That method of treatment can often mean the difference between life and death.

Yesterday general practitioners, paramedics and nurses took part in a program designed to enhance their skills and the way they treat injured patients in the purpose-built simulation unit at Orange General Hospital.

Orange Health Service trauma nurse consultant Vicki Conyers said the participants took part in the training in a hands-on way, guided by clinicians highly experienced in the management of trauma situations.

CareFlight anaesthetist Ken Harrison and Orange accident and emergency doctor Greg Button took participants through a practical session of how to clear a patient’s airways when they had suffered face and head trauma.

The session was one of three to be held over the next three days as part of the Trauma Assessment Resuscitation Transport (TART) program, which is an initiative of the NSW Institute of Trauma and Injury Management, in collaboration with the Sydney Clinical Skills and Simulartion Centre and CareFlight.

Dr Harrison said many rural general practictioners found themselves in situations where they felt isolated from a major trauma management centre.

“Today is about giving those clinicians the confidence and the skills they may need,” he said.

He said TART was made possible with surplus funding that had been handed back to CareFlight by Orange City Council.

“The clinicians who are involved feel a big responsibility to do all they can in their situation to help their patient and organise for them to be transported to a trauma management hospital,” he said.

Other topics covered in the simulated exercises include how to manage massive blood transfusion and head injury management.

Dr Harrison said being able to quickly organise helicopter transfers for patients with life-threatening trauma injuries on a 24-hour basis, remains a major issue for rural areas where there isn’t a 24-hour service.