A major incident exercise was conducted to train paramedic students, offering them a realistic environment to enhance their skills in managing emergencies. The scenario aimed to provide accurate scenes and injuries for effective learning.
Matt Waters, a lecturer on the Paramedic Science BSc at the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science and co-organiser of the event, emphasized the importance of interoperability: “One of the most valuable aspects of this exercise is the opportunity for our paramedic students to experience interoperability in action. Working alongside other emergency services gives our students first-hand insight into how coordinated, multi-agency responses function in major incidents. Understanding each agency’s role and communicating effectively across agency boundaries is vital in any emergency situation, and this exercise reinforces the importance of good collaboration.”
Waters also highlighted that preparation goes beyond clinical skills: “Preparation for the paramedic role isn’t just about clinical skills. It’s about thinking clearly under pressure, managing limited resources, prioritising care, and maintaining professionalism in chaotic environments. This exercise places students in exactly those conditions, with the safety net of a simulated setting, helping to build their confidence, resilience, and ability to lead when it matters most.”
He added that these practical experiences are crucial: “These kinds of practical, immersive experiences are what make our programme at Swansea so impactful. They ensure that when our students qualify, they are not only clinically competent but also ready to work as part of a wider emergency response team with a strong understanding of the real-world demands they will face.”
Professor Jayne Cutter, Head of the School of Health and Social Care at Swansea University noted: “Patient outcomes are vastly improved with early and effective intervention, and this experience will instil confidence in our students to respond effectively to an actual major incident. Training exercises such as these are hugely beneficial to our students as they prepare for their future as practising healthcare professionals and they go hand in hand with the existing simulation and immersive learning opportunities that underpin all of our healthcare professionals’ training here at Swansea.”
Scott Evans, a third-year paramedic student from Rhondda participated in this important training exercise.