WE ARE FIRE TRAINERS - Norman Schiappacasse Region Stockholm

We had the opportunity to speak with Norman Schiappacasse from Psykiatri Sydväst, which is part of Stockholm Health Care Services (SLSO) within Region Stockholm, based at Huddinge Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.

Norman has more than 26 years of experience in psychiatric care and has developed broad expertise in safety, professional interaction, and preventive work in complex healthcare environments. For the past 17 years, he has worked as an instructor and course leader in violence prevention, training healthcare staff to prevent, manage, and reduce threats and violent situations. His work focuses on safety, professional conduct, and practical strategies that strengthen both staff and healthcare organizations.

In addition, Norman is a certified safety coordinator and has worked for 14 years with safety management and training, including roles as a course leader and instructor in fire safety and security training. His work is driven by a strong commitment to safer work environments, secure healthcare, and knowledge sharing, where training and collaboration are key tools.

As part of their safety training initiatives, they use the Vobling VR Fire Trainer, delivered through Dafo, to strengthen preparedness for fire emergencies.

How has the VR Fire Trainer improved your team’s knowledge and preparedness for fire emergencies?

By introducing VR Fire Trainer our team has been able to practice realistic scenarios in a safe environment. This has improved both the understanding of fire development, decision-making under stress, and teamwork in emergency situations.

The training has resulted in increased knowledge, faster reactions, and stronger preparedness to act correctly in a real fire emergency.

Compared to traditional fire training, what do you see as the biggest advantage of VR?

Traditional fire training teaches us the fundamentals.

VR Fire Trainer allows us to experience the decisions.

When we started using VR in fire safety training, we quickly noticed a difference. Staff can step into realistic scenarios, make decisions under time pressure, and immediately see the consequences of their actions - without any risk.

The biggest advantage is the ability to repeat scenarios and the level of realism. The same situation can be practiced several times until the response becomes natural.

This builds confidence, stronger teamwork, and faster responses when it truly matters. It is a powerful complement to traditional fire training and an effective way to build real preparedness.

Have you noticed any changes in employee engagement or motivation regarding safety training?

VR changes how staff engage with safety training.

When we introduced VR into our training programs, we quickly noticed a difference in both motivation and participation. The realistic experience makes the training more relevant and sparks curiosity among participants.

More employees want to actively participate, ask questions, and discuss scenarios afterwards. This not only improves learning but also strengthens the safety culture within the team.

The technology becomes a tool that makes training more dynamic, memorable, and engaging.

Are there specific skills that have improved thanks to VR training?

VR training has clearly strengthened several important skills within our team.

In particular, situational awareness, decision-making under stress, and collaboration during emergencies have improved. Through realistic scenarios, staff practice quickly assessing risks, prioritizing the right actions, and communicating effectively.

This means the knowledge becomes more than theoretical - it becomes something staff have actually practiced and applied in realistic situations.