Moulage

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Figure 1: Examples of moulage kits.

From Wikipedia: "Moulage (French for 'casting, moulding') is the art of applying mock injuries for the purpose of training emergency response teams and other medical, military, or paramilitary personnel. Moulage may be as simple as applying pre-made rubber or latex "wounds" to a healthy patient's limbs, chest, head, etc., or as complex as using makeup and theatre techniques to provide elements of realism (such as blood, vomitus, open fractures, etc.) to the training simulation...

"...In modern terms, the word moulage refers to the use of "special effects makeup (SPFX) and casting or moulding techniques that replicate illnesses or wounds" in simulation based techniques. Common examples include designing diabetic wounds, creating burns or other illness effects, like dermatological rashes and gunshot wounds...

"...These illness and injury effects are applied to training manikins or simulated or standardized patients for training or other purposes. Simulation staff attend training to learn these techniques. It is argued that the use of moulage in simulation improves realism or participant buy-in. Moulage is an emerging field of research for paramedicine, radiography and medical education, with researchers exploring how moulage contributes to learning in training. Military training utilizes highly-authentic moulage techniques to desensitize to graphic wounds, prepare for battle, and treat injuries."

In Portland NET, moulage adds realism to exercises, desensitizes reactions to wounds, encourages decision-making during triage, and provides productive stress. PBEM and Portland NET does not have its own in-house moulage team. Cascadia Moulage, a Portland-area nonprofit organization, typically provides moulage services. NET volunteers often see moulage in exercises such as Scenario Village and Final Field Exercises. Volunteers wearing moulage are appropriately called Survivors, Survivor Actors, or Patients (PBEM used to call them "Victim Volunteers" or "VVs", but that is an outdated term).