The screams of intense pain from two women echoed through the Indiana Dunes forest.

From hundreds of yards away, a group of 11 followed the sound as they walked briskly to help those in need.

The women, who were friends, had camped in the woods and had been surprised by a storm.

A tree fell on Lily, whose legs were pinned underneath a trunk.

No blood was visible, but internal bleeding was likely because she suffered a crushed pelvis. She was showing evidence of volume shock, a life-threatening condition that occurs when there is a significant loss of blood.

Just a few yards away, her friend, Sierra, while running to help, got her foot snagged and fell. She suffered a broken tibia as the bone protruded with blood gushing.

Meanwhile, nearby, a woman had an apparent traumatic brain injury, and another woman doubled over in pain, which was diagnosed as kidney stones.

Fortunately, it was all a drill. Eli LaMouria of Wilderness Medical Associates presided over the simulation exercise, watching to see how her students would react to the dire situations presented.

During the past week, LaMouria taught a five-day workshop at the Dunes Learning Center to 15 students seeking certification as wilderness first responders. Those certified would be able to administer advanced first aid in the field. Most of those taking the course are on the Dunes Learning Center staff.

LaMouria, 41, is from Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she works as an emergency room technician in a children’s hospital. Wilderness emergency response is her passion, something she has been doing since she was 19.

Once a month, she travels for Wilderness Medical Associates to teach the one-week course. She has trained a number of people involved in whitewater rafting and rock climbing, but she believes anyone would benefit from the course.

“I like the light bulb moments,” LaMouria said.

The real gratification comes when LaMouria receives a call from a former student who tells her, “Hey Eli, I just saved someone’s life today.”

It’s why LaMouria, when she puts her students through the simulation exercise, tries to make it as realistic as possible.

The two screaming women, Lily Olander and Sierra Conley, who were students, had instructions on what symptoms to show. Conley’s leg was liberally sprinkled with fake blood.

Their feigned pain was so convincing, LaMouria decided to present for both of them to share a plastic replica of an Academy Award Oscar for the best performance during a simulation exercise.

The students coolly reacted to what was in front of them and LaMouria liked what she was seeing.

Those attending to Sierra quickly wrapped her bleeding leg with an ace bandage. They tried to soothe her with calming talk.

“I never tell a lie to anybody. But sometimes I don’t tell them (the victim) everything,” LaMouria later told the students. In this case, the students shouldn’t give the whole story about Lily’s dangerous condition.

Both teams checked the vitals and got their victims to drink water. The situation with Lily was more dire. Her leg was trapped underneath the tree.

Should they try to pull her out?

Others on the team, who had helped the women suffering from a traumatic head injury and kidney stones, came over to help with Lily, who was fading.

LaMouria acted like she was the emergency dispatcher and had the students use their cellphones to text her instructions for the helicopter emergency squad.

Alertly, the students asked that the rescuers bring blood.

“That’s good. They won’t bring blood unless you ask for it,” LaMouria said.

Lily stopped talking and was lapsing into unconsciousness. They couldn’t detect a pulse.

The helicopter was reported to be only 10 minutes away. A team member started to simulate doing CPR and then an oxygen mask. But it was to no avail as Lily had died.

LaMouria then called that it was time, the exercise was over. Lily Olander, who got muddy from being under the tree, leaped up from the ground. There was laughter as the tension from the hour-long exercise was broken.

LaMouria said she chooses at times to include a patient’s death in the exercise. It allows her to address the mental health issues related to emergencies.

“I want to open the door to discuss these issues,” LaMouria said.

The students return to the Dunes Learning Center lodge to give their observations about what they experienced.

Alex Burdsall, who is on the Dunes Learning staff, was on the team that worked on Sierra.

“I think we made a few missteps, but I think we did the best we could,” Burdsall said. “It’s intense, but I feel like I have learned a lot. I hope I never have to use it.”

Hannah Hazewinkel traveled from Battle Creek, Michigan, for the certification class. She doesn’t work in the emergency health field, but is a teacher and can see some similarities.

“I know a lot of people have a lot of anxiety for things like this, but I am used to working in chaotic environments,” Hazewinkel said. She acted as a “floater” who worked with teams helping the injured parties.

Melissa Mills, an educator on the Dunes Learning Center team, was working on Lily for the exercise and at times she found the situation to be “very stressful.” She believes the training will be valuable for any setting.

“The wilderness is anywhere where you have delayed care,” Mills said.

Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.