Inside the trauma team’s high-pressure training at Montreal Children’s Hospital

When an emergency call comes in, the team at the Montreal Children’s Hospital Trauma Centre is ready to spring into action — prepared for the organized chaos that comes with every case.

The centre ran a simulation Thursday morning, part of the hospital’s routine training, designed to help staff prepare for the unpredictable situations they face daily.

“This is real life,” said Dr. Laurie Plotnick, Emergency Department Trauma Medical Lead. “The simulation really does simulate real life, which is why we do it and why it’s so important.”

During one recent exercise, the trauma team handled mock patients — one with a gunshot wound, another with a stab wound — testing their ability to respond to multiple emergencies at once.

“We were really trying to test the system as if we had multiple patients coming in,” said Kelly Cummins, Nurse Manager. “It’s a great educational opportunity that helps prepare our teams to act when real patients arrive.”

According to staff, the trauma centre is seeing twice as many violence-related cases compared to 2020.

“We’ve really seen an increase in the number of violent assaults, penetrating trauma like stab wounds and gunshot wounds,” said Debbie Friedman, Trauma Director. “We have to be ready at all times for all types of trauma... It could be an explosion, a major house fire, or a chemical spill — you have to be ready.”

These simulations not only test clinical skills but also strengthen teamwork and communication.

“When we practice, we’re practicing how the system runs,” said Dr. Plotnick. “The simulation showed how strong we are as teams.”

Each year, the Montreal Children’s Hospital Trauma Centre treats about 15,000 patients, many of them in life-or-death situations. The training helps ensure that when those critical moments arrive, the team is ready.