The History of Resuscitation Anne

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Death mask of drowning victim who came to be known as Annie

January 19, 2022 71 view(s)

The History of Resuscitation Anne

If you have learned, taught, or trained CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), you have certainly heard of Resusci Anne, and likely have given her compressions and rescue breaths. As one of the most widely used resuscitation manikins, there is a lot to know about Resusci Anne! With over 25 years of experience in the CPR and healthcare training industry, WorldPoint is here to give you all the information you need about the history of Resusci Anne, Resusci Anne on the market today, and alternatives to Resusci Anne.

Who is Resusci Anne Based On?

Resusci Anne is based on the body of a young woman who was pulled from the Seine in Paris in the late 1800s. The young woman’s face — with a soft smile — became the fascination of a pathologist, who cast a mold from it. About a year later, the mold was used to create the face of a CPR doll — the one we all now know as “Resusci Anne” or “Little Anne.”  

Who Invented Resuscitation Annie?

Resusci Anne, also known as Resuscitation Annie, Resusci Annie, or simply ‘Annie’, was invented by Asmund Laerdal, owner of a toymaking company. In the late 1950’s, a member of the American Heart Association’s new CPR Committee, Archer Gordon, realized that a CPR dummy (also called a CPR dummie, CPR model, or CPR manikin) could help medical student’s practice the lifesaving techniques. Gordon enlisted the help of toymaker Asmund Laerdal.  Having seen a replica of the “L’Inconnue de la Seine” on the wall of a friend or relatives house, Laerdal decided to give the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation doll, Resuscitation Anne, that same face.

Laerdal then turned their focus towards emergency and first aid training products. Laerdal’s presence in the emergency, first aid, and pre-hospital training world has only grown since.  To this day, Resusci Anne continues to help CPR, EMS, and other healthcare professionals around the world train a wide range of resuscitation skills to prepare others to save lives.

History of CPR Manikins

Resusci Anne was the first widely used resuscitation manikin or CPR manikin, helping train individuals in chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing, what we now call CPR. Although the basics of CPR manikins have remained the same — a replica of a human torso or body — CPR manikins have come a long way since the first Resuscitation Anne. CPR manikins are now available in different age ranges — including adult CPR manikins, child CPR manikins, and infant CPR manikins.

In the 2000s, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines put a spotlight on the importance of the quality of CPR. This paved the way for Laerdal, and other CPR manikin manufacturers like Prestan Products and Nasco Healthcare, to incorporate CPR feedback devices, devices that give the CPR provider feedback on compression rate and compression depth to help aid proper learning, into their CPR manikins.

Now, CPR manikins and resuscitation manikins are available from a wide variety of manufacturers. New CPR manikins are created from new materials, giving them a more lifelike feel, and commonly include new technology like CPR feedback devices to help aid proper learning of quality CPR. The current models of Laerdal Resuscitation Annie include Laerdal Little Anne QCPR and Resusci Anne, available in Torso or Full Body models. Both models use QCPR technology to enable both instructors and trainees to more effectively monitor and review CPR performance, efficiency, and value of training time.

About Resusci Anne

Resusci Anne, described as a kind of “Build A Bear” of manikins, is truly modular;  you can really customize Resusci  Anne to your training objectives! There are multiple base models available, in addition to a wide range of add-on features. Buy the features you need (and can afford) now, and easily upgrade your training later! Learn about the Resusci® Anne manikin models below!

Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR

Compliant with 2020 American Heart Association (AHA) CPR Guidelines, Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR uses QCPR technology to enable both instructors and trainees to more effectively monitor and review CPR performance, efficiency, and value of training time. Resusci Anne QCPR features realistic anatomy, including head tilt, chin lift, compression depth, compression force, and a ventilation system to provide appropriate chest rise with BVM (Bag Valve Mask) and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The rechargeable battery provides up to 34 hours of battery time when fully charged. CPR feedback options include SkillGuide™ PLUS with SkillReporter™, SkillGu ide™, and the QCPR Training App (available for Apple and Android). Available in Torso or Full Body, this manikin has a 1-year warranty.

Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR Torso, Rechargeable

Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR Full Body, Rechargeable

Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR AED

Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR AED is an adult manikin with QCPR technology to allow comprehensive BLS training for fire and EMS professionals, focusing especially on defibrillator pad placement and accuracy. Resusci Anne QCPR AED features include anatomically accurate landmarks, head tilt/chin lift, automatic carotid pulse, and LED lights in chest for correct pad placement. Compatible with the AED Trainer 2 and AED Trainer 3, this manikin provides enhanced training on Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training, in addition to 2020 AHA Guideline compliant CPR training. The rechargeable battery provides up to 34 hours of battery time when fully charged. CPR feedback options include SkillGuide™ PLUS with SkillReporter™, SkillGuide™, and the QCPR Training App (available for Apple and Android). Available in Torso or Full Body, this manikin features a 1-year warranty.

Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR AED Torso, Rechargeable Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR AED Full Body, Rechargeable

Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR AED Airway Head

Laerdal Resusci Anne QCPR AED Airway Head is an adult manikin that allows comprehensive training in high-quality CPR, defibrillation, and airway management, perfect for high-performance CPR training for professional first responders. 2020 American Heart Association (AHA) Guideline compliant QCPR technology enables both instructors and trainees to more effectively monitor and review CPR performance, increasing the efficiency and value of training time. CPR feedback options include SkillGuide™ PLUS with SkillReporter™, SkillGuide™, and the QCPR Training App (available for Apple and Android). Resusci Anne QCPR AED Airway Head features include anatomically accurate landmarks, head tilt/chin lift, automatic carotid pulse, and LED lights in chest for correct pad placement. Compatible with the AED Trainer 2 and AED Trainer 3, this manikin provides enhanced training on Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training. Realistically teach and practice essential airway management techniques including supraglottic device insertion and more. Available in Torso or Full Body, this manikin has a 1-year warranty.

Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR AED Airway Head Torso, Rechargeable

Laerdal® Resusci® Anne QCPR AED Airway Head Full Body, Rechargeable

What Feedback Devices Are Compatible With Resusci Anne?

Resusci Anne QCPR, the newest iteration of the Resuscitation Annie CPR manikin, is compatible with a few different feedback devices to provide comprehensive BLS training. CPR feedback device options for Resusci Anne QCPR include the Laerdal SimPad PLUS System or an optional Patient Monitor.

Laerdal® SimPad® PLUS System

Are Replacement Parts Available For Resusci Annie?

There are many replacement parts available for Laerdal Resusci Anne, including replacement lung bags, manikin face skins, and more. WorldPoint carries all replacement parts and accessories for Laerdal® Resusci Anne, including:

Shop all Laerdal Resusci Anne replacement parts at WorldPoint.

To ensure full functionality and safe training, it is important to properly clean your Laerdal Resusci Anne manikin. Read more on How to Clean CPR Manikins to learn best practices.

What Are the Best Alternatives to Resusci Anne?

There are many alternatives to Laerdal Resusci Anne available at WorldPoint and it is easy to find the perfect manikin for your training. We have a wide variety of high-quality CPR training manikins available in all ages.

For advanced CPR training for healthcare providers, alternatives to Resusci Anne include Life/form® Basic CPARLENE Torso with Heartisense, Ambu® Man Wireless – Next Generation, and 3B Scientific® CPRLilly PRO+.

Life/form® Basic CPARLENE® Torso with Heartisense is a flexible, adaptable, and modular manikin that enables accurate and effective training and assessment. CPRARLENE® provides high-quality CPR feedback via Bluetooth link to select Android™ and Apple® devices.

Life/form® Basic CPARLENE® Torso with Heartisense® - Light Skin

Ambu® Man Wireless – Next Generation provides advanced BLS algorithm training and is specially designed for basic training of medical and nursing staff. The browser-based Ambu® Manikin Management Module allows the wireless control, documentation, and monitoring of the performance of trainees.

Ambu® Man Wireless - Next Generation

The 3B Scientific® CPRLilly PRO+ with Tablet enables instructors and healthcare providers to measure, monitor, and analyze the CPR performance of up to 10 trainees at a time. CPRLilly PRO+ connects to a tablet via Bluetooth, where quality CPR feedback is provided on: compression depth, compression rate, compression fraction, chest complete release, correct hand placement, jaw thrust/head tilt control, and appropriate ventilation volume.

3B Scientific® CPRLilly PRO+ with Tablet

Other alternatives to Resusci Anne include Laerdal Little Anne QCPR and Brayden Pro CPR Training Manikin

Laerdal Little Anne QCPR is a great option for those looking to stick with the Laerdal brand and train high-quality CPR, but who may not need the Basic Life Support functionality that Resusci Anne offers. Laerdal Little Anne QCPR offers QCPR measurement and feedback enabling real-time feedback on compressions and ventilations, post-event performance debriefing, and details on compression release, depth and rate, ventilation volume, and the number of compressions/ventilations/cycles.

Laerdal® Little Anne® QCPR - Light Skin

The Brayden Pro CPR Training Manikin is another CPR manikin that offers high-quality CPR feedback via a Bluetooth link to an app, in addition to three indicator lights showing the quality of CPR that is being performed. The Brayden Pro CPR manikin offers a timeline of assessed performance measured through 8 key CPR metrics for quantitative analysis and debriefing.

Brayden Pro CPR Training Manikin