By Catherine Wolf, KWMU
St. Louis, MO –
St. Louis Children's Hospital opened a new pediatric simulation center on Tuesday. They say it's the first of its kind in the area.
The center has three lifelike child mannequins that can breathe, bleed and replicate medical conditions like seizures or irregular heartbeats.
Center Director Dr. Jim Fehr says medical students generally don't see human patients until their third year of medical school. He says training on the mannequins will let them practice treating illnesses sooner.
"It can help individuals build confidence just as the pianist doesn't learn by just reading about the piano or listening to music but by actively engaging with their musical instrument."
Fehr says students will give the mannequins IVs, make sure they can breathe and give them medications.