Funds sought for high-tech mannequin

By Heather Latter, Staff writer
Fort Frances Times Ltd.

As a First Responder at Fort Frances High School, a team of students, including Jerry Wu and Lyle Dolph, has been on the scene to assess everything from chemical burns and drug overdoses to lacerations, bone trauma, and seizures.
But while they’ve been trained to deal with these situations, most of their education has come from textbooks rather than hands-on experience.
“It’s completely different when you get on the scene and are dealing with a real person,” noted Wu, saying the equipment they currently use to train with is outdated and cannot provide the level of realism needed to properly prepare for different scenarios.
In order to provide the school’s First Responders with better training, program co-ordinator and local paramedic John Beaton is seeking funds to purchase a $58,000 simulator mannequin, which provides a realistic educational environment with the latest technologies for innovation.
The mannequin, known as “METIman,” also would be used as a teaching tool for the local P.A.R.T.Y. program, which focuses on empowering Grade 10 students to formulate effective decision-making and educate them to think about injury prevention in their daily lives.
Beaton is hoping to acquire the funds through donations from community partners and grants.
To show community
partners all the things METIman can do, Zorlana Kaluzny of CAE, a Canadian company offering cutting-edge learning tools, was at La Verendrye Hospital here last week providing demonstrations with the simulator mannequin.
“Our goal is provide a realistic tool for training to develop confidence and know how to react,” she noted.
“METIman is a high-tech computer that is programmable and looks and reacts like a real person,” explained Beaton, noting it talks, has a pulse, and even can simulate different kinds of trauma.
“What we have now just doesn’t cut it,” he stressed, referring to the old, over-used CPR mannequin “Annie” that does not even have a lower body and severely limits the visuals and sounds of what happens in a trauma room.
“For example, right now if the First Responders had a situation where someone was unconscious, they would be seeing it for the first time as it was happening,” Beaton said.
But METIman would be able to accurately simulate an unconscious individual and allow the First Responders to practise their skills, which, in turn, builds confidence.
“It’s on-the-clock thinking,” said Dolph. “You just have to check the scenario and do what you can—even if it’s the first time you’ve dealt with a particular situation.
“If I was better prepared, I would feel more relaxed and not so nervous,” he added.
“You still get the job done, but it’s how comfortable you are in dealing with a situation,” echoed Wu.
Wu had a chance to try out METIman last week and feels students would learn a lot from the high-tech mannequin.
“It’s a really good visual of what a real trauma patient would have to go through,” he remarked.
“And because of the realism, it would provide a much bigger impact for the P.A.R.T.Y. program,”said Beaton.
METIman is wireless (powered by rechargeable batteries), with on-board fluid, pneumatic, and electrical systems. It is built tough to withstand a wide variety of real-life, indoor and outdoor learning environments.
It comes equipped with a user interface and touch screen capability that connects wirelessly to any computer network.
And it can be simulated for all kinds of different scenarios.
There also is a kit that provides a variety of realistic wounds that easily can be applied to the mannequin.
METIman features eyes that blink, as well as dilate and constrict, and it is reactive to light. There is vocalization and speech—both male and female sounds that can be programed to say phrases such as “I can’t breathe,” along with coughing and wheezing noises.
As well, there is a wireless microphone that allows the instructor to interact with the students.
There is a realistic airway and students can practise intubating nasally and orally. And they have the ability to use real defibrillation and pacing on METIman.
The mannequin includes 14 pulse points, a variety of internal sounds, and a chest that rises and falls as it breathes.
Students also can realistically practise inserting IVs, taking blood pressure, and doing chest compressions. There also is male and female genitalia that can be catheterized and urinary output.
METIman’s neck has a full range of motion, so students can rehearse mobilization, and limbs can be removed to demonstrate amputation.
“This is a piece of equipment for everyone to learn and use from,” Beaton stressed, adding while it will be purchased for the First Responders and P.A.R.T.Y. programs, there will be the opportunity for others to rent it out for training purposes.
“It’s going to be used, and it will be a big benefit for the students, the school, and community,” he remarked.
Beaton already has received donations from TD, the local Legion, and the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club. Other organizations also are being approached.
As well, Beaton has applied for several grants, and hopes other individuals and businesses within the community will make a contribution.
He anticipates being able to acquire the funds to purchase METIman in the fall.
For more information, contact Beaton via e-mail at partyprogramfortfrances@hotmail.com