Achieve Top Skills Performance

In order to achieve accurate performance in any physical skills, there are specific techniques that need to be learned, practiced, mastered and then honed through further practice. To maintain any performance at a high level of accuracy, one needs to practice.

The key to proper performance is correct instruction, proper feedback and then an objective evaluation of how well you are performing. As you gain practice and confidence, you are able to adjust your performance so that more and more accuracy is a part of your regular performance.

As in any demanding physical activity, one must also be in physical shape in order to perform correctly over periods of time.

 Coaching for CPR Skills Improvement

In this model, the trainer allows the person to perform. As errors become obvious, the trainer will verbally suggest one skill that should be corrected. For example on chest compressions, you might say slow down.

Once the person has adjusted that skill, make another suggestion.

At the end of the session, show the screen to the person so they have an idea of how they were doing.

 Validating Existing Skills

In this use of SmartMan, the idea is to provide an objective accurate evaluation of skills. In this case, the person who is performing completes the test without any feedback from the computer or from any one else.

Several reasons you might do this. An individual may wish to test themselves after a period to see if they are able to perform at a top level without any feedback. A trainer may wish to see how students are able to perform. For research to determine the level at which people are performing. For oversight such as a medical director.

 CPR Refresher Training

Refresher trainer is slightly different than the training used in the above models. Although we are all used to the idea of having to under take a CPR refresher certification every couple of years, when we add the notion of performing correctly to the mix we need to take a few further steps. This is because people who have been trained but who have not received full objective feedback on their total performance before have already developed habits.

If on an objective blind test your performance is below 70%, this is an indication that the habits which are currently ingrained need to be changed.

Change Behavior: With SmartMan the aim must be to modify those existing habits so that performance of the CPR skills brings them into line with what is required. Most people trained on SmartMan are able to perform at 70% or above.

Establish A New Habit:  For most people, after the initial review of correct performance patterns and practice of the new behavior, the new behavior will not yet be firmly established. Changing of the existing habit will take several short practice sessions (as short as 2 or 3 minutes) on SmartMan. We suggest that you do this a couple of times per month and continue until you are able to perform to the level required. Once this happens the new habit replaces the old one.

Check That New Habit is Established: After time and when under stress there is a tendency to revert to the old pattern of behavior. To make sure you are performing correctly, you must check yourself regularly. Once you are sure that the new pattern has been established, you will not need to practice as often.

 Self Improvement

Real sustained improvement in performance comes from a focus by the individual. SmartMan, by providing real time feedback allows people to practice skills without a trainer being present and then they can test themselves.

The aim is for each individual to find their own rhythm so that they can accurately perform without having to concentrate on the individual components.