April 5, 2023 |
Photo-Dr. Told Mass Casualty Weekend in Baggs-Coutesy fightinprairiedogblog.com
Every summer the town of Baggs hosts a multi-day emergency training exercise for medical students.
To prepare future doctors for the realities of practicing rural medicine, each year the Little Snake River EMS stages the Dr. Told Mass Casualty Weekend in Baggs. Mark Meyer is the Master Delegator for the three-day long event. Meyer said students from the two Rocky Vista Medical Universities attend the exercise to learn in-person emergency skills.
Colloquially referred to as the Dr. Told Weekend, the event is named after former Little Snake River EMS Medical Director, Dr. Thomas Told. Meyer said Dr. Told left a huge impression on the community.
Dr. Told is Dean of Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colorado.
The Weekend consists of three different emergency scenarios that change every year. Meyer said the situations are designed to incorporate as many unanticipated events as possible. He described one of the training exercises.
Meyer said the training scenarios are tailored after current events. Besides a simulated motor vehicle accident and fire rescue, medical students will experience a mock school shooting. Meyer said the scenarios will be as realistic as possible.
To increase the realism of the event, Meyer said Rocky Vista University provides a moulage artist to apply believable artificial wounds to the actors pretending to be victims.
The Dr. Told Weekend coincides with the annual Baggs Ball Fundraiser during the first weekend of June. Medical students from both the Parker, Colorado and Ivins, Utah Rocky Vista University campuses will arrive in Baggs on Friday.
A briefing is held that evening and the emergency training begins Saturday afternoon. Meyer explained what the students can expect.
Saturday evening is the Baggs Ball. Every year the Ball features a different theme. Last year’s was The Great Gatsby. Meyer said the theme of this year is Boots and Blitz, or as he explained it, fancy cowboy attire. Meyer said the Baggs Ball allows the medical students a chance to unwind after a day of difficult training. He said the students also provide a needed infusion of cash into the town.
Sunday morning, students will complete the final training exercise. Afterwards, several nationally recognized speakers will address the trainees. Meyer said the speakers typically charge a large fee, but they are offering their services free of charge for the Dr. Told Weekend. Meyer explained two of the guest speakers.
Meyer said Dr. Dave Ross was the physician medical director in Colorado Springs and has done educational events across the area. Other speakers include a trauma surgeon, a person who specializes in treating PTSD in medical providers, and the head of the rural track program at the Rocky Vista Utah campus, Dr. Bingham. Meyers said Carbon County Emergency Manager Lenny Layman will be on site to increase the event’s authenticity.
Meyer said the Dr. Told Weekend not only provides a great training experience but is also beneficial to the town. He said the influx of visitors creates an economic boom for local businesses and the town as a whole.
