The CrashSavers team is focused on teaching firefighter first responders in Guatemala (bomberos) how to stop bleeding to prevent deaths from hemorrhage. We have created a comprehensive training package to teach the clinical decision-making and psychomotor skills necessary to correctly choose and apply pressure, packing, tourniquets, and balloon compression to stop bleeding in the field. We expect learners to have basic first responder skills training when they start the course, and we expect them to feel confident in these four hemorrhage control techniques after they finish the training modules.
About this module
How to use Appropedia
First, the learner must study the basic principles of hemorrhage control techniques and key concepts on their correct indications. All educational material is contained in Phase 1.
Second, the learner will install an Android/iPhone-based application that will allow him to review these concepts and test them on different clinical case scenarios. These cases are scored based on critical decisions that the user must comply with in order to save the simulated patient, allowing self-assessment of these clinical skills. All clinical cases will have the option to be experienced in 2D or Virtual Reality with any Smartphone headset. When completing the clinical case successfully, the learner will acquire a score based on the quality of their answers and time spent on taking decisions. If the learner answers incorrectly, the simulated patient will expire and the learner will obtain educational material to review the mistake. Afterward, the clinical case will restart. The material designed to help install the CrashSavers VR application is contained in Phase 2. All instructions and guidance on how to apply the correct techniques in each case are contained in Phase 03.
Third, in specific clinical scenarios, a DIY simulator will be available for the trainee to test his knowledge in a real (non-digital) environment. These simulators will connect via Bluetooth to the CrashSavers VR application. When the learner selects (correctly) to use the specific hemorrhage technique in the clinical case, a prompt will appear so the learner can decide to utilize or differ the use of this simulator (if it is available). All the instructions to build and connect the simulator are in Phase 2. All instructions on how to apply the correct techniques in each case are contained in Phase 03. The first of his kind is a low extremity DIY Tourniquet Simulator.
Fourth, to correctly understand the application of the different hemorrhage control techniques in diverse clinical settings, the learner can study the clinical cases built in the CrashSavers VR application. The case algorithms with their explanations will be available in this Phase 04. Furthermore, all the necessary educational material for reviewing each clinical scenario will be linked and educational videos for applying these techniques in real-life environments and our DIY Simulators will be available on this page.
Syllabus
Phase 0: Crash Savers Trauma
- Purpose, Problems, Simulation, Innovation
- Adoption in Resource-Constrained Settings
- Meet the Team
- Evaluation
Phase 1: Didactics & Knowledge
The learner should study the content of this page then take the readiness test. It is highly recommended that the learner be familiar with this content before proceeding to the skill pages. In this page the learner will find the following content:
- Bleeding & Hemorrhage - Why is this a problem for patients?
- Four ways to stop Hemorrhage: Pressure, Packing, Tourniquets, and Foleys
- How-to video on applying:
- Self-administered Readiness test
Phase 2: VR App Installation and Simulator Building
In this page the learner will find all resources needed to install and learn to use the CrashSavers VR app. Furthermore, in this page are all building instructions and how to connect and use the DIY Tourniquet Simulator of CrashSavers. This page is divided in the following sections:
Phase 3: Skill Acquisition
- Clinical Case Index
- First fundamental skill practice: Tourniquet Use
- Clinical Case Algorithm and explanation
- Video on how to use a tourniquet on the completed simulator
- Tourniquet self assessment
- First fundamental skill practice: Tourniquet Use
- App Overview
- Demo app video
- Integrating the VR/App and the simulator
- Demo app video
Phase 4: Self-Assessment
- Case by case self-assessment
- Competency quizzes
Follow-on
After completion and practice to competency, the learner may wish to continue study with these courses:
