20-03-2025
Elmira College nursing students test crisis skills in Meningitis simulation on campus
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – Elmira College senior nursing students took part in an annual public health emergency response exercise on Wednesday morning.
The exercise simulated a Meningitis outbreak on campus. It was held from 10 a.m. to noon in Meier Hall and was designed to give students hands-on experience in managing a public health crisis.
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The simulation included faculty, campus security, and community volunteers, who all played roles to make the scenario as realistic as possible.
Meningitis is a highly contagious infection, it affects the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. There are two types of Meningitis, viral and bacterial, the Mayo Clinic said viral infections are the most common cause of meningitis in the United States.
Students were responsible for assessing symptoms, coordinating care, and working under pressure — just as they would in a real outbreak.
According to Debby Woglom, Nursing faculty at Elmira College, the volunteer patients first checked in at a registration table, then they were sent to a dispensing table where they could get mock antibiotics and talk to an expert if needed.
'We created an outbreak of Meningitis on campus, and they had to do a case investigation like the Public Health Department would do,' Woglom said. 'Then they had to figure out who was exposed to Meningitis, and then they had to dispense medications, so that those who were exposed wouldn't actually get sick,' she said.
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To prevent confusion, the college sent out alerts in advance to remind students and the public that this was only a drill.
Despite the alerts, the higher level of activity, people moving in and out of Meier Hall, and volunteers playing the role of patients made the exercise feel very realistic, according to nursing student Jamie Wagner.
'It shows you the command you have to go through, just like you would in a job. It shows you who you need to report to, the information that you need to share,' Wagner said. 'Exactly what you need to do to help the public and not become a mass casualty,' she said.
It's important to note, this was just a simulation and there are no known cases of Meningitis at Elmira College.
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