ORLANDO, FL -- December 2, 2008 -- The Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center's Mobile Simulation Lab was featured on South Florida's WFOR-TV (CBS4) December 2, 2008 article "First Responders Practice For Bio-Terrorism Attack."

The Mobile Simulation Lab is a 45-foot motor coach complete with a full ambulance bay and emergency department area to bring unlimited real life scenarios to first responders such as EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, emergency physicians, and nurses.

First Responders Practice For Bio-Terrorism Attack

Carey Codd / CBS4

He can breathe, move his head and has a pulse. But Tom suffers from any number of maladies. Tuesday, he was a victim of a terrorist attack.

Dec 2, 2008 11:09 pm US/Eastern

 
Reporting
Carey Codd
E-mail

HOLLYWOOD (CBS4) ― He can breathe, move his head and has a pulse. But Tom suffers from any number of maladies. Tuesday, he was a victim of a terrorist attack.

The good news is Tom is not a human being. He is a simulator used by the Emergency Medical Learning and Resource Center (EMLRC), a non-profit organization based in Orlando.

EMLRC is in Hollywood this week training Hollywood Fire Rescue teams in dealing with a biological attack.

"We're going to face that in the United States," Program Coordinator Eric Dotten said, "We want our first responders to be able to answer that call for 911 and provide the help the public wants and needs."

The timing of the training couldn't be better. On Tuesday, a bi-partisan commission appointed after the 9/11 attacks released a report saying the United States could face a biological or nuclear attack within the next five years.

First responders know they'll be on the front lines.

Dania Beach Fire Rescue trained on Tom on Tuesday. Battalion Chief Patrick Patterson came away impressed.

"It's so realistic and every one of my crews that went through it today was totally amazed by it and had a very good training from it," Patterson said.

Tom comes to life via computer at Eric Dotten's fingertips. Dotten creates a scenario where Tom is a victim of a biological attack.

Paramedics and EMT's ask Tom questions about how he's feeling. Dotten loads an answer in the computer and Tom responds. First responders diagnose Tom, help him breathe, give him CPR, take his pulse and can even give him medication.

"It makes the emergency responder feel like they're under the pressure of a real call, to see how they really would respond so they can make the mistakes here with Tom and not make the mistakes with the general public," Dotten said.

This is the first time EMLRC has brought Tom to South Florida for training. But Dotten plans return trips to work with more first responders. His goal is use Tom to train every first responder in Florida.

The training is paid for through a grant from the Florida Department of Health.

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The Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center (EMLRC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing emergency medicine, disaster management, pre-hospital emergency care and public health through the provision of educational and research programs. The EMLRC provides lifesaving education for lifesavers.

For further information contact:
John Todaro, Director/Chief Operating Officer
Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center
3717 South Conway Road
Orlando, FL 32812-7607
Phone: 800-766-6335
Email: jtodaro@emlrc.org
Internet: www.emlrc.org

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