EMT VR – A Gamified Emergency Response Training System Using Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence

Traditional, real-life, and in-person training for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) poses many challenges for trainees, which can, in-turn, affect patients, leaving them victim to accidents in live emergency responses that can result in mortality. As an alternative, virtual reality (VR) training is a safer and more affordable method to prepare for disasters and emergencies that enhances response capacity of EMTs. In this study, we proposed an immersive gamified VR simulation, EMT VR, for trainees of the emergency response healthcare field. This system hosts 3D simulations of realistic emergency case scenarios in line with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national EMT guidelines and protocols to help institutions and healthcare entities to train their paramedics, EMTs and other first responders. Using the proposed simulation, they can repeatedly access equipment in a fully immersive and safe environment. It has the scope to enhance EMT’s preparedness for real-world crises and fine-tune their stress management and decision-making abilities. In turn, trainee self-confidence is developed because of the tolerance to errors during the simulated training process, unlike in real-life. It also develops a certification exam to be completed by trainees upon successfully passing all the training scenarios.