@inproceedings{bilek_virtual_2021, title = {Virtual {Reality} {Based} {Mass} {Disaster} {Triage} {Training} for {Emergency} {Medical} {Services}}, doi = {10/gjwd3m}, abstract = {When mass disasters with multiple casualties and injured people happen, the Emergency Medical Service staff needs to have strong organizational skills in addition to medical knowledge in order to efficiently apply triage systems. Currently, it is very expensive for Emergency Medical Services such as the Red Cross to practice these skills, because they need to set up elaborate real-life training scenarios with actors and complex environments.  In addition, only one person can train at a time, after which the initial scenario must be restored. As a result, only very few people can profit from the training. This work presents a Virtual Reality training application that aims to replicate the learning experience of the real-life training without the disadvantage of the organizational effort. The application is meant to complement the current training allowing for a more frequent training of mass disaster emergency operations.  To evaluate the proposed training application, user tests with 28 employees of the Red Cross and 14 students have been conducted. Feedback was gathered via questionnaires and qualitative observation. The user tests revealed the necessity of practicing using the triage system more often. Some employees of the Red Cross were observed having difficulties applying the triage system correctly. Issues regarding the interaction with the virtual triage tag that distract from the training have been revealed. Nevertheless, subjects described the simulation as being realistic and close to the real-world training. Their own learning experience and the overall potential for learning were rated high. These results suggest that the proposed Virtual Reality training application is a useful addition for triage training of Red Cross employees.}, author = {Bilek, Nicole and Feldhofer, Alisa and Moser, Thomas}, year = {2021}, keywords = {Forschungsgruppe Digital Technologies, Immersive Media (AR, VR, 360°), Institut für Creative Media Technologies, Wiss. Beitrag, best, peer-reviewed}, }