Basic Life Support (BLS) training is a crucial part of healthcare and emergency response. It equips healthcare providers, first responders, and other rescuers with the skills and knowledge to act in life-threatening emergencies. One essential component of BLS training is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.
CPR is a technique that involves giving chest compressions and rescue breathing to restore the circulation of oxygenated blood to essential organs. The importance of CPR cannot be overstated, as it can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. However, the effectiveness of this type of training depends largely on the quality of the training equipment used, particularly the CPR manikin lungs.
Manikin lungs are designed to simulate the experience of real human airways, allowing trainees to practice and master the technique of rescue breathing. These CPR training tools come in various types, sizes, and materials, but their primary function is to provide accurate and realistic feedback during training. Proper selection and maintenance of these parts can significantly impact the quality of CPR training.
Why Are Manikin Lungs Critical in CPR Training?
Accurate and Realistic Feedback
Realistic feedback helps trainees develop muscle memory and perform chest compressions and rescue breathing techniques correctly. For this reason, the different CPR manikin lungs on the market are all designed to simulate the sensation of a real human respiratory system, allowing trainees to feel the appropriate resistance during rescue breathing.
The feedback from the manikins can be visual or auditory, depending on the type of equipment used. Trainees can observe chest rise and fall during rescue breathing, which indicates the effectiveness of their rescue breaths. Some mannequin lungs produce a sound to indicate the trainee has delivered an adequate amount of air to the patient’s airways. This feedback is essential in helping trainees to improve their performance and skills.
The Practice of Proper Rescue Breathing Techniques
Rescue breathing involves the delivery of oxygen to the patient’s lungs to maintain the oxygenation of vital organs. Trainees must practice proper rescue breathing techniques to ensure that they are delivering the appropriate amount of air.
That said, these training tools play a vital role in this process, as they provide trainees with accurate feedback on the amount of air delivered during rescue breathing.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Replacement Lungs for CPR Manikins
Materials Used in Manufacturing
The materials used in the production of these training tools can affect their durability, realism, and hygiene. It is essential to select models made from high-quality materials that simulate the experience of real human lungs accurately. Those that are made from materials such as silicone, latex, or PVC offer better durability, hygiene, and more realistic feedback.
Size and Compatibility with CPR Manikins
These training tools come in various sizes and are compatible with specific CPR manikins. It is crucial to select designs that are compatible with the CPR manikin used for training. The correct size of the lungs ensures that trainees receive accurate feedback during training.
Feedback Mechanisms Available
As mentioned, the feedback mechanisms vary depending on the type of lungs used. Some produce visual feedback, such as chest rise and fall, while others produce an auditory sound to indicate the effectiveness of rescue breathing. It is essential to consider the type of feedback mechanism required to make the right choice.
The Brand
There are several brands of manikin lungs available in the market, and two of the most popular ones are Simulaids and Brayden.
Simulaids is a well-known brand that produces high-quality manikins for CPR training. One of the key features of Simulaids manikins is their realistic airway management system. They feature a lifelike airway management system that allows trainees to practice various airway management techniques, including intubation, bag-valve-mask ventilation, and suctioning.
All parts of a Simulaid manikin are made of high-quality materials, including silicone, that offers durability and hygiene. Their lungs are made of silicone, which provides a realistic feel and response during CPR training. Simulaids manikins are also designed to be easy to clean and maintain, with replaceable lungs available for customization and longevity.
Brayden is another reputable brand that produces high-quality manikin equipment. One of the key features of Brayden mannequins is their patented chest compression mechanism. The chest compression mechanism is designed to mimic the compliance and resistance of real human tissue, providing a more accurate representation of the force required to perform effective resuscitation.
Cost and Budget
It’s essential to consider the budget available when selecting manikin lungs for CPR training. However, you should also remember that investing in high-quality manikin lungs can result in more effective CPR training.
Type
Disposable
These lungs are designed to be used once and disposed of after each training session. They are typically made of synthetic materials and are affordable. They are an excellent option for training centers that conduct numerous CPR training sessions.
Reusable
Reusable manikin lungs can be cleaned and reused multiple times. They are typically made of high-quality materials such as silicone or latex. These models are an excellent option for training centers that conduct fewer CPR training sessions.
Maintenance Advice
Proper Cleaning and Disinfecting Techniques
Proper cleaning and disinfecting techniques are crucial to maintaining the hygiene and longevity of manikin parts. That said, they should be cleaned and disinfected after each training session using approved cleaning and disinfecting agents.
Regular Maintenance and Replacement of Worn-out Parts
Regular maintenance and replacement of worn-out parts are essential to maintaining the effectiveness and realism of the airway management system. Manikin lungs should be inspected regularly for wear and tear and replaced as needed.
Storage and Handling
Proper storage and handling of all training equipment are crucial to maintaining its hygiene and longevity. Manikin lungs should be stored in a clean and dry environment and handled with care to avoid damage.
To Sum Up
As you can see, manikin lungs play a crucial role in CPR training, providing trainees with accurate and realistic feedback. When choosing, it is essential to consider factors such as materials used in manufacturing, size, compatibility with manikins, feedback mechanisms available, brand, cost, and budget. Investing in high-quality models is important for effective CPR training, which can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.
Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.