Healthcare Simulation Week: Events for Healthcare Workers and the General Public

It is essential that doctors, both those who are still studying, as well as those currently working, regularly participate in simulation-based trainings to improve patient safety. Anyone can benefit from training on the mannequins and technologies to practice helping victirms of accidents, for example. The Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Medical Education Technology Centre (METC) is organising Healthcare Simulation Week on 13-17 September to draw attention to the use of simulation technologies in healthcare, as well as to improve the knowledge and skills of anyone interested in providing medical assistance. The event is taking place as part of International Healthcare Simulation Week 2021. 

The first simulation week took place last year in various neighbourhoods in Riga. METC instructors cooperated with the Sporto Rīga movement to improve Riga citizens’ first aid skills. This year, METC involved the State Emergency Medical Service, Rimi Latvia and Crossfit Riga in their event.

Healthcare Simulation Week will take place between two significant dates: 12 September, which is the World First Aid Day, and 29 September, World Heart Day. This is an important topic since in the case of sudden cardiac arrest, the actions and responses of those around the victim often determine their chances of survival.

On Monday, 13 September, at 18:00 participants of Crossfit Riga will be able to learn first aid during. The event is called Stay Alive at Crossfit, and it will also be held on Tuesday, 14 September, at 18:00. On this day, participants will focus on helping infants. Application for classes is available on the Crossfit Riga app.

On Tuesday, 14 September, at 15:00, representatives of Latvian and international student organisations at RSU will be welcome to the online lecture "Opportunities for international academic societies at the METC". Clinical simulation instructor Aleksandrs Oborins will talk about how students can use RSU METC opportunities in more efficient way

Link to the lecture

On Wednesday, 15 September, at 15:00, healthcare students and other interested persons are invited to the online seminar “Simulation-based medical education: from theory to practice”. The seminar’s spekers will be Ieva Šlēziņa, RSU METC Director, Madara Blumberga, METC Simulation-based Education Development Manager and specialist in continuing nursing education, Asst. Prof. Reinis Balmaks, RSU Leading Researcher, Sergejs Babikovs, lecturer at the Department of Internal Diseases, Reinis Upenieks, METC simulation instructor, and Aleksandrs Oborins, METC clinical simulation instructor. The event is planned to cover such topics as conscious competence, the creation of a simulated environment, types of simulation,  patients and staff safety and others.  

Sign up for the seminar

On Thursday, 16 September, a simulation will be acted out at a supermarket in Riga in cooperation with Rimi Latvia. At this simulation, a shopper will lose consciousness and have to receive first aid. A briefcase-sized automated external defibrillator (AED) will be used for this simulation. The aim of the event is to raise public awareness about the importance of providing first aid fast and using an AED to save the lives. You will be able to follow this event live on RSU METC and the Rimi Facebook account. 

Healthcare Simulation Week will be come to an end on Friday, 17 September, with tours of the RSU METC at 8:30 and 14:30. The target audience for these tours are the university’s employees. The RSU METC is one of the largest simulation centres in the Baltic States and during the tour, participants will be able to get acquainted with the equipment at the METC, find out how it is being integrated into the study process, as well as test their abilities in patient care and first aid.

SIgn up for a tour