MACSIM ®

When selecting a simulation system for this purpose, it is important to compare and carefully evaluate advantages and disadvantages of available systems. Different systems may be the most appropriate for different users, depending on variations in practical and economical conditions. We have below listed what we see as positive with selecting MACSIM. If you consider some of these factors important for your own situation, MACSIM might be an alternative for you or for your organisation:

• MACSIM is based on high professional and scientific competence combined with considerable experience within this field. Initiator and responsible for the development of the system is Professor Sten Lennquist (Sweden) who also initiated and developed the Emergo Train System®, a simulation system for training for major incidents that was developed 1984, is used in many countries in all parts of the world and has been translated to 9 different languages. Sten Lennquist has extensive experience of this kind of training with commitments for the World Health Organisation, the European Community and many countries in different parts of the world. The development of MACSIM has been done in collaboration with the Prehospital & Disaster Medicine Centre in Gothenburg together with a team of international experts within this field.

• MACSIM was launched 2009 and is thereby updated to the rapid and extensive development of disaster medicine during the latest years. It is based on experiences from the latest big disasters, among those the terror attacks in London and Madrid and a number of other major incidents during recent years. It is also updated to the terminology, organisation and principles of triage most widely used today, as well as to the latest principles for medical care in these situations.

• MACSIM is primarily developed for scientific evaluation and analysis of methodology and thereby gives more extensive and detailed information both as base for decisions (=input data) and consequences of decisions (=output-data) than any other system available today.

• MACSIM is simple to use, the manual gives sufficient information, and an instructorcourse is not mandatory to start to use the system. However, instructor-courses will be organised in different countries for those who want to further develop their skills (the system has a great potential for users).

• MACSIM requires minimal material to run, in addition to the symbols. The cards can be used as they are (preferably after laminating). If you want to magnetise the cards (self-adhesive magnetic tape) and use them on magnetic white-boards, minimal space is requested because of the design of the symbols.

• Since MACSIM primarily is developed for scientific and not for commercial purpose, it is available also for those with limited budget. Using the module that symbols are based on, you can make your own system. It is also possible to purchase series of patients with prepared injuries including complete data (see below), laminated, magnetised and ready for use. If so, you can adapt what you purchase to your economy – it is not mandatory to buy complete sets. No licence is required to use the system.