Would you know what to do in the aftermath of a gas explosion?
That was the very real challenge faced by students from Canon Slade High School in Bolton, as they stepped into the shoes of emergency patients for the very first time at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals’ latest MAJAX (Major Accident) Immersion Simulation.
Hosted at the Trust’s LIFE Centre, this year’s event wasn’t just a test of medical response—it was an eye-opening opportunity for aspiring medics to dive headfirst into the organised chaos of a major emergency.
The MAJAX (Major Accident) Simulation, now in its third year, is organised each year Mark Brown, Senior Clinical Fellow in the Emergency Department, and Kirsten Walthall, Constant in the Emergency Medical Department. But what made this year truly special was the presence of the students, all of whom interested in careers within the medical field.
“We thought we’d just be watching,” said one student, with his face adorned blackened to simulate smoke inhalation. “Then they told us the examinations were going to be on us. It was a shock—but such an amazing way to learn!”
Acting as victims of a devastating gas explosion, the students were transformed with realistic injuries—from burns and fractures to glass wounds and smoke inhalation—thanks to moulage makeup applied by the Simulation Team. They joined other live actors and interactive mannequins who were presented by attending healthcare staff, responsible for administering hypothetical care amidst the chaos of the simulation.
As they were wheeled in on trolleys or hobbled in with faux glass shards sticking out of their torn clothing, surrounded by interactive mannequins spurting blood and fellow actors screaming out in pain. For many of the students, it was their first real insight into the intensity of emergency care.
“I’ve always known I wanted to study medicine,” added another participant. “But I never realised how many roles there are in the emergency department. Today’s helped me start to figure out where I see myself.”
Working alongside doctors, nurses, and other volunteers, the students brought the scenario to life. The simulation mimicked the frantic environment of a hospital in crisis after a gas leak in a nearby block of flats. With minimal information, teams had to assess injuries, decide who to treat first, and adapt to curveballs like language barriers, emotional relatives, and even an unexpected rat intrusion after a pipe leak! The students themselves received minimal guidance, having only been given a short brief into the background of their characters and the symptoms and injuries that they had sustained.
Behind the scenes, the Resus and Simulation Team supported the operation —turning actors into patients with complex injuries and setting up treatment areas from Resus through to ICU and hypothetical theatres.
Co-organiser Kirsten Walthall couldn’t have been happier with the students’ involvement: “It’s always such a great day, but this year felt extra special. Having the students take part for the first time brought a whole new energy.”
As the day wrapped up, there was one common theme among the student feedback: inspiration.
“It was so much better than I expected,” one said. “I’ve only ever seen A&E as a patient. Today showed me just how many people are involved behind the scenes—it’s made me seriously think about emergency care as my future.”
One thing’s certain: these students didn’t just attend a simulation. They took their first real step into the world of medicine—and loved every chaotic, challenging, blood-splattered second of it!
