First Responder Virtual Reality Simulator to train and assess emergency personnel for mass casualty response

Abstract

As mass casualty incidents continue to escalate in the United States, we must improve frontline responder performance to increase the odds of victim survival. In this article, we describe the First Responder Virtual Reality Simulator, a high‐fidelity, fully immersive, automated, programmable virtual reality (VR) simulation designed to train frontline responders to treat and triage victims of mass casualty incidents. First responder trainees don a wireless VR head‐mounted display linked to a compatible desktop computer. Trainees see and hear autonomous, interactive victims who are programmed to simulate individuals with injuries consistent with an explosion in an underground space. Armed with a virtual medical kit, responders are tasked with triaging and treating the victims on the scene. The VR environment can be made more challenging by increasing the environmental chaos, adding patients, or increasing the acuity of patient injuries. The VR platform tracks and records their performance as they navigate the disaster scene. Output from the system provides feedback to participants on their performance. Eventually, we hope that the First Responder system will serve both as an effective replacement for expensive conventional training methods as well as a safe and efficient platform for research on current triage protocols.

Implementation of a workshop for mass casualty incident triage training using an immersive virtual reality simulation

“…We used patient cases that were specifically designed for beginner's SALT triage training. 12,19 The virtual scenario can be programmed for various levels of trainee expertise: from novice (low levels of chaos, e.g., noise, debris, and darkness; fewer patients; lower acuity injuries) to expert (high chaos levels, more patients, higher acuity of patient injuries). For this event, we set the chaos level and difficulty level of the virtual patients to moderate.…”

“…For this event, we set the chaos level and difficulty level of the virtual patients to moderate. 12,20 A successful first responder took a pulse on and tagged all 11 patients and delivered critical LSIs.…”

“…9,10 Transitioning first responders to best evidence triage protocols will require effective, best evidence-based practices for training that are being actively researched and reported in the literature. 11,12 The Sort-Assess-Lifesaving Interventions-Treatment/Transport (SALT) triage protocol is evidence-based and endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is becoming widely adopted due to its simplicity and expedited hemorrhage control.…”

“…12 Performance reports are provided to facilitate deliberate formative feedback. 12 This paper describes our delivery of a workshop that offered participants the opportunity to experience the VR simulator for SALT triage training during the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting, 2023.…”

Training critical care teams for disaster response: Mass casualty incident simulation

“…4 For ED clinicians, disaster medicine simulation typically centres around mass casualty incidents (MCIs), where the number and nature of casualties overwhelm the resources and capacity of a department or service. [5][6][7] Simulation can facilitate repetitive practice otherwise unmet by experiential learning in the workplace. 6…”