LifeCast - Child with Down Syndrome

Lifecast Body Simulation, a leader in realistic training manikins, announces the release of the world’s first Child who has Down Syndrome training manikin. This realistic manikin was formed from a real-life 3D body scan of a seven (7) year old girl named Gwen who has Down syndrome and will be available at healthcare education facilities around the world to facilitate speciality and inclusive training in managing Down syndrome.

Down syndrome (also called Trisomy 21) is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21. While varied amongst patients, a few common physical traits of some children who have Down syndrome are low muscle tone, a difficult airway for intubation, smaller stature, gapping in the toes, almond-shaped eyes, a single deep crease across the center of the palm, smaller hands and feet – all of which are accurately represented in the Gwen training manikin.

Gwen was created by Lifecast Body Simulation and the University of Greenwich in London, which also received support from the Down Syndrome Association. Gwen and her family are truly supporting such a worthy cause by raising awareness of Down syndrome, giving healthcare providers an accurate means of training, and continuing to support diversity and inclusion in simulation-based education and training. 

“Gwen is the world’s first truly inclusive manikin. Our goal is to make manikins that look like real people. We worked with the University of Greenwich in the UK to create this manikin lifecast and 3D scan of Gwen, a 7-year-old girl who has Down Syndrome who lives in the UK with her dad, mum and brother.” says David Halliwell, Founding Director of Lifecast Body Simulation Ltd. 

CHILD WHO HAS DOWN SYNDROME - KEY FEATURES

• Difficult intubation (smaller mouth opening)
• Single Transverse Palmar Crease
• Gapping in toes
• Low muscle tone
• Smaller stature
• Almond-shaped eyes
• Smaller hands and feet