Nurses, first responders train at MercyOne Genesis to prepare for pediatric trauma

A first-of-its-kind training happened in Davenport on Friday, when nurses and first responders focused on preparing for pediatric trauma.

The MercyOne Genesis pediatric mock trauma drill put the staff in a real-world scenario: Responding to a car accident involving two children.

"It is so important to get down to the nitty-gritty intricacies of that patient care," said Morgan Joseph, MercyOne Genesis trauma coordinator.

It was the first small-scale mock trauma MerceOne Genesis has done. Most of these drills focus on larger tragedies.

"I think that's just as important as practicing those large scenarios," Joseph said.

Nurses observing the drill were quizzed on what to do next and what medicine needed to be administered.

"It's important for the staff to run through the scenario because pediatric trauma cases aren't as common. This is a safe spot for our staff and others that we work with to ask questions, get hands on equipment that we might not use all the time, and ask questions about medications that aren't given as frequently that we would use in a trauma experience."

Though not as common as other trauma, staff at MercyOne Genesis say they're seeing an uptick in pediatric trauma cases, "especially with the new popularity of electric scooters and e-bikes."

Shortly, after their first drill was completed earlier this week, the team had to respond to a real pediatric trauma. "People seemed a lot more comfortable knowing where everything was, because we had just practiced it. So it's so important to have those simulated experiences so when the real thing comes, we know exactly what to do," Joseph said.

The hospital will continue smaller scale drills year after year.

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