East Midlands Ambulance Service first in UK to train using VR
The service have become the first ambulance service in the UK to introduce two new virtual reality headset training tools.
East Midlands Ambulance Service have become the first service in the country to use Virtual Reality headsets to train staff.
The service say they have introduce two new training tools – REACT-XR and REACT-TTX.
These are platforms that use virtual reality and group-based scenario exercises to help prepare ambulance crews and specialist teams for major incidents.
Benefits of the training are that staff can practice responding to a range of emergency situations in a safe and controlled environment.
They use virtual reality (VR) headsets to experience different scenarios, such as treating patients with different injuries and managing several casualties at once in locations like public spaces or workplaces.
Apprentice Paramedic Sam Burke says he quickly forgot his training was virtual reality:
"I think my scenario was in a cinema, so you had all the sounds as well, patients on the floor who all needed life saving interventions. Normally we do this on mannequins and need a big space and different venues but there you can interchange quite regularly."
Claire McGahan is a paramedic with the service and says she hadn't used a VR headset before this training:
"I've never used a VR headset before, so that was an experience. And the more immersive the better it will be if that situation ever occurs. Because they are going to be noisy, chaotic there's going to be people screaming, sirens going off, people moving around. And the more you practice it, the more it becomes routine."
Del Blake is a student paramedic training on the VR headsets:
"There's lots of theory that we learn and consume, but it's actually applying it practically that can be quite difficult. Obviously our scenarios are trying to be as realistic as possible, so the VR is really good."
Alongside the VR training, crews can also take part in group discussions where they work through the emergency situations together, talking about the decisions they would make and how they would work as a team.
This training aims to help staff develop their skills, enhance teamwork, and support a consistent standard of care for patients across the region.
By practicing in digital settings that the VR headsets provide, the emergency responders can be better prepared for the types of incidents they may face in real life.
East Midlands Ambulance Service worked with the developers to introduce the programme to our staff, following a successful funding application and support from the Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response (EPRR) team.
They say they are continuing to expand the range of training scenarios available and exploring opportunities for joint training with other emergency services.
Jonny Berrecloth, Special Operations Training Manager at East Midlands Ambulance Service said:
“This training provides our staff with additional opportunities to practice and develop their skills in a safe environment.
“We continue to review feedback and develop the programme to support our teams and the communities we serve.
“We are grateful to our teams for their positive approach and willingness to adopt new ways of learning, helping us continue to improve emergency care for our communities.”
It's not known yet if and when this training may be rolled out to other paramedic teams and ambulance services around the country.