HART Sim Vehicle
JS Fraser was selected to design and develop an Ivceco 7 ton chassis cab based HART training vehicle, to provide optimum internal space the innovative design incorporates twin slide outs effectively increasing the internal space by 60%.
The vehicle design attracted a high level of interest from all three of the main emergency services at the recent Emergency Services Show where it was a key exhibit on the Excelerate stand.
The Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) of the ambulance service are teams of paramedics trained to use additional protective equipment.
This allows them to provide a response to situations where the environment in which they are working would otherwise be dangerous to them. All of the training is completed centrally to ensure they all receive the same high standard of training and are able to work together at any larger incidents. In order to maintain these skills it is necessary for them to complete regular training.
This training is completed locally but with national support to ensure continuity and to do this HART have taken an innovative approach and developed a Mobile Simulation Suite. This is one of the first Pre-Hospital simulation suites in the country and is the first one of its kind to be developed in the rear of a vehicle.
The vehicle will be used to travel around the country to the various teams and then run training sessions for the HART Operatives to complete. This will complement the other training the teams receive, but it will allow “real to life” simulations to be completed in full personal protective equipment and being mobile it ensures the same exercise can be repeated in any location. The suite has the facility to provide a variety of lighting situations such as complete darkness, flashing or solid red and blue lights or dimmable white light.
There is an in-built smoke generator and all the training can be recorded on its own camera set up to allow the participants to view their performance and learn the lessons from it. It has a satellite dish on board to provide internet connectivity and is able to conference the information over its own WiFi network to allow the training to be reviewed inside any location within range. It is designed to provide the appearance of being a bed-sit type flat and in order to complete the charade the flat comes complete with someone living there namely a METI pre-hospital simulator.
This simulator is able to interact with the staff, bleed, breath and respond to treatments offered. The patient will also deteriorate in line with real conditions and as such it encourages the treatments given to be completed in a realistic way. It has the possibility to replicate serious traumatic injuries including amputations, blast injuries, fractures and burns and METI provide a variety of scenarios which cover everything from a range of larger disasters through to more common illnesses.
This flexibility ensures thorough assessments are completed on each occasion again replicating real life.Simulation is gaining credibility as one of the most versatile training mediums for clinical training and as technology develops so will the possibilities in these virtual environments. HART is pleased to be at the forefront of this development and look forward to reaping the benefits this vehicle will offer.”
