An Immersive Virtual Reality Platform for First Aid and Emergency Training

Virtual reality (VR) technologies have emerged as valuable tools for medical and emergency training, providing safe, immersive, and repeatable environments where complex procedures can be practiced effectively. This article presents an immersive VR system designed to train workplace first-aid responders, with a particular focus on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The platform integrates a physical CPR manikin with virtual patient overlays through mixed-reality calibration, incorporates realistic emergency scenarios with environmental hazards, and enables synchronous multiuser interaction between trainees and instructors. To assess its potential, we provide a detailed description of the system's architecture and functionalities, introducing the results of an extensive user study employing validated questionnaires on usability, performance, and user experience. The proposed framework contributes to the advancement of VR-based medical education, highlighting its benefits, current limitations, and future research opportunities.