Carroll Community College Digital Fabrication Students and Nursing Department Collaborate for Mass Casualty Simulation

Westminster, MD─ Students from the Digital Fabrication Department at Carroll Community College are teaming up with the Nursing Department for an innovative collaboration that combines cutting-edge technology with real-world healthcare training. In the Introduction to 3D Scanning course, students are helping the Nursing Department by scanning molds of critical medical simulation equipment to be re-modeled and 3D printed. These molds will be used to create multiple new casts for an upcoming Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) disaster simulation, giving nursing students the opportunity to practice their triage and disaster response skills in a realistic setting.

Building on a successful collaboration from last year, when the Digital Fabrication students reverse-engineered a mannequin part for the simulation lab, this year’s project focuses on scanning existing molds, re-modeling them for 3D printing, and providing the Nursing Department with new, customized casts for their MCI disaster simulation. This event is a critical training exercise for Nursing students and will allow them to apply essential skills in triage and patient care.

“We are thrilled to work alongside the Nursing Department again this year,” said Terence Hannum, Assistant Professor of Digital Design and Fabrication.

“This partnership allows our students to apply their technical skills to solve real-world problems and support the training of future nurses, making a meaningful impact on both education and healthcare,” he said.

Event Objectives:

• Demonstrate nursing roles and actions during triage and disaster response.
• Effectively assess patients and perform interventions with limited resources.
• Collaborate with interprofessional teams to complete patient care tasks.
• Reflect on ethical and legal issues within the nurse’s scope of practice during mass casualty events.
• Participate in debriefings to understand their impact on patient outcomes.
• Discuss the acute and long-term effects of mass casualty incidents.

This event is a collaborative effort between the Nursing Department, the Digital Fabrication Department, and other college disciplines. By incorporating the latest digital fabrication techniques, students in the Digital Fabrication program are contributing to the creation of the training tools that will be used during this high-stakes simulation. Their involvement in 3D scanning, modeling, and printing ensures that the event has access to precise, customizable equipment for a highly realistic training experience.

“The simulation will provide an invaluable learning experience for nursing students, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responders, and other participating disciplines, enhancing their ability to respond to mass casualty incidents with skill and professionalism. It also highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare training and education,” said Britney Harden Assistant Professor of Nursing.

PHOTO CAPTION:  Carroll Community College Digital Fabrication students focus on scanning molds of wounds and re-modeling them for 3D printing, to provide the Nursing Department customized casts for their Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) disaster simulation.

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Carroll Community College’s mission is Empowering learners. Changing lives. Building community. Carroll Community College (Carroll) provides accessible, high-quality educational opportunities to advance careers, enrich lives, and strengthen the community we serve. Carroll offers academic and career preparation leading to transfer to four-year colleges and universities, and for direct entry into professional opportunities. Carroll Community College is located at 1601 Washington Road, Westminster, Md., 21157. Visit us on our website at www.carrollcc.edu.