CMU Tech’s Live Scenario Day prepares future medical professionals for real-world emergencies
At first glance, the scene is startling. An ambulance is parked with lights flashing as an injured individual is carefully moved onto a stretcher. Look a little closer, and everything becomes clear — this isn’t a real emergency. It’s Live Scenario Day at CMU Tech, where Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students step into the role of first responders in carefully crafted simulations.
Live Scenario Day brings classroom curriculum to life through immersive real-world emergency simulations. The event has been running since 2010 and continues to prepare students for the high-stakes world of emergency response careers.
“It’s so rewarding because you can see the fruits of your labor. You can see how your students are putting together all the theory and practical application in a real-life experience,” said Allied Health and Paramedic Program Director Pam Holder, who has been involved in Live Scenario Day since day one.
The schedule of events takes EMT students on location where faculty stage live emergency scenarios. In the scenarios, community members and students act as patients. EMT students encounter a variety of emergencies ranging from fractured femurs and injured car crash passengers to heart attacks, strokes and diabetic emergencies. Past scenarios have even involved a simulated drowning at Highline Lake, complete with CPR and the arrival of a helicopter from CareFlight of the Rockies.
Each scenario is made even more realistic with moulage, a technique that involves applying makeup, prosthetics and other materials to simulate realistic injuries or illnesses. Moulage experts like Holder can accurately replicate various wounds, broken bones and even the visible symptoms of specific medical conditions to help students recognize a patient’s diagnosis more quickly.
Some simulations include collaboration with local hospitals like Family Health West. Students work together as an ambulance team to drive and deliver patients to these hospitals, where they receive feedback from medical professionals upon arrival.
The attention to detail in each scenario is meticulous. Students must assess patients, create treatment plans, administer medications and practice handoff reports to hospital staff. Students are graded on their performance while faculty members evaluate their every move, from how they drive and park ambulances to how they manage the stress of the situation.
The feedback from students is overwhelmingly positive.
“They just love it. After each scenario, they always want to do it again,” said Holder. “The students feel more prepared and it helps them realize they’re capable of being in this line of work.”
The effectiveness of Live Scenario Day is reflected in the program’s job placement rates, which have historically been as high as 100% and currently hover around 90%. Most graduates have gone on to work for fire departments and hospitals both locally and across the country.
Holder was quick to credit the program’s success to the dedication of the faculty and the partnerships with local organizations.
“The faculty are very well qualified and experienced. Most of us have more than 20 to 25 years of experience in the field. After students complete the program, they should be prepared to be entry-level EMTs,” said Holder. “We felt it was important to help the area with partnerships and provide quality students that could go to work. The addition of the live scenarios has enabled us to do that. We hope employers don’t have to spend so much time training them because we’ve done it for them.”
By blending expert instruction with realistic simulations, live scenario day ensures graduates are prepared, confident and ready to serve their communities. For the students who participate, it’s a glimpse into their future. For the faculty and partners who guide them, it’s proof that investing in hands-on learning today shapes the capable professionals we’ll rely on tomorrow.