Jack Thompson is going to love this - Paxton Galvanek, a long time player of America’s Army, became the first responder at the scene of a car accident last November when a SUV lost control. While his wife was calling 911, the 28 year old gamer rushed to the flipped over SUV and without any real life medic training, assessed the situation and applied the correct procedures, possibly saving a life.

The U.S. Army says this is the second time an America’s Army player has reported successfully using medical skills learned through playing the game to respond in a life-threatening situation. So I guess video games are good for something other than acting as killing simulators — like Mr.Thompson likes to label them — for maniacs in high-school.

Galvanek describing the situation in a letter to America’s Army team: “I have received no prior medical training and can honestly say that because of the training and presentations within America’s Army, I was able to help and possibly save the injured men. As I look back on the events of that day, the training that I received in the America’s Army video game keeps coming to mind.”

I remember vividly in section four of the game’s medic training, during the field medic scenarios, I had to evaluate the situation and place priority on the more critically wounded. In the case of this accident, I evaluated the situation and placed priority on the driver of the car who had missing fingers. I then recalled that in section two of the medic training, I learned about controlled bleeding. I noticed that the wounded man had severe bleeding that he could not control. I used a towel as a dressing and asked the man to hold the towel on his wound and to raise his hand above his head to lessen the blood flow which allowed me to evaluate his other injuries which included a cut on his head.”

Colonel Casey Wardynski, America’s Army project director: “Because of the training he received in America’s Army’s virtual classroom, Mr. Galvanek had mastered the basics of first aid and had the confidence to take appropriate action when others might do nothing. He took the initiative to assess the situation, prioritize actions and apply the correct procedures. Paxton is a true hero. We are pleased to have played a role in providing the lifesaving training that he employed so successfully at the scene.”