In the rescue chain, communication and collaboration between emergency responders and hospital staff influence patient care. At the junctures between stages of an emergency response (from ambulance to air ambulance, from air ambulance to hospital), the exchange of information is critical. This is even more true when dealing with a pediatric patient.
There is the excitement of the moment, the context, the surroundings. So many things to manage in a short time and, especially in these types of cases, a strong emotional component as well. “Managing pediatric patients is always difficult,” begins Gioacchino Hernandez, a paramedic and head of paramedic training at the Servizio Ambulanza Locarnese e Valli (SALVA). Age plays a significant role: an 8-year-old is different from a 10- or 11-year-old, if only in terms of weight. There’s the aspect of managing both the child and the parents. It happens to us, as parents, too, that we’re affected by what we’re witnessing.” .
This is another reason why paramedics train in simulations that allow them to follow a precise intervention protocol, rehearsing and re-rehearsing procedures so that no mistakes are made when the moment of truth arrives. One such aspect is the exchange of information, which was the focus of the participants in the SUPSI DAS program in maternal and pediatric health during a morning session of their continuing education course organized at the REGA base in Locarno. “We’re in an emergency context. This morning, we wanted to develop the participants’ critical thinking in a situation with high emotional and cognitive demands, where the risk of error is real,” explains Alessandra Merazzi, a professional instructor at SUPSI. “We need to adopt a structured method of information transmission, precisely to ensure the continuity and safety of care. We were able to simulate an emergency intervention and experiment in a controlled environment.”
The nine DAS participants faced a simulation of an accident that is, unfortunately, all too relevant today. A five-year-old boy riding an electric scooter crashes into a wall, sustaining serious injuries. The only person witnessing the accident is a passerby who activates the emergency response chain. From this point on, SALVA rescuers arrive, and shortly thereafter, the child’s mother. The participants are confronted with a whole series of complexities until the young patient is handed over to the REGA rescue team.
“Over the years, we have observed that the transfer of information during handoffs between pre-hospital and hospital care needs to be strengthened. There is a potential risk of data loss,” continues Michael Zurru, an expert in anesthesiology, emergency medical technician, and DAS instructor in maternal and pediatric health. “This morning, we asked our participants—mostly nurses from the hospital setting—to step into the shoes of rescue workers. All of this is aimed at improving communication and collaboration. We want to convey just how complex it is to collect data in this context. By stepping outside their comfort zone, we ensure that these professionals will better understand their partners in the future, always keeping the child at the center.”
“It’s a training experience unlike any other,” concludes Nathalie Rossi, senior lecturer and head of the DAS. “It’s the result of a collaboration with SALVA and REGA that allows us to train technical skills, as well as communication, decision-making, and collaboration. It represents a safe, non-judgmental learning environment where participants can experiment, reflect on the interventions carried out, and hone their skills.”
The field trip to Gordola also provided an opportunity to get a closer look at the equipment available to rescuers: winches, nets, harnesses, and the brand-new helicopter at the disposal of REGA rescuers.