Tornado simulation tests students’ emergency skills
Students triage patients, manage shelters, and practice real-world emergency response
image: UT Arlington students conducted a tornado simulation
Credit: UT Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington continues to create unique educational experiences that prepare students for real-world scenarios requiring quick thinking and decisive action. A simulated tornado disaster is the latest example, with students from multiple disciplines recently participating in a hands-on exercise in navigating such an emergency when it strikes.
Laura Kunkel, clinical associate professor of kinesiology, said experiential learning activities of this nature tend to resonate more with students than traditional textbook instruction.
“These simulations are a great way for them to experience what a disaster scenario looks like before they may encounter something like this in real life,” Dr. Kunkel said. “We had volunteers coming in saying, ‘I don’t have my inhaler because my house went down in the tornado.’ That realism piece and having to figure out and problem-solve in real time boosts confidence for students.”
Students in athletic training, social work and public health learned to triage injured patients, set up an emergency shelter and coordinate mental health services before a real crisis hits.
The interdisciplinary portion is key, as professionals in these fields work collaboratively during disasters. Students were placed into cross-disciplinary teams so they could learn all the tasks involved, since responsibilities often overlap in real-life situations. Students worked in areas that included large-scale feeding operations, shelter communications, health services, logistics, shelter management, mental health services and registration.
“It was a great way for the students to work together and learn about what the roles are within a shelter,” Kunkel said. “Then we had a debrief afterward on how everything went.”
This is the first time UTA has held a disaster simulation, though it has conducted similar events such as an interactive measles escape room in the spring and a summer safety exhibition.
“Hopefully a disaster like this never happens, but we want our students to experience it in a safe place before real life,” Kunkel said. “Nobody ever expects to be at a basketball game when a tornado hits. But what do we do if it does?”
After completing the simulation, students are better prepared to respond confidently to that question.