A STATE of emergency was called at the University of Worcester.
Fortunately, it was only a crash simulation to put students through their paces.
Policing, medical and paramedic science students took part in the large-scale emergency simulation in the city, working alongside frontline blue light services to respond to a staged multi-vehicle collision.
The scenario simulated a serious multi-car road traffic incident, with actors playing injured casualties trapped in damaged vehicles.
Crews from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service took part in the simulation, and used heavy equipment to secure vehicles, remove doors and cut open windows to safely extract those involved.
Paramedic science students treated casualties at the scene before transporting them to a mock Accident and Emergency ward created within one of the university’s healthcare buildings. There, medical students assessed and treated patients as part of the exercise.
Policing students gained first-hand experience of managing and supporting a major incident, assisting emergency services and carrying out mock interviews with witnesses and casualties.
The simulation was designed to be as realistic as possible, with the casualty actors remaining in character throughout to create an immersive environment.
Phil Edwards, lecturer in policing, said: “This event has taken a lot of organisation, but it’s fantastic to see students collaborating across so many different disciplines, working together for the greater good. They’re getting first-hand experience of a real-world scenario, operating in a serious and pressurised environment alongside a range of organisations.
“Having active-duty police and fire services here adds to the realism. We work closely with these services, and the learning that comes out of this for all of our students is immense.
“Ultimately, this kind of experience is about preparing all students for the realities of frontline work. It ensures they enter their professions with confidence, practical experience, and a clear understanding of how different emergency services work together in high-pressure situations.”
Ruby Sale, a third-year paramedic sciences student, added: “This has been really beneficial. As a student paramedic, it’s rare that you’ll be exposed to such a big incident, so this prepares us for what we could experience. Working alongside policing and medical students and the fire service has been really great, we get to see how they work and how our practice ties into it all.”
