Best CPR Training Equipment
First-aid instructors in search of the best CPR training equipment find that the selection is staggering, but so is the price differential. Even as it is generally true that you get what you pay for, within the CPR training equipment market this does not always apply. Instead, there are times when less-expensive training aids are just as effective as their high-priced counterparts, assuming that they are chosen specifically for the use at hand. The best CPR training equipment combines ease of operation with maneuverability, hygienic storage, and low-impact cleaning requirements.
Types
CPR training equipment may come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although full manikins are not usually seen, they are available for those practicing infant and child CPR. Adult CPR manikins usually only provide a head and torso, so that the student may practice rescue breathing and chest thrusts.
Features
Features vary when it comes to CPR equipment. The oldest models feature full-head systems that require periodic disinfection in between students practicing their cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques. A better form is the removable face shield. This cuts down on the amount of manikins that must be purchased. Each student receives a face shield that may be placed over the manikin when it is their rotation to practice the CPR moves.
Benefits
A look at the Channing-Bete manufacturer site (a link is included in the resources section) convinces buyers that the best CPR training equipment includes advanced life-support practice dolls. Even as this presents perhaps the most expensive option, the lifelike realism of the manikins assists with a variety of CPR functions, including pulse assessment, blood-pressure skills and even intubation. This places it out of the price range of smaller CPR training units, but for those that see a good amount of turnout during their scheduled training sessions, it is a most valuable tool.
Considerations
It is noteworthy that realism is a vital component when training students to provide lifesaving CPR in case of an emergency. Some teachers have found that providing an array of body types---as opposed to a highly realistic manikin---is by far a better way of spending their training budget. The First Aid Product site (a link is provided in Additional Resources, below) offers a mannequin called "Fat Old Fred." A bit of an insensitive moniker to be sure, but Fat Old Fred actually simulates the upper body of an obese, elderly victim. This manikin is considered the best CPR training equipment for nursing staff and first responders in assisted-living facilities.
Warning
Even as realism in CPR training equipment is highly desirable, there are instances in which it may cross the line and become disturbing to individuals. One such example is Little Water Boy CPR Manikin from Lincoln Aquatics (a link is provided in the Additional Resources, below). It is a realistic-looking child manikin that submerges in water and allows students to learn rescue diving and CPR for potential drowning victims. Because of the size, shape and look of the doll under water, this may be disturbing for anyone who has undergone the trauma of losing a child to drowning.
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