VCOM View Vol 10 No 1

White to perform a 50-victim proof of concept during a disaster simulation in Anniston. CDP instructors had been building a new course in response to the Las Vegas and Pulse Nightclub shootings, as well as the Boston Marathon bombing. The course would be designed around a no-notice, overwhelming mass casualty event. White said that the HERT Vest brought fidelity and realism to the medical providers that were to come in and train for such an event. White was not only able to show off the capabilities of his vest, but also the moulage skills of the eight VCOM students who helped stage and run the simulation. The success of the simulation convinced CDP personnel that wearables like the HERT Vest brought next-level realism to the disaster scenarios. Subsequently, an order for the vest was placed and processed through ViaSTAR, LLC, with the help of CEO Ward Stevens, M.S., DHSc. On July 17, 2020, White delivered an order of version 1.0 of the HERT Vests to the CDP, two weeks under deadline. Included in the order was a service contract to repair vests. Additionally, any upgrades within the first year will be integrated into the CDP vests. “I just want to be a good partner for them and continue to make improvements and have them benefit from those upgrades,” said White. “I want to be confident they are getting the

suturing skills with repeated usage,” said Ferguson.

White and his team have come a long way from the first prototype by fine-tuning and automating many of the vest construction processes. “I started with construction-grade silicone caulk and duct tape before learning to properly cast silicone rubber, urethane foams and other materials. With the assistance of Nielsen and John Cook, also from the Class of 2020, White set up a CNC router in his home workshop to cut ribs and other vest parts, which at first was being done by hand. The addition of a high volume, low pressure (HVLP) spray gun has made it easy to apply shading and body contours quickly to the skin. First Customer: CDP Purchases HERT Vests After observing the vest during VCOM-Auburn’s Disaster Day, FEMA CDP administrators asked

White also pointed to additional benefits of the HERT Vest skin design. Simulated blood can be pumped under the skin with a syringe to mimic an actual bleeding event. Additionally, the skin can provide a realistic covering for simulated hematomas, abscesses and foreign bodies. White also noted that the contours of the HERT Vest is anatomically correct, with underlying bone structures. Unlike some task trainers, students must rely on their palpation and landmark- finding skills to complete specific procedures accurately. There are no pre-made flaps, cutouts or ports like on some task trainers. Lastly, the skin is “moulagable.” It can be made up, replicating lacerations, burns, scarring, wounds, bruises, etc. and will clean up with soap and water.

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