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Training From America's Army Game Saved a Life
russoc4 writes "Most people who play the United States Army's freeware FPS sit through training simulations so that they may be able to get into the action and rack up some kills. The medic skills learned in the training allow you to heal teammates in the game, but it seems that they also apply in real life situations. According to Wired and the America's Army forums, 'a North Carolina man who saw an SUV flip and roll on a highway last November was able to provide medical aid to the victims with skills he learned from the America's Army.'" See? We learn things from videogames! Feign Death works sometimes, too.
See? Things like this are what make that MMO that NASA's considering developing less-than-ridiculous.
And if anything goes wrong, the guy AND the game makers will get sued for millions.
It's usually pretty tough to sue someone for trying to help out.
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Everyone should know basic first aid techniques. They aren't difficult and can make a big difference in an emergency.
At least learn how to control bleeding and perform CPR.
We have issued propaganda, that validates the production of our propaganda!
Now, "this is your rifle..."
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
Human beings learn things in lots of different ways. People learn both correct and incorrect behaviour from watching TV for example. The trick is to learning how realistic the information and techniques you are getting are, and when they can actually be applied.
For example it's easy to learn the wrong thing from a TV show. Try and play MacGyver for instance and things might go pear shaped. More subtley here in Australia the number for emergency services is 000, but we have had critically ill people receive delayed medical care because people have dialed 911 after watching American TV.
Why should games be any different? They're interactive so if the simulation is accurate they should be better at teaching us how to react to a situation.
However like television, usually the primary reason people play games is for entertainment not education. I'm not a betting man but I'd be surprised if you couldn't pick up many many more skills by doing a weekend firstaid course than by playing Americas Army.
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
Is the argument then that military recruiting is a detriment to society? Would you prefer conscription?
No. Now they have a valid excuse to ban violent games. I can hear it now: "We've been trying to tell you for years that doing something in a game can teach you how to do it real life. Today it was someone who learned how to save a life. Tomorrow it will be someone who learned how to take it."
The worst part is they kind of have a point. Every time violence in games comes up, our first counter-argument has always been that games and reality are different and the skills don't translate across. So, what do we say now? It seems like we have a choice between claiming that this guy did not learn first aid from a video game, or that people only learn good skills from games. Both of those ring pretty hollow.
And yes I am being serious.Sadly, so am I.
Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
The worst part is they kind of have a point. Every time violence in games comes up, our first counter-argument has always been that games and reality are different and the skills don't translate across. So, what do we say now? It seems like we have a choice between claiming that this guy did not learn first aid from a video game, or that people only learn good skills from games. Both of those ring pretty hollow.
I would disagree with one little bit: skills do translate across. Behaviour needn't.
Any skill you learn in any kind of context will translate across. Behaviour depends on a greater number of factors.
Ignore this signature. By order.
Mod this guy up he has a valid point. What was 911 taken already? If I was on vacation in Australia and there was an emergency I would dial 911... how the hell would I know about 000?
There should be a single International standard. However take responsibility for your own actions. Traveling internationally and assuming that things work the same way overseas as they do in your country is dangerously stupid. Many countries distribute literature at the airports (welcome to such and such country) that outlines what the emergency numbers are, often outline unusual laws etc. For example if you came to Australia and tried to drive on the right hand side of the street, you'd probably be arrested and "sorry Id didn't know" would be a very bad answer.
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
Or, we could claim that you only learn stuff applicable in real-life from games that are as anal about realism as America's Army is. Dunno how it is nowadays, but back when I played it (when they still had a Linux version), to get to play as a medic you had to attend an in-game class (which was quite long), and then take a test about what they'd taught you in it. Pretty f'in far from the likes of GTA, which are the usual targets of anti-videogames propaganda.
It wouldn't surprise me either to hear about some guy being able to fly a small plane without formal training if he had played Flight Simulator for years with a specialized controller, whereas I *would* be surprised if he had managed to do so after just a couple of weeks playing Battlefield 1942 and UT2004.
No problem is insoluble in all conceivable circumstances.
I've heard a ton of stories about lawsuits against doctors / hospitals due to negligance or whatever the lawyer wants to call it.
If I were a doctor in America I wouldn't go near a dying patient. I'd be bound to get the blame. It's that old adage, you can do a thousand rights, but one wrong and you are disgraced. Sadly, in todays world, I'd probably just walk on by lest there be a lawsuit if I tried to help and failed.
You know a lot of schools, and workplaces aren't even allowed to stock standard first aid plasters - just in case someone is allergic.
Yeah, thanks politics, you've done a great service. To the undertaker business.
Makes me wonder what part of the core curriculum should be dropped to accommodate it, or how many new days should be added to the school year for this, or how many minutes should be added to the school day for first-aid training.
What you need to do is get the other parents (I can only assume you have children in the school system, as I can't imagine what else could inspire you to such disgust if you had no direct stake in it) and lobby your local school board. Even better, join the PTA and volunteer your services to teach a first aid class at your child's school. If you aren't a parent, you could volunteer with your local Boy Scout troop as a First-Aid merit badge counselor or something.
Or you could just rant anonymously on the Internet.
I cried real tears when Li Mu Bai died.
Which part to drop? One week of football/t-ball/whatever. Seems to me First Aid fits in perfectly with Physical education and should be part of it. Assume 8 years in elementary school, take one week out of 'gym class' per half-year... and you've 16 weeks of first aid training (mind you would assume first 4 years be really basic).
If they can spend a week in gym discussing STDs (at least my high school did), can't see why they can't take one week to teach some first aid. After all, aren't physical education teachers supposedly taught some themselves to hold the position?
This is why you should not take first aid device from a video game or /.
Never apply a tourniquet unless the bleeding is 1) immediately life threatening and 2) cannot be controlled in any other way. The best way to control bleeding is direct pressure - which can stop 99% of significant external bleeding. Tourniquets not only cause nerve damage, but if there is an amputation, they can cause ischemic damage to healthy tissue which may decrease the chance of a successful reattachment or make the ultimate amputation worse.
And don't worry, there is a law in emergency medicine: All bleeding stops eventually.
I have been on Slashdot for a while, so I know this type of thing is not uncommon but how is this a +5 interesting? This is possibly just a flame. If not, it's a person ranting about how stupid people are not to use some common sense. There is nothing interesting about this post, if anything it is simply inflammatory. To reply to your message, I really agree. Education in the US isn't nearly what it should be, and certainly not when it comes to first aid. I'm lucky in having been a Boy Scout and now a member of the military that I've gotten plenty of first aid training, but throughout school I never received any kind of training. Also, you're correct that much of first aid is common sense. It's important to get trained in these sorts of things though because when the poop hits the fan, you're probably not going to have much common sense. Good training can kick in and override that feeling that makes you want to throw up and pace back and forth. It wouldn't even take much time... Back in my day (I'm only 23) we had fun/exercise field day, we should have had medical field day too...