Student paramedics are first to use VR for mass casualty incident training

The University of Huddersfield is set to become the first UK university to use virtual reality (VR) technology to train student paramedics for mass casualty incidents.

The initiative is being delivered in partnership between the School of Human and Health Sciences and Manchester-based emergency response training specialists REACT-XR. Up to six students at a time will use VR headsets and software in an immersive suite in the Daphne Steele Building at the university’s National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC).

The system can recreate major incidents such as road traffic collisions and terrorist attacks in real time, allowing more students to take part in triage training than is possible using actors or mannequins.

Jenny Dobbin, senior practitioner in Paramedic Science at the university, said the technology offers a more practical and scalable way to deliver major incident training while reducing logistical pressures.

“By using VR, we can mimic the kinds of situations our paramedic students may find themselves in with more authenticity than we can recreate in live simulations.”

Jenny Dobbin

She added that while live simulations will continue, VR allows far more frequent and accessible training, particularly as cohort sizes increase. The system also supports requirements set by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which expects regular practice in major incident triage.

VR removes the need for significant set-up, including sourcing locations, actors, and moulage, enabling more consistent delivery of training. The system has been designed by Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedics, ensuring realism is embedded into the scenarios and that core clinical steps must be completed correctly before progression.

Huddersfield is currently the only UK higher education institution using the technology, with potential for wider adoption across partner agencies, including West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Steven Thompson, co-founder and director of REACT-XR and a HART paramedic, said the collaboration brings immersive simulation directly into frontline education.

“The University of Huddersfield is setting a new benchmark in paramedic education as the first UK university to adopt REACT-XR, integrating immersive simulation directly into frontline training.”

Steven Thompson

He added that the aim is to improve preparedness before students begin real-world placements with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, helping them develop confidence and decision-making skills through exposure to high-pressure scenarios earlier in their training. The technology, he said, is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice and produce more resilient clinicians who are better prepared for real emergencies.

To read similar articles, check out our Technology channel.