On August 31st, 2011 the Sadlon Health and Wellness Centre at Georgian College (www.georgianc.on.ca) held its Grand Opening. Visitors and students who toured the labs were awed by the array of cutting edge simulation technology designed to immerse the learner in an engaging virtual experience.
Professor Rob Theriault from Georgian’s paramedic program said that “suspended disbelief is the goal of simulation technology where the students interact with simulators that are so life-like that the experience begins to feel real”. Visitors to the paramedic lab witnessed that life-like experience with high fidelity patient simulators, a mock ambulance and one of the world’s most advanced driver simulators purchased from DriveWise (www.drivewisesafety.com), who’s head office is located here in Barrie, Ontario.
The driver simulator was the main attraction in the paramedic lab at the Grand Opening. Adults and children were lined up outside the door to experience the feeling of driving an ambulance. Carrie Hassberger who is an Advanced Care Paramedic and full time simulation specialist in the Georgian Paramedic Program guided visitors one by one into the virtual ambulance. Volunteers sat in an ambulance-like seat, strapped on a seatbelt, started the ignition, flipped a couple of switches to start the lights and sirens and navigated their way through traffic just as paramedics do every day. As you sit in the virtual ambulance, in front of you are three large wrap around video screens that simulate the windshield, side windows and side view mirrors.
As each visitor took turns driving, Paramedic Hassberger operated the computer from which she could change the weather conditions, alter traffic conditions and even press a key to make a pedestrian step out onto the road from between parked cars forcing the paramedic to hit the brakes. Staff said the driver simulator will be particularly beneficial for students to simulate high risk situations like proceeding through red lights on emergency calls and learning how to safely approach the scene of a motor vehicle collision and where to position the ambulance at the scene for the best access to patients and the best egress to the hospital.
For more information about the EcoDriving programs and other training, please visit www.drivewisesafety.com, at info [at] drivewisecanada [dot] com or call Head Office at 705-730-1130.
