Gamer uses virtual training to save lives

Jan 18, 2008

Think playing video games is little more than a great way to waste 

time? Then you haven't met Paxton Galvanek. Last November, the twenty-

eight year-old helped rescue two victims from an overturned SUV on the 

shoulder of a North Carolina interstate. As the first one on the 

scene, Galvanek safely removed both individuals from the smoking 

vehicle and properly assessed and treated their wounds, which included 

bruises, scrapes, head trauma and the loss of two fingers.

His medical background? None - other than what he's learned playing as 

a medic in the computer game America's Army.

The first-person shooter is developed and distributed by the U.S. 

Army. Though part of its mission is to promote its military namesake, 

America's Army is a fully-featured game that takes players through a 

virtual representation of real-life soldiering, from basic training to 

the field of battle. To play as a medic class, players must sit 

through extensive medical training tutorials based on real-life classes.

Lucky for the two survivors that Paxton Galvanek didn't zone out 

during the training, as the gamer credits this experience with 

teaching him how to handle himself in an emergency situation.

"In the case of this accident, I evaluated the situation and placed 

priority on the driver of the car who had missing fingers," he said. 

"I then recalled that in section two of the medic training, I learned 

about controlled bleeding. I noticed that the wounded man had severe 

bleeding that he could not control. I used a towel as a dressing and 

asked the man to hold the towel on his wound and to raise his hand 

above his head to lessen the blood flow which allowed me to evaluate 

his other injuries which included a cut on his head."

By the time help arrived in the form of -- ironically enough -- an 

Army soldier, the individuals were in stable condition and awaiting 

the paramedics.

Galvanek's decisions were lauded by game project director Colonel 

Casey Wardynski. "Because of the training he received in America's 

Army's virtual classroom, Mr. Galvanek had mastered the basics of 

first aid and had the confidence to take appropriate action when 

others might do nothing. He took the initiative to assess the 

situation, prioritize actions and apply the correct procedures... 

Paxton is a true hero."

According to the developers of America's Army, this is the second time 

one of their users has reportedly applied techniques learned in the 

game to real-life emergency situations. You can find more information 

about the game at www.americasarmy.com.