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New medical mannequin no dummy for training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Realistically training emergency response teams here just took another step into the technological future.

SimMan 3G, a realistic human patient simulator created by a major medical equipment manufacturer, is designed to provide a more hands on training experience for emergency responders and medics. The 736th Security Forces Squadron's Commando Warrior Regional Training Center now possesses two.

"It's the realism," said Staff Sgt. Jon-Jay Sabati, 736th SFS Commando Warrior Pacific Air Forces Regional Training Center medical NCO-in-charge. "It's more effective to bring students out here to train on something breathing, blinking and bleeding, versus having a piece of plastic and saying we're simulating this mannequin bleeding."

This particular mannequin evolved over the past ten years and is now is now wireless, which means portable, so it can take out to the field. It runs on an internal battery system, allowing it to operate for four hours with a fully charged battery.

The idea for a wireless SimMan came from feedback from Airmen working in the field.

"Our customers have always asked for something strong enough to handle being moved around while displaying as many clinical features as possible," Beelitz said. "That way, there is less interaction between the instructor and participant during the simulation and participant can get a majority of what they need to do from the mannequin rather than the instructor."

It's more than just the portability of the dummy that adds to the training for the emergency responders, it's how it can show a real emergency by bleeding and reacting.

"When I first came into the military, we just had a plastic mannequins and the instructor would tell us everything is simulated," said Sergeant Sabati. "Now a student doesn't have to wait on an instructor to say the patient is bleeding out, we can just make it happen and watch the how participant reacts."

SimMan 3G can produce clear liquid like sweat, secretions from the eyes, mouth, nose and ears. The mannequin can also bleed from four ports on its body simulating arterial or venous bleeding. It can also urinate.

"One of the main features that make it more realistic is its eyes," Beelitz said. "You can actually control the 'patient's' conscious level so they can be awake, drowsy or asleep. His pupils actually react to light just like you or me. They constrict when in exposed to light and dilate in the dark.

"The software allows you to control the size of each pupil so if you want to simulate a head injury or anything where there is an effect on the neurological status of the patient. As the patient deteriorates, you will actually see that by looking at the mannequin or the monitor," he added.

One of the most important things about simulations these days is the debriefing. After a simulation, students will sit down and learn about what was done well and what needs to be worked on.

"By having the cameras mounted in the ceiling above the mannequin, it allows the instructor to not only drive the simulation but record it as well," Beelitz said.

Upon the end of the simulation the participants can look at the video so the instructor can speak about their strengths and weaknesses.

"Having that sort of audio video telemetry is certainly key and paramount with the actual debriefing process and is really where the learning happens," Beelitz said.

Military servicemembers are renowned for operating in austere environments. Having the ability to train in the same places an incident can occur, versus in a controlled classroom, may save lives.

"I think this is suited for the military or certainly has military applications," said Beelitz. "I think the opportunity here at Andersen where they're looking at training not just Air Force, Navy, Army, National Guard and Marines, but the local EMT as well, will make a difference."