Manikin simulators provide 'real' test to Medical Group

Published May 12, 2008
By Frances Locquiao
23rd Wing Public Affairs

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 23rd Medical Group here recently received two adult advanced life support simulation manikins and one simulation infant for training and evaluation purposes.

Mark Soliz, 23rd MDG education manager, was responsible for bringing these new training aids to the clinic.

"Each manikin is capable of simulating a wide variety of human body functions such as breathing, coughing and talking," he said. "Students can draw fake blood, practice giving immunization shots and treat stimulated wounds."

The highly realistic manikins will be used to evaluate nurses, doctors and emergency medical technicians and will be incorporated in EMT refresher courses, cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes, cardiac airway evaluations and trauma patient assessments.

Attached to the simulators are hand-held devices that control various bodily functions for interactive scenarios. There can be a maximum of 12 different scenarios at any given time, which can be replaced with updated scenarios from the manufacturer.

These scenarios are capable of simulating a wide range of medical emergencies such as full cardiac arrests, broken legs and stroke victims. There is also a way to design unique scenarios that incorporate local medical emergencies.

"In one scenario, I can simulate a collapsed lung by using the device to turn off movement in one lung," Mr. Soliz said. "I can change the manikin's condition if the individual being evaluated makes the right response."

Once a month, Mr. Soliz will randomly pick someone from the medical team to evaluate. Since the manikins are mobile, everyone should be prepared because any situation is possible, he said.

Currently, Mr. Soliz is the only person qualified to use the manikins for evaluations since he was trained by the simulator's manufacturer. However, he will soon train the education and training department as well as a few nurses.

"These simulation manikins will ensure the highest quality training," said Lt. Col. Terry Broussard, 23rd MDG chief nurse. "It will make people think on their feet much like in a real scenario."

Leland Kent, a Valdosta EMT-Paramedic assigned to Moody, performed an oral intubation on one of the adult dummies during a recent practice session.

"The manikins are so life-like," Mr. Kent said. "When you look down the throat, the airway structures are similar to a real person. This is state-of-the-art equipment, which is great for teaching classes."

Bringing this type of advanced training to Moody was a long-time goal for Mr. Soliz.

"Back when I was an enlisted emergency medical technician, I always wanted an interactive way to teach future EMTs," Mr. Soliz said. "As soon as I began serving as the education manager, I turned in the package to get the funding for these simulation manikins."

The ALS simulation manikins can transform and modernize the training for Moody's medical team, Colonel Broussard said.

"Instead of just PowerPoint presentations and lectures, they will provide a hands-on experience for students," he said. "(In return), having a well-trained medical team will help save lives."