Most of us think of store displays in retail windows when we think of mannequins. But mannequins have come a long way. There are mannequins available that are automated, computerized and technologically advanced. Students training to be doctors and nurses are lucky if their school utilizes computerized programmable mannequins in their training classes.



Using real live humans for training purposes just isn’t practical. It can be unsafe and unpredictable for everyone involved. In the past, only books, animals and accounts of life-threatening situations could be studied by students. Trial by fire was the only way for new doctors and nurses to gain real experience. Now, we have mannequins that can talk, cough, and yes, even sweat. Students can listen to the sounds that a human body really makes from inside the mannequin. Real-life situations can be simulated for students to test their skills. Simulations are extremely close to the real thing, minus the threat of actually harming a patient.

These mannequins are linked closely with computer programs that control what symptoms they exhibit and control the mannequins’ reactions to treatment. Students and teachers can see the results of the treatment in clear language and graphics on the computer when they’re done. Trainers can watch from afar as students are put into high pressure situations. Teachers can speak into a microphone and the sound comes out of the mannequin like it’s the one speaking. Heart rates can be manipulated, blood pressure can be controlled and heart attacks can even be simulated from outside of the room. Coughing and sweating can be initiated by the controller to mimic symptoms that go along with whatever complication or injury they are training for.

Multiple illnesses and emergency situations can be exhibited at once. This gives students a real, high-pressure experience and trains them to deal with many complications at one time. Students learn what to look and listen for to determine a diagnosis, without having to actually see the illnesses or injuries in real life.

This type of computerized mannequin training can be especially crucial when working with pregnancy, children and babies. Pregnant mannequins can be programmed to breathe, urinate, dilate, be in labor for hours or even give birth unexpectedly. The baby could be breach, come out healthy and breathing or be blue and low on oxygen. The baby and mother need to be cared for at the same time. The mother can bleed uncontrollably. Both can be hooked up to monitors and exhibit a variety of symptoms simultaneously, training students to deal with multiple complications at once. The teacher is in control of producing complications spontaneously while students work.

The variety of experiences that students are receiving in direct correlation with these mannequins is amazing. Imagine how much more experience a student coming out of one of these technologically advanced settings will have over their graduating peers from other schools. Most importantly, real, high-quality training can take place without any patients getting hurt or losing their lives.