Welcome to Simulations
Simulation Exercise management training
The main objective of simulation exercise management is to support in the development and management of an effective fit for purpose exercise program that provides consistent and practical guidance and tools on the exercise design and implementation.
Simulation exercises are a key component of the preparedness cycle and they’re used to actually develop, assess and test functional capabilities of emergency system procedures and mechanisms.
Simulation exercises are an important learning tool and an effective method for informing stakeholders and identifying best practices, challenges and key lessons that can help improve response capability. They are key to identifying the root causes of preparedness gaps that if addressed can improve future responses for emergencies.
A simulation exercise is a form of practice training monitoring or evaluation of capabilities involving the description or simulation of an emergency to which again a descriptive or simulated response is made.
This is an event which reproduces the selected aspects of a real emergency to test existing procedures and awareness of actions and needs of preparedness and response. Its practical nature encourages participants and improves learning.
So why is it important to conduct a simulation exercise? Firstly, within the strategic elements, it tests and evaluates plans, policies and procedures and reassesses the gaps and challenges. Once these have been identified, modifications can be made to future plans and procedures. From a training perspective, the exercise presents a great opportunity to improve individual performance, organizational communication and coordination. Consequently, roles and responsibilities can be clarified and the event enables team building and networking. It also creates a great safe environment to practice emergency response and to learn from mistakes.
“An exercise is a form of practice, training, monitoring or evaluation of capabilities, involving the description or simulation of an emergency, to which a described or simulated response is made. A simulation is an event which reproduces selected aspects of a real emergency, to test existing procedures and awareness of actions and needs of preparedness and response. Its practical nature encourages participation and improves learning.” – WHO Guide
Four exercise types:
- Table-top Exercise
The first exercise type is a tabletop exercise also known as TTX and the focus here is really on the facilitated discussion. This is a discussion-based exercise and it takes place in an informal low stress environment with no use of equipment or resources and it also does not have any time constraints.
- Drill
The second operational based exercise is a drill. A drill is a coordinated and supervised exercise normally used to test one specific function or operation. Personnel will employ all available equipment and equipment will be used to test this specific function in a repeated fashion.
- Functional Exercise
The third exercise type is the functional exercise also known as FX and this is an interactive exercise that tests the response capability of an organisation to a simulated event the exercise tests several functions in the operational plan, its coordinated response to a simulated emergency in a constrained time period. The emphasis is on the coordination, integration and interaction of an organisation’s policies, procedures, roles and responsibilities before, during or after the simulated event.
- Field/full scale exercise
Finally the field or full-scale exercise simulates a real event as closely as possible as it’s designed to evaluate the operational capacity of emergency response in a realistic environment with a stress level comparable to that of a real emergency. To fully test readiness and response emergency personnel equipment and resources will be mobilised and deployed.