Comparing VR, AR, and video fire safety training: effects on long-term knowledge retention and real-world performance

Safety training is essential not only in workplaces but also in everyday life, where it can substantially reduce losses and save lives. However, traditional methods, such as video-based instructions, face limitations in terms of effectiveness, usability, and engagement. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have emerged as promising alternatives; however, the long-term knowledge retention and the transfer of knowledge to real-world performance using these novel training tools remain unclear. This study conducted a fire extinguisher operation training experiment in which participants learned a seven-step procedure through immersive VR, AR, or video instruction. A total of 130 participants were recruited (44 in the VR group, 43 in the AR group, and 43 in the video groups each), with a three-month retention rate of 70.77%. Participants completed an immediate knowledge post-test, a real-world fire extinguisher performance test, and a three-month knowledge retention test. The results showed that all training methods significantly improved immediate knowledge acquisition. More importantly, both VR and AR groups achieved significantly better real-world performance than the video group, with VR achieving the highest performance. In addition, although knowledge declined across all groups after three months, VR and AR maintained significantly higher retention levels than the video group. These findings provide strong evidence that immersive training methods are more effective than traditional methods for retaining knowledge over a longer time interval while facilitating its transfer to real-world performance, highlighting the potential of immersive technologies in safety training.