ResusSim 98--a PC advanced life support trainer

Advanced life support (ALS) requires several different skills and the recall of complex information. The personal computer is an ideal tool for the teaching of factual information. We have developed a computer programme that simulates a variety of cardiac arrest scenarios. Its aim is to communicate specialist knowledge to junior staff in a challenging and entertaining way. Each scenario has a real time ECG, clinical signs of the simulated patient, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and temperature. Arterial blood samples can be analysed and the medical record can be reviewed. Interventions available include defibrillation, intubation, fluid and drug therapy. Built-in variation means that repeating a scenario may lead to different patient behaviour. An important part of the programme is the intelligent debriefing of the user after each patient. Each action elicits a comment that is based upon the current European Resuscitation Council guidelines. This is then hyperlinked to an extensive help file that includes the text of the guidelines, diagrams, pictures and algorithms that aid the user in the learning of ALS skills in association with existing teaching programmes. ResusSim 98 runs under Windows 3.1, Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.0.