Lifecast: Lifecast Body Simulation’s ‘Medical Manikins’ used to test ventilators
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Lifecast is a company based at Elstree Studios who provide prosthetics, VFX and props for the film and television industry, overseen by Creative Director, John Schoonraad. John has worked on many popular films including: Kick-Ass (2010), Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014).
As a branch of Lifecast, Lifecast Body Simulation started 3 years ago to create ‘medical manikins’ for research, training and education in health organisations.
Lifecast Body Simulation are currently making a significant contribution to the training of NHS staff. Due to their uniquely realistic appearance, Lifecast Body Simulation’s manikins are being used to train medical staff on the use of ventilators during the outbreak of novel coronavirus/Covid-19.
David Halliwell, Director of Lifecast Body Simulation, said: ‘the work we are undertaking recently has been to support the education of clinicians by ensuring that NHS teams are prepared for ‘surge’ capacity in the coming weeks. It is a great privilege to be able to help in this way.’
Manikins are also being used elsewhere in the world for medical preparations. David added: ‘Lifecast distribute worldwide and have most recently opened manufacturing in Florida – so we have stories from USA, Australia and Europe of how our work to ensure realism in simulation is preparing teams to cope with this unprecedented activity.’
Director and Co-Founder of Lifecast Body Simulation, Rob Clark, said: ‘We have loaned equipment for training at the new NHS Nightingale Hospital at the Excel Centre [London] for the duration of their operation. I personally delivered one of our Bodies to be used to train all the staff there to prepare for caring for large numbers of patients.’
Managing Director of Elstree Studios, Roger Morris, said: ‘The film and television industry has many transferable skills and Lifecast demonstrate how these film and TV creative skills can help the health industry generally and especially at this terrible time. Their initiative is fantastic and we applaud them.’