Frontier goes on ATACC to put skills to the test

"We could hear the patient moaning in pain somewhere at the end of the narrow tunnel and quickly made our way towards him, crawling as fast as we could through the darkness, the only light coming from our head torches. We didn't know what injuries we would find as a result of the roof collapsing, but we did know there were only fifteen minutes to treat and extricate the injured man before the tunnel flooded. The pressure was huge."

Thankfully this was not a real incident, but a training scenario on "ATACC", the Anaesthetic, Trauma and Critical Care Course. It was a unique opportunity to challenge ourselves and learn about our strengths and weaknesses in an imaginary crisis, rather than waiting to discover them in a real emergency.

Frontier Medical places the highest priority on training, particularly when that training combines the latest evidence-based medical practice with high quality theoretical and practical education. These concepts are at the heart of ATACC, a range of training courses, which aim specifically to teach the management of physical trauma from the point of injury to the critical care unit.

Most trauma care courses are based primarily on in-hospital practice and the knowledge that it is usually possible simply to "scoop and run" the patient to a nearby hospital. Frontier Medical medics rarely have that luxury. Working as we do in remote land and marine environments, our medics may have to care for an injured patient for hours or even days before definitive care can be provided.

Another notable aspect of the course is the flexibility of the training experience where participants are actively encouraged to share and learn from each other's experiences.

Frontier Medical is now committed to opening up this experience to as many of its paramedics, doctors and nurses as possible. Meanwhile, we are pleased that ATACC has in turn recognised the wealth of experience in this highly specialist field already available though staff at Frontier Medical. As a result, three of Frontier Medical's most senior medical personnel have been invited to become instructors. Dr Sue Le Roux is one, an emergency physician from Cape Town, South Africa. Sue leads our team of doctors providing 24 hour advice to our medics and doctors around the world. She'll be joined by Rob Keating, a remote area medic and flight medic, from Durban, who is currently working as project manager in the Frontier head office, and Dr Bob Mark, our Clinical Advisor who has extensive experience in remote areas, at the roadside and in the emergency department.

ATACC's unique approach to trauma education has expanded to deliver a range of courses. All income generated is re-invested in equipment and the ongoing development of the Medical Rescue Team, highly skilled personnel who operate as part of the local emergency services throughout Merseyside and Cheshire UK. More information from www.atacc.co.uk.