Sim-Game based Training System for Scene and Patient Management Following Blast Injury from Explosives Including Improvised Explosive Device (IED)

Training civilian and military prehospital medical providers to respond effectively to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) involves training personnel to think critically to make rapid and effective decisions to adapt to dynamic and changing task conditions. Pre-hospital providers, such as combat medics, must make both tactical and strategic decisions under conditions of extreme pressure, such as triaging patients with various types of injuries. Training them how to think critically and to adapt under such conditions must be conducted in a short time period as personnel prepare to deploy. Innovative approaches, such as utilizing technologies in simulation and game-based instruction, offer a high impact strategy to facilitate the development of adaptive expertise by allowing for multiple, varied scenarios and by incorporating techniques to encourage mindful abstractions. PC-based strategy games offer an especially viable approach, given that they can motivate trainees to engage in higher-level critical thinking, particularly reflecting on their strategic and tactical thinking. The Phase I research will result in a concept plan for the development of a simulation based game to teach, test, and certify civilian and military pre-hospital medical providers to respond to IED blasts. This will include both medical and tactical decision making and critical thinking skills.