An Auto Extrication Simulator, also known as an Vehicle Extrication Simulator, can provide EMS students and professionals with critical patient care training, without all the hassle of needing a salvaged vehicle. Motor vehicle accidents present an unpredictable challenge which requires first responders to act quickly while ensuring safety for both patients and rescuers. Without proper training, mistakes are likely to occur, which lead to delays in patient care or additional injuries to the patient and responders. This HealthySimulation.com article by Carrie Gigray, MSHS, CHSE, CHSOS, NRP, will examine the various options available for Auto Extraction simulator to simulate patient vehicle extraction to improve skills, build confidence, and enhance overall emergency response effectiveness.
The Importance of Vehicle Extrication Simulation Training
Vehicle extrication is the process of removing a patient who is trapped in a vehicle due to a motor vehicle collision. Effective vehicle extrication directly impacts patient survival rates as prolonged entrapment increases risks like blood loss, internal injuries, and shock. Time-sensitive extrication requires prehospital personnel to work efficiently under pressure to ensure patient and rescuer safety. Without proper training and experience, these risks increase exponentially.
Simulation training allows prehospital responders to practice techniques in a controlled environment to reduce the likelihood of errors during real emergencies. Collaboration between Emergency Medical Services and fire department personnel can provide an opportunity to learn vehicle anatomy, tool application, and patient handling to ensure a safer process for both rescuers and patients. Additionally, vehicle simulation can foster teamwork, improved communication, and confidence to create a calm and controlled rescue effort that patients can benefit from. The following companies provide vehicle extrication simulators, which provide realistic, hands-on training for first responders.
SimRescue: The Vehicle Extraction Training System From DiaMedical
The EMS World Innovation Award winner in 2013, the SimRescue offers a high-fidelity training environment designed to simulate a variety of real-life scenarios of patient removal and treatment from a motor vehicle collision entrapment. The device emphasizes durability and functionality with a split frame for mobile use in both training rooms and outdoor settings. This Vehicle Extrication Simulator eliminates the need for significant funding and logistical coordination to obtain junk vehicles for practice.
SimRescue extrication training system is roughly the size of an actual automobile interior to enhance realism. Trainees benefit from simulated airbags, a full dashboard with a retractable steering wheel, and interior configurations that mirror the passenger compartments of the driver and front passenger vehicles. This adjustable interior allows for numerous realistic configurations to place simulated patients or manikins for rescue personnel to repeatedly practice skills like footpinning, limb entrapment, and patient removal. The tempered glass breakage simulator and seat belt cutter provide tactile realism without the safety risks of real-life scenarios. Additionally, the simulated airbags, removable dash, and prybox allow trainees to practice complex techniques with both hand and electrical extrication tools that build confidence, muscle memory, and decision-making in critical moments.
Virtual Reality Extrication Training By Virtually There Training
With a mission to empower emergency responders through innovative technologies, Virtually There Training’s Emergency Academy utilizes virtual reality (VR) to provide firefighters and EMS personnel with a range of training modules to include vehicle extrication to enhance skills, preparedness, and life safety. Available to anyone with a Meta Quest headset, the Emergency Academy app can be downloaded for free and receive the fire extinguisher scenario. After the purchase of additional scenarios, individuals have indefinite access, without subscription fees to provide a cost-effective solution for ongoing training needs.
The VR extrication scenario provides an in-simulation skill sheet to offer immediate feedback on performance to aid in skills development. The platform supports wireless streaming to smart devices to help facilitate group training sessions and instructor oversight. In addition to vehicle extrication, the platform provides a wide variety of scenarios to include passenger vehicle fires, sprinklers, hydrant operations, PPE buddy checks, pump operations, main control values, rope and tool, conservation of air, radio communications, emergency lighting, and more in development.
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Simulator Solutions Rollover Device For Enhanced Auto Extraction Realism
Simulator Solutions LLC is a family-owned and operated company which is proud of their integrity approach to provide simulated ambulances and vehicle extrication with a rollover simulator. Their ambulance simulators mimic the interiors of real ambulances to offer various models of classroom, outdoor, and mobile units. This enables trainees to hone their patient care skills, equipment handling, and movement in limited spaces.
With a mission to provide durable, long-lasting simulation solutions, the rollover apparatus is constructed using a modular welded steel design. The device can be staged at any point within a 360-degree radius. With four seats, this vehicle extrication innovation allows for several patient positions for manikins and standardized patients for EMS or fire department personnel to learn and practice patient extrication from upside down to on the side. Repeatable operations allow learners to gain confidence and a proper understanding of patient and provider safety, prior to real-world experiences.
Fire Vent Auto-X Simulator: A Comprehensive Extrication Training Tool
A versatile Auto Extrication Simulator training apparatus designed to provide emergency responders and firefighters with hands-on experience, the FireVent Auto-X Simulator accommodates a wide range of vehicle extrication techniques. The design allows for the simulation of patient entrapments with the use of manikins or simulated patients, adding depth to the training scenario. Trainees can engage in cutting operations on simulated hinges, “A” and “B” posts, and front strut towers using actual hydraulic cutters or sawzalls. Other tool use abilities include rams, strut stabilization, and spreaders. In addition to power tools, the driver’s door is accessible by the use of hand tools such as a Halligan and flat-head axe to make a purchase point.
A notable feature of this extrication training tool is the inclusion of an “EV” component, allowing users to simulate cutting high-voltage cables to address the need for electric vehicle training in addition to the ability to perform a conventional and modified dash roll-up to extricate a pinned simulated person. The Auto-X Simulator is also compact and portable, easily stored with casters or towed behind a vehicle. Designed for high repetition, the consumable piece throughout the prop can be easily reused multiple times to provide a cost-effective solution for automobile extrication.
Rescue-sim Screen-Based Training Platform
Rescue-Sim is a virtual online training system for first responders and firefighters in first aid skills and vehicle extrication. Available through a web browser with a variety of affordable price points, this training platform updates features and modules monthly, in addition to four free scenarios, three simulated patients, and an electric vehicle module that focuses on electric vehicle identification and deactivation.
The comprehensive suite of vehicle extrication scenarios is interactive and can be repeated endlessly for trainees to practice and refine skills. There are several modules that simulate different types of vehicle accidents and extrication challenges, like a car on a barrier, an electric motorcycle, or a vehicle on its side. Each vehicle extrication scenario covers various aspects of rescue operations, stabilization, glass management, space creation, and patient removal. Additionally, trainers can create custom scenarios by the combination of multiple options to tailor the training to the specific needs of the organization. Rescue-Sim also provides a user assessment to test users’ understanding and competency.
