Watford General Hospital Uses Specialist Manikin for Stab Wound Training

Watford General Hospital is utilizing a specialist manikin to prepare emergency workers for real-life major trauma scenarios, such as stab wounds. The hospital stated that the training aims to prepare staff for real emergencies where there are only seconds to act. The manikin allows workers to practice the 'clamshell' procedure, a rapid opening of the chest to access the heart and lungs to relieve pressure, which can be a patient's only chance of survival.

Dr. Daniela Burlacu explained that the procedure is one that most clinicians will rarely encounter during their careers, but when it is needed, there is no time to learn on the job. A spokesperson for West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said the training could be the difference between life and death for people who arrive in cardiac arrest following severe chest trauma.

The training takes place in a realistic environment, allowing workers to practice the technical skills, rapid decision-making, and teamwork needed for one of emergency medicine's most complex and time-critical procedures. The trust noted that due to rising levels of knife crime and serious trauma nationally, it is important that these skills are taught. The manikin is repaired after each training session using specialist silicone.