Seminole County, Fla. (March 10, 2025) – The Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) recently began fielding a Mobile Simulation Lab to provide department crews with enhanced in-depth EMS (Emergency Medical Services) training and re-certification opportunities right at their fire stations. 

The Lab, converted from a retired rescue chassis, leverages simulation and monitoring technology to provide firefighters with hands-on training opportunities beyond what they might receive in a traditional classroom setting. The back of the Lab is laid out as an in-service rescue unit, where crews can practice lifesaving techniques on one of three advanced EMS manikins while training staff watch from the cab via six embedded cameras. Instructors can also provide live voice feedback to crews in the lab space and record footage from the lab’s cameras for future training purposes. 

The Mobile Simulation Lab’s in-chassis vehicular nature allows it to be deployed at individual fire stations throughout the County, giving crews the opportunity to take advantage of its enhanced training capabilities without having to incur extended out-of-service periods for off-site training at Seminole County’s Training Center in Longwood. The department plans to train a cadre of instructors on each shift how to operate the Lab, allowing it to be utilized as a teaching platform at any time. 

“Last year alone, our crews conducted nearly 17,000 hours of EMS training,” said SCFD Fire Chief Matt Kinley. “EMS training is extremely important as many of our calls are medical related. This Mobile Simulation Lab unit uses technology to provide our crews with a robust platform for training and education beyond our existing capabilities, in a flexible package that allows us to maximize its benefit while minimizing potential strains on our resources.”