MANNEQUINS IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING

MEDICAL EDUCATION

Medical simulation mannequins, models or related artifacts such as SimMan or Harvey are widely used in medical education. These are sometimes also referred to as virtual patients.  In first aid courses mannequins may be used to demonstrate methods of giving first aid (e.g., resuscitation).

The development of mannequin simulators used for education, training, and research is reviewed, tracing the motivations, evolution to commercial availability, and efforts toward assessment of efficacy of those for teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiology skills, anaesthesia clinical skills, and crisis management. 

HARVEY MANNEQUIN: THE FIRST MEDICAL SIMULATOR

Harvey was one of the earliest medical simulators available for training of health care professionals.  Harvey was created in 1968 by Dr. Michael Gordon at the University of Miami. He was one of the most innovative medical products of his time.  His specialty was to simulate cardiopulmonary diseases, and provides a method of standardized testing for real-time procedures.  He was the best training teacher for medical students and residents.

This mannequin simulated more than 25 different cardiac functions of the human body: varying blood pressure, breathing, pulse, heart sounds and heart murmurs.  He is updated every time new technologies arise, and is now being used also in combat medics and other military training.

SIM MAN: THE HIGH-TECH MEDICAL MANNEQUIN

In many hospitals around the world, high-tech mannequins impersonate sick and injured patients to help recent graduate nurses, medical students and support staff learn about conditions they might encounter in a real-life emergency.

"Sim Man" is one of them: he talks, bleeds, has pulse, and offers specialized teaching opportunities

                                                MANNEQUINS DELIVERING BABIES 

Noel, the high-tech mannequin used for birth delivery, is a very realistic technological piece. She can cry, talk, bleed, has a pulse and blood pressure and she can deliver a mannequin baby, one named Hal.

It is like a real patient, and doctors can add blood and sounds for her to have a real voice. These kind of mannequins are very usefull to learn by simulating emergencies so that the staff practices how to deal with very stresful and intense situations.

THE FIRST MANNEQUIN TO GO INTO SPACE

March of 1961 might have been the closest point between Soviet Union and America in the first wave of the space race. Both countries were fighting to get a man in space and both took major steps that month. For NASA, it was the final unmanned mission to test the booster that would take its first astronauts aloft. For the Soviets, it was the flights of Ivan Ivanovich that proved the Vostok capsule was ready for a man.

Ivan Ivanovich, the first mannequin to go into space, was dressed in a fully functioning Sokol space suit and loaded into Korabl-Sputnik 4 along with the menagerie of animals. The mission launched on March 9, 1961.

Like a real cosmonaut would do, Ivanovich was ejected from the capsule just before landing and descended by a personal parachute. It terrified people nearby who saw a body fall to Earth and land, apparently lifeless, on the cold ground. The Soviet officials had anticipated a shock like this and placed a panel in front of Ivanovich’s face inside his helmet identifying him as a dummy.

O-S-C-A-R: THE ENGINEERING AND INTERIOR DESIGN MANNEQUIN 

Oscar is a mannequin used by the Chevrolet to provide the key measurements engineering and design needed to create optimal interior space and comfort inside the 2013 Malibu car. Technically known as a “Comfort Dimensioning System,” Oscar is assembled in 18 removable parts weighing up to 170 lbs., and is made of steel, plastic and aluminum.  He provides data that influences positioning of the steering wheel, the pedals, rearview mirrors, instrument panel and other driving controls.




The first dummy used for this kind of procedures was Oscar Eightball, who served as a dummy for aviation and was used for ejection seat and other testing.  Human X-rays were used to help develop Oscar’s shape and size.

EMERGENCY TRAINING SERVICES

Fire and coastguard services use mannequins to practice life-saving procedures. The mannequins have similar weight distribution to a human. Special obese mannequins and horse mannequins have also been made for similar purposes.

FLAME RESISTANT MENNEQUINS

Mannequins used to test materials constructed by using heavy-duty flame retardant P.V.C. They are used for highly dangerous uses in car accidents and fires.

MOBs: MANNEQUINS FOR WATER SAFETY TRAINING

Using life size mannequins in water training programs as simulated in-the-water-victims, has created more realistic and challenging training situations for Coast Guards around the world.

The MOBs are named Ally, Bert, Charlie, Della and Ernie and are being used in all division crew rescue and recovery training efforts.  They allow a realistic aspect of being people overboard because they weight and feel as real victims.