For Release: May 5, 2008

May 5, 2008, CHICAGO -- She cries and hiccups. She has a heart beat, moves her arms and legs and will turn blue if she's not getting enough oxygen. The SimNewB, a new neonatal patient simulator developed through a strategic alliance between the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Laerdal Medical, features realistic newborn traits and lifelike clinical feedback that will help health care professionals learn to resuscitate their most vulnerable patients.

The SimNewB will play a vital role in the redesign of neonatal resuscitation training programs to a more interactive model, said Jay Goldsmith, MD, FAAP, co-chair of the AAP?s Neonatal Resuscitation Program Steering Committee. Rather than lecture-intensive courses, programs are shifting to emphasize hands-on, interactive training.

"Medicine in general is coming to believe that simulation training is the best training you can have," Goldsmith said. "The mantra is 'suspension of disbelief.' We see trainees coming into the course chewing gum, laughing and talking. When we make the scenario believable, they get serious. They start to believe their skills are being tested."

Immersive, simulation-based training results in better retention of cognitive, technical and behavioral skills, and leads to better communication, teamwork and leadership among health care professionals, Goldsmith said.

To support this new approach, the AAP issued a request for proposals for a newborn simulator that would align with medical guidelines for neonatal resuscitation. Laerdal, a Norway-based manufacturer, delivered the SimNewB, a 7-pound, 21-inch female newborn mannequin. Laerdal engineers worked closely with the AAP to design a simulator that mimics a newborn's complex physiological responses to a wide range of variables. The SimNewB is fully integrated with the AAP's guidelines for neonatal resuscitation, creating an effective learning tool.

"It was a great experience to work so closely with the American Academy of Pediatrics on this important project," said Clive Patrickson, PhD, president of Laerdal in the Americas. "By working together from the very start, we have been able to ensure that the simulator meets the essential requirements that the AAP was looking for when it issued the request for proposals."

"The SimNewB is a revolutionary training tool," said Louis P. Halamek, MD, FAAP, co-chair of the AAP's Neonatal Resuscitation Program Steering Committee. "It will create a realistic training experience that's based on the learning objectives of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program."

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Learn more at http://www.aap.org.

Laerdal Medical, one of the world's leading providers of Healthcare Solutions, is dedicated to helping save lives with products and services for Airway Management, Immobilization, Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, Patient Care, Self-Directed Learning, and Medical Education. Laerdal is pleased to serve all healthcare providers and educators, from the lay rescuer to the medical professional. http://www.laerdal.com.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.