Staying Alive website teaches life-saving techniques

A new website has been set up that could help both healthcare professionals and the public learn how to save the life of a heart-attack victim.

The Staying Alive site, a project set up by Dassault Systèmes and iLumens, a French medical laboratory, is designed to reduce the number of deaths caused by heart attacks.

It uses simulation technologies and 3D to help people learn appropriate behaviour, movements and techniques to administer first aid. People can evaluate their results, and even have training sessions with friends, thanks to a Facebook application.

Dr Alexandre Mignon, head of iLumens and a professor of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, said: "These realistic 3D virtual applications are much more than serious gaming.

"Anyone can rapidly learn [techniques]... Information is more easily retained [and] training can be repeated as often as necessary, before applying them to a real patient."