Skills Learned in Video Game Help Man Treat Car Accident Victims
While we suggest getting real first aid and CPR training, a story out of Nebraska caught our eye.An avid player whose favorite game, 'America's Army,' has a whole first aid and triage-learning sequence, actually put his in-game skills to use at the scene of a real-life car accident late last year.
Coming upon a flipped over SUV, one Paxton Galvanek correctly assessed the injured driver, began treatment of a bad hand wound and went on to evaluate other injuries while his wife dialed 911.
America's Army has specific sequences that deal with what to do when treating uncontrolled bleeding, dressing a wound, elevating a wounded limb above the heart, and prioritizing treatment based on the severity of injuries. Galvanek followed these guidelines and apparently did a bang-up job.
According to the game's Web site, the Army created "the America's Army game to provide civilians with insights on Soldiering from the barracks to the battlefields."
We recommend a weekend furlough in Omaha for Galvanek as reward for his good deed.
Interestingly, an actual U.S. Army soldier, with actual medic training, arrived on the scene shortly after Galvanek began treatment, and took over treatment until paramedics arrived. With that, Galvanek was on his way.
From Kotaku.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Karen Bennett said 7:07PM on 2-19-2008
The Nintendo Wii obviously offers more than just gameplay. The countless amount of success stories from Nintendo's brilliant use of technology never ceases to amaze us.
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Jake said 1:44AM on 3-04-2008
Karen, this game is not for the Wii...lol
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J. said 4:22PM on 1-18-2008
America's Army was entirely made by the Army. Ubi soft licensed the right to make a version of the game later.
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Will Safer said 4:23PM on 1-18-2008
My thanks to reader "J" for the information about Ubisoft.
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Devlyn said 4:38AM on 1-20-2008
See good things can be learned from video games too .
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