Video games are a detriment to society, haven't you heard? Apparently Paxton Galvanek didn't get the memo. As the first on the scene at a traffic accident last November, the 28-year old gamer helped two individuals out of an overturned SUV on a North Carolina interstate and began treatment on their wounds, which ranged from cuts and bruises on the passenger to the driver, who suffered head trauma as well as the loss of two fingers. Impressive, particularly since Galvanek credits the combat medic training he completed in America's Army for the PC for teaching him the skills needed to treat the victims.The America's Army team notes that it designed the game's training scenarios in order to help prepare young adults for similar real world events. We don't know how much stock we place in first responders whose skillset can be traced back to a first-person shooter, but in this case at least it all worked out famously. Now, we just wait for a situation when having an accomplished Javelin missile operator on the scene will produce similarly welcome results.
(Page 1) Reader Comments
OBJECTION!
But seriously, i don't find it that hard to belive, basic first aid is, contrary to popular misconception, baisc.
The two fingers might not be something to scoff at, but everything else seems like something a boy scout would know.
But umm... yeah, that homie be trippin over them bitchez from them mad skillz up in his grill. Right?
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;)
The problem I have with crediting positive actions to video games is that if you do so, you must also be willing to blame negative actions as being taught through video games...
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But I do understand your point. And I'd support it if we had a story relating to a negative action requiring knowledge taught through a videogame. If a videogame taught you how to, for example, accurately build a bomb then I'd agree with you.
But American's Army, while the actual treatment of injuries is as simple as hitting the "use" key on your target, to train to be ABLE to treat someone, they actually sit you down in a virtual classroom, with an NPC speaking while showing slides of injuries, and what treatments. At the end, they have a multiple choice test, and won't let you proceed until you do well enough on the tests.
I was scared I wouldn't remember what to do to treat players in the "hands-on" section, until I found out you just "use" the person. :)
Anyway, positive publicity for video games can't be bad. Especially when there is only negative publicity these days.
If a game teaches me how to use a first aid kit and how to use a gun, it won't turn me into a doctor, OR a serial killer.
The argument is that games somehow brainwash people into committing acts of violence. But just because you learn HOW to do something through a video game (although games don't generally teach you how to load and properly use a firearm, for example), doesn't mean that you'll do it.
It would just make me a bit worrisome if someone was like "dont worry, youll be fine, im a level 40 combat medic" or something.
at least people arent trying surgery from Trauma Center
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Kudos for the good deed, but you stand a much better chance of hurting then helping someone if you try to help them in an injury situation without the proper training. Training missions in America's Army don't count. :P
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Nice work by this guy.
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To qualify for the training, as well as a few other in-game ranks and unlockables, players must participate in a training session that includes a fairly long lecture and quiz on a variety of subjects.
It's great to see this information helped someone out.
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