CPR Training Coming Soon to a Wii Near You...

Birmingham, Alabama -- Learn CPR on a video game console? It could happen sooner than you think.

Senior biomedical engineering students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have been working to develop a computer program that will teach CPR using the handheld remote controls from the Nintendo Wii video game console.

The project uses the Wii remote's wireless technology to teach users proper CPR technique. The program can detect the exact depth and placement of the chest compressions using the remote and offer feedback accordingly.

This summer, the American Heart Association pledged $50,000 to fund the students' work. "The Heart Association's high interest in our students' innovations points to potential of this project and how it fits in with its desire to deliver reliable CPR education to the masses," said Jack Rogers, PhD, associate professor of biomedical engineering at UAB.

The UAB Wii CPR program will become available on the American Heart Association Web site as a free download as soon as it is finished. The UAB team says it could complete its program development by early fall of 2009.

For more information about CPR training, visit http://www.emergencycareny.com/firstaid.html.