I am a nurse who has been PALS certified for the past 10years. My
initial training and re-certifications have been done at Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta, Scottish Rite Children's Hospital, Grady
Memorial Hospital, Crawford Long Hospital and Emory University
Hospital. My training has always been done using simulators/ mannequins
for PALS course requirements. The ONLY time I have ever heard of
ferrets being used for intubation training has been in relation to
longer-term courses for anesthetists, and anesthesiologists for
NEONATAL specialties. For one thing, PALS courses are taken by a VERY
large group of health professionals in the pediatric area and it would
be very cost prohibitive to use live animal models of any kind. And
believe me...hospitals are all about the $. Even while functioning as
afirst responder in ICU, it was very rare for us or MD's to get the
chance to intubate a cadaver.

I am NOT saying that ferrets aren't used in medical research (AND
practice for our VETERINARIANS). They are and have helped to save
andimprove many human lives (hearing aids are a great example).

just my experience,

Lesley

[Posted in FML 6803]