WVU Athletic Training students gain hands-on experience by attending Falmouth Road Race
Students in West Virginia University’s School of Medicine Athletic Training program expanded their in-class learning with hands-on, first responder experience by attending the ASICS Falmouth Road Race in Falmouth, Mass.
Led by Samantha Scarneo-Miller, PhD., ATC, assistant professor and program director of the Master of Science in Athletic Training program, three graduate students, two undergraduate students, and one alumnus of the Athletic Training program traveled to the race on Aug. 21. Students served as first responders to racers experiencing exertional heat stroke.
Exertional heat stroke is one of the top causes of sudden death in athletic populations although the condition is survivable with proper recognition and management.
“Since many of our clinical sites don’t see regular cases of exertional heat illness or exertional heat stroke, our program provides simulated experiences for students to practice their emergency skills,” Dr. Scarneo-Miller said. “The race provided a unique learning experience as students were able to apply their didactic knowledge into clinical practice to save patients’ lives in real time.”
Scarneo-Miller estimates that the students were directly involved in the care of around 12 patients who were suffering from exertional heat stroke during the race.
“They all performed their clinical skills beautifully, served as members of an interprofessional treatment team, and were able to critically think through the scenarios in front of them,” said Scarneo-Miller. “It was an amazing and rewarding opportunity for me as their professor to see them translate the knowledge we talked about in class and in the simulation lab, into clinical practice with real patients. Our students saved lives that day.”
Scarneo-Miller credits the David and Jo Ann Shaw Center for Simulation Training and Education for Patient Safety with helping to prepare students as the lab provided the athletic training program with a full-size mannequin for students to practice clinical skills before attending the race.
For many students attending the race, this was their first experience treating patients in an emergency response situation. They credit the curriculum and faculty in the Athletic Training program with providing them the skills necessary to treat patients.
“The clinical experience we get in the athletic training program is phenomenal and we are continuously able to have patient interactions and learn hands-on techniques,” said Charles McCool, senior in the undergraduate Athletic Training program and research assistant under Scarneo-Miller. “Our classroom learning has directly correlated with our clinical experience and having this hands-on experience to treat exertional heat strokes was a way to put into practice everything we have learned.”
For second-year master’s student, Kasey Fairbanks, working with Scarneo-Miller on exertional heat stroke treatment before the race was a key factor in feeling prepared to help patients.
“Her background in this research has allowed us to learn more about heat stroke and practice how to treat it many times before attending the race,” Fairbanks said.
The hands-on experience proved to be valuable and rewarding for students as they look toward their future in athletic training.
“This wasn’t just a fun trip away from West Virginia, this was us saving lives,” said Fairbanks.
The Falmouth Road Race was founded in 1973 and is one of the premier running events of summer. The race features an over seven-mile seaside course and includes athletes from around the world, including Olympians, elite, and recreational runners.
To learn more about the Athletic Training program visit medicine.wvu.edu/athletic-training/.