Bradford College Students Support Emergency Services in Mass Casualty Simulation

Bradford College Makeup students joined forces with the Uniformed Public Services students to take part in an emergency training exercise with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and St John Ambulance on Sunday 26 October.

The simulation was held at Richard Dunn Sports Centre, where the students recreated a realistic mass casualty scenario based on a nightclub or concert incident. Complete with music, smoke machines, and party lights, the immersive environment challenged emergency responders to practice rescue and treatment procedures under pressure.

A mix of Further Education (FE) and Higher Education (HE) Makeup students began the day at Leeds Road Fire Station, where they applied prosthetic wounds and injuries to volunteers using a trauma list provided by the emergency services. These realistic effects helped create authentic conditions for the exercise.

Once at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre, students continued applying injuries to the Uniformed Public Services students, some of whom volunteered to be rescued during the simulation. Spread across the venue in minimal lighting, participants waited to be located and treated by fire crews and St John Ambulance teams.

After the exercise, the students removed prosthetics and reflected on the experience, which offered valuable insight into the role of makeup artistry in emergency training and the importance of cross-departmental collaboration.

Bradford College is proud to support initiatives that provide students with hands-on, real-world experiences, and preparing them for diverse careers in creative and specialist industries.