toh

A P.A.R.T.Y. Day

Through a variety of teaching techniques including lectures, videos, simulated trauma resuscitation, tours of the Intensive Care Unit and the Emergency Department, and interaction with injury survivors, students see first hand what it would be like to be injured. Students are encouraged to think: “What if it happened to me?”. There is candid discussion about what choices they could make in a variety of situations that would prevent themselves and their family and friends from being injured. Students begin their day with a discussion about parties, impairment, and injury. They are then introduced to the concept of Injury Prevention. A paramedic from Ottawa then outlines how injuries occur in a Motor Vehicle Collision (MVC), and how vehicles are designed to keep us safe. Teens view The Ottawa Hospital video production Crashing the P.A.R.T.Y., which simulates teens involved in an impaired driving crash.

Students then proceed to the ER to see the “trauma” resuscitated. An emergency physician discusses the concept of impairment, and what choices can be made to avoid getting injured. Recent trauma cases are discussed to illustrate the point.

Time is then spent with the ER nurses, who outline all the equipment and the procedure for resuscitation. A tour of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) follows. This is where students get their next glimpse of what it is like to be a trauma patient. They are encouraged to “put themselves in their place”.

After a pizza lunch, the students then hear from a neuropsychologist who discusses brain injuries and then we have an RN talk about spinal cord injury.

Students then hear from different presenters in the field of Rehabilitation to explore some of the many personal and physical skills and adaptations they would need to master as they learn to live with an acquired disability.

The day ends with a presentation from one of our many injury survivors who are involved with our program.

These people share their stories of how they were injured, and are candid about their lives now that they are living with a disability.

The day is then reviewed and summarized. What did they learn? What will they do differently now? The students then leave with much food for thought. They are challenged to make the smart choice next time.

Last updated on: December 12th, 2016