Serious Games for First Responders

Abstract

Tasks of first responders are complex and fast moving. Hence, first responder personnel must receive adequate training to execute their work in the often very challenging situations they face. For firefighters, tasks may range from community service tasks such as educating the public about fire safety procedures to more traditional experiences such as fire and rescue; paramedics may have to triage victims of traffic accidents or respond to biohazards. That said, even the experiences thought of as 'traditional' for these roles are becoming more complex; for instance, due to a closer integration of services, more intense scrutiny by the public and changing technologies. The training provided while the first responder is a student and any additional training alongside their job have to ensure that they are ready for these experiences physically, mentally and academically (for example, ensuring sufficient grounding in laws, regulations, relevant theories, etc.) in order to respond successfully and flexibly across situations (Smeby, 2005). The training first responders receive has changed considerably over the years, from the way that training is carried out to the type of content that