‘It can get really intense’: Robbery simulations now part of pharm assistant training at Ontario college

It can happen when they least expect it. Starting this year, pharmacy assistants students at Fanshawe College could find themselves in the midst of a pharmacy robbery. The good part is it’s a newly introduced part of a simulated course component in their program. The bad part is it’s a response to the rising incidences of real-life robberies at Canadian pharmacies, particularly in Ontario and Alberta. "When we've run the mock robbery scenario, the students do not know that it's going to take place—it’'s all kept under wraps," Lyona Lunter, program coordinator at Fanshawe, told CBC News. "We have scenarios every week where we invite someone to come and act as patients so it wouldn't be unusual for the door to open and for someone to come in. That's expected. But this time it's very different.” About five years ago, Fanshawe started running mock robberies for its pharmacy technician students. Lunter, who organizes these role-play scenarios, said they’re based on real-life situations that she and other faculty members have experienced. Read: Pharmacy robberies drop in Alberta after time-delayed safes are made mandatory Students from Fanshawe's Police Foundations program play the role of the robber. Lunter said they’re told to make the scenario feel real. "There could be a threat of fake weapons, threats of violence, there's harsh language involved. It can get really intense," she said. "The idea is to get the robber out and away from the situation as fast as we possibly can because we don't want anybody getting hurt. It's just not worth it.” At the end of the mock scenarios, pharmacy students are expected to call the police and give a statement. This helps them see how much they can recall from what just took place. Students are also debriefed and offered counselling or other support if they need it. Lunter said robbery simulations should become an industry standard for pharmacy training. She cited Lambton College in Sarnia as the only other school in Ontario that offers similar training for their pharmacy students. "There's a very good chance that people working in community practice will be involved in a robbery and that's something we want to prepare our students for," she said. Read: What is Stockholm syndrome? It all started with a bank robbery 50 years ago

‘It can get really intense’: Robbery simulations now part of pharm assistant training at Ontario college

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