Moulage of Month: Attempted Suicide, Slashed Wrist

Moulage of the Month is sponsored by Nasco.

Time:

1-2 minutes (does not include dry time)

Skill Level:

Beginner

Supplies: (Shop www.moulageconcepts.com for all your moulage needs.)

Silifix Gel Set

Blood, slow-flow

Setting powder, translucent or flesh

SIM-Safe Stix, black

Equipment:

Plastic knife

Blush brush

Paint brush, small

Blow dryer (or air dry)

Technique:

Using separate instruments or tongue depressors, remove a small amount (approximately the size of a dime) of Silifix Gel Set A & B in equal portions and place on palette board to activate. Note: To ensure long term integrity of both products, use separate utensils to remove product from each container prior to combining on palette board as the combination of products creates a chemical reaction that readies it for use causing it to solidify. See Figures 1–4.

Using a utensil, begin stirring the Silifix Gel A & B together until fully mixed and both colors have blended to light flesh tone. See Figure 5.

Using your utensil, lift the Silifix from the board and deposit on inner wrist area. See Figure 6.

Using utensil or your fingers, spread the Silifix over the inner wrist area, creating a medium size layer of gel, approximately 1" H x 2" W 1/8" thick. Lightly spray your fingers with water and smooth the perimeter of the Silifix edges outward, thinning the material and blending into the victims skin. Using a blow dryer on low-cool, gently dry the Silifix until set, approximately 30 seconds or allow to air dry 1–2 minutes (depending on humidity) and dry to the touch. See Figure 7.

Using the end of a plastic knife or dulled edged utensil, create slash marks through the center of Silifix, approximately 1-2 inches in diameter. See Figure 8.

To set wound and blend into victim's skin tone, carefully apply translucent or flesh tone powder. Using a make-up blush brush that has been dipped in powder (gently tap edge of brush to container to release the excess powder) brush the outside perimeter of the Silifix until surface is matte or no longer shiny. See Figure 9.

Using a very small paint brush that has been dipped in black colorant, create wound depth by depositing the color inside of the slash marks. (To fully expose the opening you may need to use your fingers to gently roll the edge of the slash mark outward.) See Figure 10.

Using the same technique, create wound bleeding by using a small paint brush to deposit blood to the inside of the slash marks. Apply additional blood as needed to create pooling and bleeding as indicated by training scenario.

Quick Fix:

Adhere a pre-made laceration wound by Nasco to skin of victim. Using slow-flow blood, apply blood to wound, surrounding skin and surface area around victim. See Figure 11.

Dispatch:

Medic 12, Respond Code 3 to Edmond High School, 3122 8th Ave. Nearest cross street, Market Road. Possible assault in progress, unknown injuries. Hamilton City Fire and Police Dept en route. 1215 Dispatch clear.

On Scene:

Female bathroom on campus: Using SIM-Safe blood, create a training scene by applying blood smears (apply a small amount of blood to hands and rub together to coat palms). Using coated hands, create smears across the sink, toilet stall door and handles on sink. Apply several random droplets of blood to the floor. Using a make-up sponge, apply white makeup to the face of adolescent female, blending well along jaw line. Using mascara streaked tears, create a crying pattern under the eyes and down the cheeks of the victim. (To make your own mascara streaked tears: 1 tbsp. of SIM-Safe tears solution mixed with 1/16th of SIM-Safe charcoal powder, shake well. Do not put directly in victim's eyes.) Using a small sponge applicator, lightly blot tears under the eye area and pooling slightly to create streak marks that flow down the victims cheeks. Create slash marks on wrists with additional cut marks on forearms.

Instruct victim to cry and scream hysterically at anyone who tries to come in bathroom to "get out" while actively creating slash marks on her skin. (To create an active bleed slash mark, use Active Bleed Set—available at Moulage Concepts—a two-part set that goes on clear. When the two-part set comes together, a chemical reaction occurs creating a bloody reaction site.  

Use in Conjunction With:

Alcohol odor

Scars, healed "cutting"

Helpful Hint:

Need a Simulator-Safe option? All SIM-Safe blood, colorants and powders can be used safely on simulators (and standardized victims) with no stain risk.

Cleanup and Storage:

Carefully remove slashed wrists from skin of victim; using your fingers to lift the wound around the edges of the Silifix. Using a gentle, upward motion, continue to peel away the wound until all Silifix has released from the skin. Using a soft clean cloth or make-up remover towel, remove the make-up and any remaining product residue from the skin. Store Silifix wound on a waxed paper-covered cardboard wound tray. Wounds should be stored side-by-side, but they should not touch to avoid cross-color transference. Loosely wrap wound trays with plastic wrap and store flat in cool place.

Recipe referenced from Emergency Moulage: Making Your Simulations Come Alive by Bobbie Merica, FA Davis, 2011

Bobbie Merica is the author of Medical Moulage: How to Make Your Simulations Come Alive and owner of Moulage Concepts, an international medical and trauma moulage company that specializes in hospital, trauma, mass casualty and prehospital moulage training, supply and certification. She is certified in Biological/Chemical/Terrorism moulage and WMD terrorism training. Upon discovering the absence of moulage specific to a clinical/hospital setting, she designed and implemented the first in a series of 3D clinical wounds that can be triaged, sutured, debrided and drained, in addition to medical and trauma moulage kits and training courses that are specialized to the medical, military, veterinary and prehospital communities. She is an international speaker, works as a trauma moulage expert for the Bureau of Public Health Emergency Preparedness in both Arizona and Idaho, is a contributing author at EMS World Magazine and is Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program certified. Moulage Concepts—creating training scenarios that look, sound, feel and smell like the real thing. For more information, visit www.moulageconcepts.com.