Virtual Reality and the Redesign of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training to Increase Lay Bystander Training and Response

Abstract

There exists an emotional disconnect between managing an emergency situation in practice versus managing an emergency in real-life. The Center for Resuscitation Science (CRS) at the University of Pennsylvania is exploring ways in which Virtual Reality (VR) can enhance current emergency trainings for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), while also increasing the dissemination potential of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to communities that are at increased risk of SCA. VR is a computer-programed, 3D environment where users interact with immersive realities, allowing learners to experience, in real-time, their decisions and actions in high-stress, seemingly realistic environments. The CRS is focusing their efforts on adapting traditional VR technologies for mobile devices, allowing greater dissemination of these technologies for social good. The creation of an effective VR SCA mobile training system has the potential to improve both the number of people trained in CPR and the accessibility of trainings.