Training ground and learning environments
The Emergency Services Academy has comprehensive and versatile facilities for practicing rescue and emergency response centre operations.
Training ground
The Emergency Services Academy training ground provides a nationally unique and comprehensive setting for the practical instruction of rescue sector personnel. The training ground is used extensively by the degree students of the Emergency Services Academy, and it is also used for continuing professional education and other training purposes.
Driving practice
We have driving practice facilities for driving both heavier and lighter emergency vehicles. The aim of the practical training is to improve the safety and economic efficiency of emergency driving.
Driving practice mainly takes place on the designated practice track. Near the track, there is terrain for practicing driving quad bikes used in off-road rescue operations.
Emergency care practice
Situations requiring emergency care are mainly practised for using emergency medical care simulators. In addition to the actual treatment situation simulation mode, the simulator has a monitoring mode which can be used for monitoring and evaluating simulation exercises.
The emergency care simulator space is primarily used for simulating the most typical home and injury environments, but the space can also be converted into a care institution, psychiatric care facility, hospital emergency room, or inpatient ward.
Emergency response centre simulator
The emergency response centre simulator, which closely mimics an actual emergency response centre, is used to practise receiving and handling emergency calls.
The simulator is equipped with the ERICA information system and VIRVE integration to support the handling, risk assessment, and escalation of emergency calls.
Aircraft extinguishing simulator
The aircraft extinguishing simulator can be used to practice emergency and rescue situations when aircraft accidents occur. Our target groups are specifically airport rescue staff as well as the emergency and rescue department, but we also like to utilise the simulator in training our other client groups.
MOPSI
MOPSI is a simulator developed for practical fire investigation exercises. The simulator is a semi-trailer accommodating an approximately 15-seater AV-equipped lecture room, burning space, and equipment room. Originally, the purpose of the simulator was to act as a transferable setting for applied practical exercises in fire investigation, but it is also currently used for visualising fire progression and phenomena as well as at public safety communication events and fairs.
Fire theatre
The fire theatre is a simulation space used for illustrating the progression of fire and the operation of fire technology equipment. The theatre provides a safe setting for monitoring the progression of fires, the behaviour of various construction materials, and the operation of fire technology equipment.
Virtual learning environments for rescue operations command
Command in rescue operations can be practised in virtual learning environments, such as the FireStudio program or the XVR simulator 3D operating environment.
Scale models
Scale models are used to illustrate, for example, construction technology and structural fire safety as well as in rescue operations command exercises. The Emergency Services Academy has built scale models of residential areas, industrial environments, airports, farms, business centres, and railways and motorways, to name but a few.
Working in fall hazard areas
Working in a fall hazard area is a demanding task for rescue service professionals, and the Emergency Services Academy has modern and comprehensive facilities for practising such situations. Practising safe and efficient working methods in a high-quality simulation environment provides a good foundation for future assignments.
Building fire simulators
Building fire extinguishing can be practised at the training ground’s fire house, at the fire extinguishing and fire investigation laboratory (sapalab) and in a multi-fire simulator that enables practising fire extinguishing in industrial halls, parking halls, shopping centres, and tunnel-like spaces.
Structural collapse rescue training area
The structural collapse rescue training area can be used to practise collapse structure search and rescue operations.
Collapse structure search and rescue operations consist of e.g. intelligence operations, canine search, technical search, shoring, penetration, lifting, transfer, and rope operations. The structural collapse rescue training area and the collapsed buildings can be used to train for such operations.
Smoke diving training
Smoke diving is practised in smoke diving containers and in a cage and apartment simulator. The apartment simulator can be used to complete e.g. search and rescue exercises in conditions with no visibility as part of basic instruction in smoke diving technique.
Rescue diving and rescue swimming training
Rescue diving and rescue swimming can be practised in the pools of the campus area and training ground as well as in natural environments, such as the pond of the training ground or Lake Kallavesi. The boats used in the rescue diving and rescue swimming exercises belong to the Emergency Services Academy.
Road rescue
Road rescue operations are some of the most common tasks for rescue professionals. The Emergency Services Academy has extensive facilities for practising simulated traffic accidents at the car demolition field, roads, and terrain of the training ground as well as in railway carriages and level crossings. There is equipment available for practising both passenger car and heavy traffic accidents at staged traffic accident sites.
Practical training in situation and command centre work
Our situation and command centres can be used to practise command situations in real environments. The centres are equipped with the ERICA and KEJO information systems as well as the RCS and VIRVE systems for communications. The centres are designed so that the information and technologies needed in rescue service command are quickly and easily available during rescue operations and their command.
Working with hazardous substances
Hazardous substance simulators can be used to practise rescue operations in accidents involving hazardous substances. The simulators mimic chemical pipelines and containers, loading and offloading areas of industrial plants, and vehicles and tanker trucks used for transporting hazardous substances. Leaks and spills occurring in accidents can be simulated with water, water vapour, and actual chemicals.
