The US military will stop its practice of shooting pigs and goats to help prepare medics for treating wounded troops in a combat zone, ending an exercise made obsolete by simulators that mimic battlefield injuries. The prohibition on live fire training that includes animals is part of this year's annual defense bill, although other uses of animals for wartime training will continue. The ban was championed by Vern Buchanan, a Republican congressman from Florida who often focuses on animal rights issues.
Firefighters strap on VR goggles and step into a virtual kitchen fire in a home in a residential area. "We can take these younger members and immerse them into a virtual reality where they see the fire, hear the fire, hearing people calling for help," East Meadow Fire Commissioner John Priest said. "Operate a nozzle and see how it reacts to the fire." The virtual reality program can simulate 60 different fire scenarios. The training includes a high-pressure hose and nozzle, complete with realistic sensations.