Optimizing Neonatal CPR Training with Brayden Baby

In undergraduate simulation courses, students are typically divided into several groups that take turns practicing. While one group is performing, the remaining students can observe via live video projection and engage in peer review—identifying strengths and areas for improvement. As the course progresses, it is often observed that the later groups perform better, indicating the positive impact of real-time observation and feedback on learning outcomes. Although the Brayden Baby (the illuminated manikin) is not a high-fidelity simulator, its built-in lighting feedback makes it particularly well-suited for large-class teaching using real-time visual feedback systems.

• When learners use a resuscitation bag to perform positive pressure ventilation, correct technique causes the lungs to light up, indicating successful ventilation. If no lights appear, it signals the need to adjust the baby's position or check the seal of the equipment. Compared to observing chest rise, the lighting system provides a clearer and more accessible way for peers to assess the accuracy of the procedure via video.
   
• During CPR, the simulator's chest, facial vessels, and frontal forehead area light up to varying degrees based on the depth and rhythm of compressions. This real-time visual feedback helps the operator self-correct their technique and also aids observers in understanding proper execution.

Simulators don't need to be highly realistic in every aspect—what matters most is their ability to integrate with other systems and enhance teaching effectiveness, making them the most appropriate tools for the job