The crash scene and traumatic injuries may have been simulated, but the adrenaline was real. Outside the Clinical Learning and Simulation Centre (CLSC) at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre on February 9, PEI Royal Canadian Mounted Police Tactical Medical Officers responded to a simulated motor vehicle collision, testing their ability to deliver life-saving trauma care in the critical moments following a serious incident.
Paul Charles, Simulation Program Manager at the CLSC, played the role of the injured patient, complete with realistic injuries created using the simulation team’s expert moulage techniques, all carefully designed to replicate real-world conditions. Moulage is the art of applying mock injuries to train emergency response teams and other medical and military personnel.
“During the simulation, we staged my injuries to simulate what looked like a life-threatening bleed with an open femur fracture,” said Charles. “Thanks to our simulation team, they used their skills to make the other injuries to my chest, face, hands, and arms look fairly realistic, which is necessary to be fully immersed in the simulation.”
Guided by the CLSC team and led by Meghan Cheverie, Simulation Program Assistant Manager, the two RCMP officers assessed the scene and provided urgent care before paramedics arrived. The hands-on training strengthened skills essential for first responders, preparing them to act quickly and confidently in emergencies where every second counts.
“This simulation training was designed to improve the skills and confidence of first responders in an environmentally challenging pre-hospital scenario,” Charles said. “Our team, which includes first responders, knows firsthand the importance of being trained before emergencies take place.”
The CLSC serves a diverse group of users, including students and faculty from UPEI’s Faculties of Medicine and Nursing, and Department of Applied Human Sciences, as well as practicing health-care professionals from local health authorities. This session marked the first collaboration with law enforcement, with plans for future training that will increase in complexity and continue building emergency response capacity across sectors.
During the simulation, the officers demonstrated sound clinical judgment, efficient trauma management, and effective coordination under pressure. While the patient scenario concluded with successful stabilization and transport, the most significant outcome was the enhancement of skills that can be directly applied in real-world response situations. The officers gained improved skills and experience that they can use in real-world scenarios, and they plan to return for future training sessions at the CLSC.
By extending simulation training beyond traditional health-care disciplines, the UPEI Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre continues to strengthen emergency response capacity across Prince Edward Island. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced simulation-based education, the CLSC is helping build a better-prepared workforce, supporting public safety and improving health outcomes for Islanders.
