Ohio Medical Residents Experience Cold Water Rescue Simulation

Jan. 13--The high-pitched calls for help came from the pond behind the Norwich Township firehouse near Hilliard.

Floating in bright orange cold-water suits on Thursday were two medical residents acting out the part of victims who had fallen into the cold water.

The water drill was part of a simulation put on by the fire department and OhioHealth to help doctors understand what patients and emergency responders go through before they reach the doors of an emergency department.

"What we're doing today is giving the residents from Doctors Hospital the experience of some of the challenges and hurdles that we face in the field, such as an ice or a cold-water rescue," said township fire Lt. George Sorge. "It's not like you always see on TV shows like 'Chicago Med' or 'ER.'"

In the rescue scenario, fellow residents donned yellow cold-water suits, grabbed a section of rope and swam to the "victims." Others then pulled them back to shore. Another group acted as an ambulance crew and loaded a mannequin into an EMS truck and worked on the "patient" as the truck sped off.

The doctors learned that these kinds of real-world challenges are a far cry from those found in a climate-controlled, lighted emergency department, said Dr. Drew Kalnow, chief resident.

"It's also a team-building exercise," said Kalnow, who worked as a firefighter and paramedic before going to medical school. "The better relationship we have with our fire and EMS crews, the better our interactions go with patient care when they bring them to the hospital."

The residents also participate in a fire/EMS-training day each year.

Last year, they worked with Prairie Township firefighters and used rescue tools to cut through cars and drag dummies out of a smoking building.

Kalnow said the drills also give them a chance to get out of lecture halls and apply the lessons they've learned.

On Thursday, the energy was high as air temperatures during the simulated rescue topped 60 degrees. Residents joked with one another and made references to the lifeguard show "Baywatch."

"Everyone loves this," Kalnow said. "It's a blast. It's refreshing. I think it kind of reinvigorates everybody."

Before heading to the pond, residents participated in short sessions on hypothermia, rope rescues and using the cold-water suits and training mannequin.

Putting themselves in the shoes of rescue personnel helps doctors learn the limitations and challenges that they face, said Dr. Robert Lowe, who serves as core faculty for the emergency medical residency program at Doctors and as medical director for Norwich Township fire and several other departments.

"It kind of builds that seamless transition of care and builds a health-care team from pre-hospital through to the (emergency department)," he said.

Dr. Rachel Price, a resident who played the role of a water rescuer, said the experience was more challenging than she expected. She said the cold-water suit was heavy and ill-fitting.

"It's a lot harder to maneuver around and swim out to the victim than I thought it would be," Price said.

"It really makes us appreciate what these guys bring to us. We always see the final product, the patient, but we didn't really know what it took to get them to us."

jviviano@dispatch.com

@JoAnneViviano

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