A Systematic Review of Simulation Tools Used in Fire Safety Training for Hospital Staff
Maryse Fahmi1, Mahesh Babu Purushothaman1, Funmilayo Ebun Rotimi1, Ali Ghaffarian Hoseini1
- Auckland University of Technology
Published in Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), edited by Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, Farzad Rahimian and Mahesh Babu Purushothaman. Springer Nature, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, volume 591, 2025, pages 216 to 224. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_21.
Abstract
Extensive research has highlighted the crucial role of fire safety training for hospital staff in guaranteeing patient safety during fire emergencies. However, training in such a complex environment can present significant challenges due to the hospital’s architecture, patients’ presence, and diverse needs. Although previous fire safety training programs in New Zealand hospitals have incorporated scenarios designed and played by hospital staff, they still lack the realistic element of smoke spread impressions and potential challenges that staff face during patient transfers between different departments in the event of fire evacuations. Various technological simulations are used to conduct this training and overcome this challenge. This paper explores the technological simulations available in today’s market for conducting fire safety training in hospitals while assessing their realistic efficiency in ensuring overall patient safety during fire emergencies. This study employs a constructive interpretivism framework to analyse 36 relevant research papers rigorously. Specifically, it delves into the efficacy of three simulation tools – Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) for training hospital staff in fire safety. The study then evaluates each method based on the key factors of safe egress in hospitals to determine how the approach promotes patient safety during fire emergencies and current gaps. The practical implications of each simulation tool are also thoroughly examined. This study provides insights into the impact of simulation systems on patient safety during fire emergencies. The findings of this study can be useful for academics, fire professionals, trainers, and hospital staff to identify and mitigate the risks associated with fire emergencies.
Keywords
Session
Presented in Track G, Friday 8 November 2024, 16:30 to 18:30, room WG 1001, Auckland University of Technology. Session chair Dr Funmilayo Ebun Rotimi.
How to Cite
Fahmi, M., Purushothaman, M. B., Rotimi, F. E., & Hoseini, A. G. (2025). A Systematic Review of Simulation Tools Used in Fire Safety Training for Hospital Staff. In A. GhaffarianHoseini, A. GhaffarianHoseini, F. Rahimian, & M. B. Purushothaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 591, pp. 216–224). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_21
About the Conference
Presented at SASBE 2024, the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, held in Auckland from 7 to 9 November 2024 and chaired by Professors Ali and Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, founders of GDI Academy. The version of record is published by Springer Nature; this page is the conference archive record kept by GDI Academy.