A case study of university mass casualty simulation with high school deaf students who sign

Jody H. Cripps; Elizabeth N. Austin; Leyla Craig

doi:10.5055/jem.0864

Authors

Jody H. Cripps, PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4215-2593
Elizabeth N. Austin, PhD, MA, RN, CEN, CNE, CLNC
Leyla Craig, MA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.0864

Keywords:

emergency management, deaf people, emergency preparedness, emergency simulation, American Sign Language, mass casualty incident, cultural and linguistic awareness

Abstract

Deaf people who use signed languages are a cultural and linguistic minority. Previous studies involving healthcare and emergency medical service professionals and their interactions with deaf people within the United States and globally have demonstrated a disconnect and lack of trust. The researchers, in this study, explored an emergency preparedness and mass casualty response with deaf people at a university-run mass casualty simulation. Seven culturally deaf high school students from a local deaf school participated in this simulation. Deaf student responses on the survey reflected their experiences involving poor communication skills between health professionals, first responders, and deaf students. By adopting the whole community approach, the students’ experiences reinforce the need to include cultural and linguistic education training led by deaf people to increase communication skills among health professionals and first responders in supporting deaf people in emergencies.

Author Biographies

Jody H. Cripps, PhD

Department of Languages, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina

Elizabeth N. Austin, PhD, MA, RN, CEN, CNE, CLNC

Professor Emeritus, Department of Nursing, Towson University, Towson, Maryland

Leyla Craig, MA

Disability Inclusion and Engagement Officer, Fire and Rescue New South Wales; PhD Student, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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