Guest article by Fern Merritt, BA (Hons) Marketing Communications with PR student, highlights the collaboration between Arts University Bournemouth students and Bournemouth University’s BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science students.

The BU simulation for undergraduate Paramedic Science students was the highlight of the year for the PR students that got to be involved! During the action, we got stuck in and made the most of the opportunity offered. Split into two roles, patients and communications professionals, the teams helped contribute to the immersive, controlled, and stressful environment for BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science students to learn in before they go out into the real world.

Taking part in the communications aspects of the simulation was an invaluable experience, giving us all an eye-opening insight into the crisis communications for multiple casualty situations. Staying unobtrusive and trying to capture high-quality content to post to social media, using a curated set of hashtags and tags, and talking to the people of importance at the scene of the incident. We were all kept busy and working throughout. Headed up by the Reputation Management and Crisis Communication unit leader Dr Tanya Le Roux, seen below cowering in fear of the dreaded Godzilla, the communications team successfully posted about the event throughout the day and were retweeted by the official Bournemouth Uni Twitter account.

The day was also supported by Arts University Bournemouth students. Four additional enthusiastic PR students enjoyed their time being worked on by professional special effects make-up artists and played their roles of injured patients to perfection! Harriet’s pained screams were noted by all as particularly haunting. Helping provide a real-life interaction and live response to stimuli, we all felt honoured to have been a part of such a crucial experience for the Paramedic Science students. By the end of the experience, the ‘patients’ were fully informed about their injuries and evaluated the treatment they’d received throughout.