UCFSimulation Research Aids Military Medics, Drivers

Blood loss is one of the leadingcauses of death on the battlefield, but war-zone medics often find it difficultto receive the training to prevent those deaths.

Today they can “save” a life-sizedarm developed by the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Simulationand Training that simulates “bleeding.”

Researchers there have developed thearm in conjunction with the U.S. Army’s Research, Development and EngineeringCommand (RDECOM) and Chi Systems. On Tuesday, they demonstrated how it worksduring the nation’s largest exhibition of modeling, simulation and relatedtechnologies at Orange County Convention Center.

After this week’sInterservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference, the Army’sRDECOM plans to demonstrate the arm to special operations medics in earlyDecember, and the technology could reach the battlefield in the next year ortwo, said Sandy Fowler, a science and technology manager for RDECOM who is basedin the Central Florida Research Park next to UCF.

“You’re learning a life-savingskill, and you’re almost playing a game at the same time to keep youinterested,” said Todd Lazarus, a researcher at IST.

UCF researchers developed thehardware for the “bleeding” arm. It can be used in conjunction with a PDAdevice or a laptop computer. Medics first choose a small, medium or large woundand then decide whether they want to simulate a small, medium or large-sizedarm. A spot on the arm then lights up as “red,” indicating that it is bleeding.The medic must place and tighten the tourniquet properly to turn the lightgreen, indicating that the bleeding has stopped. A clock on the arm times howlong that takes.

While the arm can help medics in thefield, another UCF research project stands to make getting to patients saferfor rescue workers.

A driving simulator developed at ISTallows ambulance drivers, truck drivers and others to practice in all types ofhazardous conditions, including rain, snow and children suddenly running infront of their vehicles.

Lisa Hernandez, a lab manager atIST, demonstrated the driving simulator with a 42-inch plasma screen at theI/ITSEC conference. After a crash, the simulator tells the driver whatviolations occurred and whether it might have been severe enough to cause afatality.

The simulation, and the detailedfeedback that it provides users, allows people to learn important skills thatshould make them handle dangerous scenarios better if they ever encounter them.

“Our measure of success is the humanperformance changes, not how well the technology changes,” said Ron Tarr, aresearcher at IST.

UCF’s presence at the I/ITSECconference extended beyond the exhibit halls.

Eduardo Salas, a trustee chair andprofessor of Psychology who also is an IST researcher, participated in adiscussion on how advances in medical simulation have benefited the military.Salas discussed the importance of using science to develop an effective teamtraining system that includes observation and feedback.

During another panel discussion,Professor Jan Cannon-Bowers of UCF's School of Film and Digital Media spokeabout how innovations in simulation can help military personnel and theirfamilies, including children, better understand military medicine, includingdiagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.