The Fog of Chaos

Screams set the backdrop to the garbled radio
message from the rattled first responder. A bridge collapse had plunged six
hikers into the icy Popo Agie river. Within minutes the WEMT class from Lander,
WY was on the scene. Despite the panicked urging of the injured, the rescue
team refrained from rushing blindly into the incident. A crew was dispatched to
evaluate the situation as the Incident Commander organized the strike teams and
logistics personnel. Rescuers soon entered the scene to care for the injured
and extricate several patients from the river.

After spending a little more than a
week learning emergency medicine, the students of the Lander WEMT were
introduced to their first Mass Casualty Incident. In addition to treating
massive head trauma, a femur fracture, an open pneumothorax and other injuries
the rescuers found themselves working in deep snow and cold water.

Up to now the students have learned in the
controlled environment of the classroom, with hands-on skills presented in
straightforward scenarios. Now they have been confronted with stress, and the
fog of chaos they may encounter in the real world.