Student doctors at A.T. Still University in Mesa spent their Valentine’s Day providing lifesaving relief and care to victims of a deadly explosion at an outdoor music festival.
However, this mass casualty event was just a simulation taking place on the lawn in front of ATSU’s School of Osteopathic Medicine at 5845 E. Still Circle in Mesa. It’s a recent annual tradition at the school, where medical, physician assistant and occupational therapy students rush to the scene of a deadly explosion, which was just a smoke machine, and tended to festival-goers, who were actually faculty members and various volunteer actors wearing bloody and tattered clothing. Volunteers from Banner Health as well as medics and nurses from the U.S. Army were also present.
Students in teams treated the wounds of the festival-goers while also questioning and communicating with them to get information on their injuries. Others were practicing lifesaving maneuvers such as CPR on mannequins. Wandering festival-goers searching for their loved ones were approached and helped by students.
