The benefits of immersive firefighter training

The state emergency services of Ukraine have faced significant and ongoing challenges in training its firefighters, due to a lack of resources.

To assist, FLAIM Systems and North Fire have collaborated with the Ukrainian Firefighters Foundation to provide them with accessible, on-demand firefighter training. FLAIM Systems donated a FLAIM Trainer — a fully immersive firefighter training solution — that allows firefighters to safely train for a diverse range of complex scenarios, ensuring they are well-prepared for the dynamic challenges they may encounter in the field.

Emerging from Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation at Deakin University and leveraging over a decade of PhD expertise in robotics engineering, FLAIM pioneered a multi-sensory firefighter training solution. The FLAIM Trainer safely replicates the stress and uncertainty of real-world fire scenarios with a kinaesthetic ‘feels-real’ experience to enhance firefighter readiness.

FLAIM Trainer combines a broad range of high-fidelity virtual reality firefighter training scenarios with industry standard branch, hose and breathing apparatus equipment. The technology simulates the physical response of an operational fire hose and replicates the heat of the fire through a thermal vest. Deployed in over 45 countries, FLAIM Trainer equips firefighters with the necessary skills to respond effectively in high-risk situations.

As FLAIM training is virtual, there is no carcinogen exposure to the trainee or trainer. As well as this, 2000 hours of annual training in one system saves the equivalent of 20 million litres of water and 27 tonnes of carbon emissions.

“FLAIM Systems’ objective is to provide accessible firefighter training to first responders, with the belief that everyone who needs to fight fires should be equipped with the necessary skills to safely and effectively respond to the dangerous nature of the task,” said Simon Miller, CEO at FLAIM Systems.

“This donation follows FLAIM Systems’ development of more than 80 different virtual training scenarios that allow firefighters to train across different situations with no risk to their health or the environment. With more than 10 million professional and volunteer firefighters around the world, our technology offers the potential to make training safer for firefighters and the environment on a global scale.”

Image supplied by FLAIM Systems.