Some professions are far more dangerous than others, but people in risky capacities are required to know what to do in emergencies and act accordingly. Failure by workers to uphold these expectations can result in harm to people, property or themselves. First responders fall into this category because of the kinds of environments they work in.
Practicing for these dire situations can be difficult, as creating a realistic experience requires an immersive scenario that most firing ranges and driving courses can’t recreate. For this reason, simulator development is highly sought after in the fields of fire, medical and police work.
Using specialized tools in stressful environments requires extreme preparedness, both in handling equipment and dealing with adverse conditions. Simulator development helps law enforcement officials prepare for the rigors they will face in the field, including the factors of duress and danger.
Learning under fire
Building simulators that show police how to shoot may seem unnecessary. Most police agencies have their own firing ranges or contract out to a local facility to provide officers with live fire practice. What is harder to replicate is return fire, unusual physical surroundings and additional elements that can make responding in the field far more difficult. For these experiences, simulator development allows participants to feel like they are actually in danger without ever being imperiled.
Several different kinds of simulators are used by agencies across the country, as entities have different requirements for their officers, News Oklahoma reported. The Oklahoma City Police Department, for instance, recently invested in simulator development to assist officers with live-fire scenarios. The source stated that the experience incorporates video screens and sound clips and offers slightly different scenarios each time an officer uses the device. Participants use CO2-loaded air pistols, similar in feel to real guns, that are specially designed to interact with the simulator.
“It’s a firearms and less-lethal simulator that gives the officers the ability to come in here and practice real-world scenarios,” said Sergeant Shawn Byrne in an interview. “They can use force, use less-lethal force or not use force at all.”
Personalized results
Not every police force will need the same kind of simulator deployment. Units that anticipate more live-fire activities or high-speed chases, it might be they need more extensive programs to grant higher levels of expertise. It could also be that size or funding restraints change the options available to certain organizations.
Other law enforcement associations require more immersive experiences for their officers, and to balance the cost, they sometimes make them accessible to other departments in the region. Mobile simulator developments ensures an agency can gain more return on investment rather than simply training its own police force.
Police agencies in Ohio will soon have access to six new simulators, half of which are for shooting experience and the other three for driving sims. All of these units are mobile-ready, which means a department in any part of the state can request to have them delivered to their doors because individual enforcement regions may not be able to afford such technology on their own. 10TV News reported that these simulator developments were created to combat the biggest safety issues Ohio police face. According to the source, the majority of fatalities in the line of duty occur during live fire exchanges or car crashes.
Creating utilities that can make employees safer and better at their jobs makes simulator implementation a sensible solution. CSE Software Inc. has the experience needed to design and develop simulator software and hardware that will get your company results. Whether it is a safety initiative or better trained employees, a simulator can make the difference in responsive emergency personnel.
Contact Stacey Burris at sburris@csesoftware.com or 1.309.670.7595 and ask for a simulator demo today!
