 2025
MADISON - ShowerUp Huntsville provides free showers and laundry services to those in need in Madison, Huntsville and North Alabama. “We don’t require ...
Madison Witches Ride to return on Oct. 19, registration starts next week
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
August 27, 2025
MADISON – Sharpen those broom bristles. Dust off your pointed, black hat. Rehearse your spinetingling cackle. The time is near for the 2025 Madison Wi...
Library schedules films for ‘Mad Movie-A-Thon-O-Rama!’
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
August 27, 2025
MADISON – “Mad Movie- A-Thon-O-Rama!” returns to Madison Public Library with entertaining films – from campy to classic – for the remainder of 2025. T...
West Coast Swing Dance is on the menu every Tuesday at The Electric Belle
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By KADIE TAYLOR news@themadisonrecord.com 
August 27, 2025
HUNTSVILLE - Everyone starts somewhere, if you have never danced, learn to swing at the Electric Belle. Located at the end of Gas Light Alley at Stove...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *