Immersive Modular Preparedness Intelligent Tutor (IMPRINT)

Project Summary/Abstract The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) highlights urgent training needs for the emergency first respondercommunity. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Boston Fire Department (BFD) has reportedan increased frequency of firehouse cleaning and decontamination activities; however, there may be substantialvariability in decontamination protocol adherence across firehouses and personnel following responses toservice calls during the pandemic. This is due to deeply ingrained decontamination trained behaviors and a lackof available and effective training resources, ultimately increasing the risk of COVID transmission. Improperdecontamination between service calls increases firefighter and emergency medical services (EMS) risk ofexposure especially in circumstances of complex disasters. Therefore, the first responder community requires ameans of ensuring consistent and thorough decontamination procedures are followed by personnel. In response to the current pandemic, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)Worker Training Program (WTP) is developing a series of PowerPoint slides to address emerging training needs[1]. Charles River Analytics and our partner, Lt. Michael Kates of the Boston Fire Department, propose to extendthe approach funded under the parent grant (Immersive Modular Preparedness Intelligent Tutor (IMPRINT);R43ES031818-01) to adapt and improve this training. Specifically, we will adapt materials developed by the WTPand other organizations (e.g., CDC, OSHA, BFD) into a training course focused on decontamination foremergency first responders. This supplemental work will include the development of complementary, interactiveVR-based training modules that provide individuals and small groups the opportunity to demonstrateunderstanding and proficiency. Furthermore, the VR presentation of individual and small group activitiesencourages active trainee participation and engagement while enabling emergency response trainingorganizations to provide distributed training. Distribution of training is critical to enable social distancing. UsingIMPRINT's virtual environment, trainees will not have to be collocated to participate in small group activities. Thiswill provide the emergency first responder community a means of conducting crucial training while avoiding largegroup gatherings. Finally, we propose to develop an evaluation process to measure training acceptability andeffectiveness.