It's one smart 'dummy'

BALAD, IRAQ

11.27.2006

Story by Spc. Amanda Solitario 

210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

by Spc. Amanda Solitario
210th MPAD

LSA ANACONDA, Iraq - During the last six months, METI-man has died and been brought back to life countless times by the medics and Soldiers taking classes at the Jameson Combat Medical Training Center here.

METI-man, named for its creator, Medical Education Technologies, Inc., is the latest piece of high-tech equipment to hit medical classes, both military and civilian, and the JCMTC is the only place in Iraq that houses these specialized mannequins, said Master Sgt. Luis B. Diolazo, the noncommissioned officer in charge at the school.

Unlike his lifeless plastic counterparts, this full-sized dummy has a respiratory and circulatory system, which enables him to breathe and bleed. METI-man has certain motor capabilities such as blinking and moving his mouth, and he is anatomically correct with interchangeable male and female sex organs.

METI-man, dubbed "Lt. Dan" by the instructors, is so advanced, he can simulate almost any battlefield injury, explained Diolazo, adding that the mannequin exposes the students to a wide-range of realistic wounds.

"There is no limit to what he can do," said Sgt. Joshua Stutzman, an instructor at the JCMTC attached to the 3rd Medical Command.

Blood may spurt from a severed limb, or he may choke on the mucus rattling in his throat and lungs. As he gasps for air, his pulse can speed up or drop off the radar without warning.

He can even tell the students what is wrong via a microphone system that the operator uses at the other end.

Stutzman, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, said whether it is a broken bone, or a collapsed lung, the students have to react quickly to each situation.

Lt. Dan's life is in the Soldier's hands, he said.

"Whatever their interventions are, they can either hurt him or help him," he said. "They can kill him or save him."

All of these features make METI-man an indispensable asset for the servicemembers, said Lt. Col. Anthony S. Ramage of Augusta, Ga., critical care consultant for 3rd MEDCOM.

"Today's medic is expected to perform complex procedures that require feedback from the mannequin to ensure correct performance," he said. "That feedback not only enhances the learning experience, but it also builds confidence, which may be just as important as competence."

METI-man's life support system consists of a series of hoses and wires operated by the instructors.

Bodily fluids are kept in a reservoir and pumped through tubes into the mannequin, and a generator regulates breathing by filling his lungs with air. The computer serves as Lt. Dan's brain controlling his nervous system.

To activate the dummy, an instructor sits behind a desk, plugs commands into a computer, and watch students scramble to respond, as the teacher continues to monitor Lt. Dan's heart and pulse rate on the screen.

Servicemembers can even administer medications as part of their training. Stutzman said the student tells him the drug and dosage, and he types it into the computer. METI-man does the rest, acting favorably or adversely depending on the situation.

Ramage said the level of practical training provided by METI-man is essential as there may come a time when the Soldiers have to react in a hostile environment without senior medical supervision.

"Hopefully, the mannequin brought the medic one step closer to a real life scenario before he or she has to face it for the first time."

This type of training does not come cheap. METI-man starts at $50,000 and can run into the triple digits for more sophisticated versions, Diolazo said.

Studying manuals and books may be a cheaper alternative, but Stutzman said the students get more out of METI-man as opposed to reading.

"They need hands-on practice," Stutzman said. "You don't want to wait until someone goes down on the battlefield."

• Date Taken: 11.27.2006
• Date Posted: 11.27.2006 13:44
• Story ID: 8394
• Location: BALAD, IQ