Enka High School students got an immersive introduction to emergency medicine when the U.S. Army Traveling Medical Team brought its trauma simulator to campus on Sept. 18.

Students in health sciences and JROTC worked through realistic patient-care scenarios, learning how medical professionals assess injuries, control bleeding, apply tourniquets and prioritize treatment in trauma situations. They worked with a realistic mannequin to identify different types of traumatic injuries and how to treat them, including the proper use of tourniquets, catheters for collapsed lungs, and how to spot the signs of a traumatic brain injury.

“I think it’s very interesting to learn a new perspective and see a different career choice,” said Ethan, an Enka High sophomore who said he hopes to become an anesthesiologist.

The experience also introduced students to the wide range of careers available in military medicine - from combat medics and paramedics to nurses, physician assistants, radiology professionals and doctors - and how military medical training and education can translate into civilian healthcare careers. Enka educators said the hands-on experience helps students connect what they learn in the classroom with real-world applications and see just how many different paths exist within the medical field.

“We try to get people from all different career fields in, so that the students can understand how vast the opportunities are within the military,” said JROTC instructor and retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Kevin Den Boer.

“If you want to go into the medical field, it’s not just nursing,” added Health Science teacher Jessica Shook. “You can do a little bit of anything anywhere.”