Room of Horrors tests your wits

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Maria Bueno, 21st Medical Group patient safety program coordinator, Col. Scot Spann Commander, 21st MDG and Senior Airman Folarin Akinwale, 21st MDG uniform business office manager listen to the exercise rules for the Room of Horrors safety test, March 15, 2018. The test is designed to raise safety awareness and help Airmen recognize hazards quickly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cameron Hunt)

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Room of Horrors tests your wits

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Col. Todd Moore, 21st Space Wing commander waits to see his Room of Horrors test score at the 21st Medical Group at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., March 15, 2018. The Room of Horrors safety test was designed to sharpen medical personnel’s proficiency in spotting safety hazards within a given amount of time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cameron Hunt)

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Room of Horrors tests your wits

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Maria Bueno, 21st Medical Group patient safety program coordinator manages the safety awareness program at the 21st MDG and is one of the coordinators of the Room of Horrors safety test at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., March 15, 2018. The Room of Horrors was created in conjunction with the 21st MDG Safety Awareness Week March 11-17, 2018. The room was designed to test an Airmen’s ability to spot medical hazards within a given setting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cameron Hunt)

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Room of Horrors tests your wits

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Col. Todd Moore, 21st Space Wing commander, Col. Scot Spann, 21st Medical Group commander and Maria Bueno, patient safety program coordinator discuss the positive impacts of the Room of Horrors for young and experienced medical Airmen at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., March 15, 2018. The Room of Horrors safety test was designed to sharpen medical personnel’s proficiency in spotting safety hazards within a given amount of time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cameron Hunt)

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Room of Horrors tests your wits

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Col. Scot Spann, 21st Medical Group commander, Col. Todd Moore, 21st Space Wing commander, and Senior Airman Folarin Akinwale, 21st MDG uniform business office manager participated in the Room of Horrors safety test, March 15, 2018. Maria Bueno, patient safety program coordinator looks on as an observer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cameron Hunt)

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Room of Horrors tests your wits

Published March 26, 2018
By Cameron Hunt
21st Space Wing

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 21st Medical Group created a new way for Airmen to test their skills in spotting safety hazards at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado during Patient Safety Awareness Week from March 11-17, 2018.

Room of Horrors was created to test Airmen’s proficiency in identifying medical hazards in a given setting. This approach to learning is different from a traditional setting in learning safety awareness from a hands on, interactive perspective.

Participants are led into an examination room to spot hazards they find and write down their answers. A group of people can take the test at the same time, however this is not a team sport since it’s designed to test a person’s individual skill in spotting safety hazards. Details of the test are omitted as to not give away answers.

“The room is designed to bring safety awareness to the forefront of our lives where the prevention of a potential hazard is emphasized first,” said Maria Bueno, 21st MDG patient safety coordinator. “If we can prevent the hazard initially, then we can reduce the number of actual medical emergencies from occurring. In the end, this training can save lives”.

This timed exercise is completed in silence so as not to give clues away to other participants. When the time has expired, answers are graded and the person who identifies the most hazards wins. Afterward, the answers are discussed in a group forum to learn techniques from the other participants.

“Although the Room of Horrors was initially designed with medical personnel in mind, anyone attached to Peterson AFB can use the facility upon appointment since safety awareness is everyone’s concern.” Bueno said.

Col. Todd Moore, 21st Space Wing commander participated in the exercise and said, “It was fun, I felt pressured, it was challenging. I think I can taunt the front office into coming over; we’re a pretty competitive bunch, but we have fun while working together.”

The Room of Horrors is an ongoing exercise open to anyone who is up for the challenge. For more information or to make an appointment, call 719-556-7019 to reach Bueno at the 21st MDG.