Formula One pitstop techniques to help in the resuscitation of newborn babies

Williams, a leading Formula One team, has been assisting the neonatal unit at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff by bringing pitstop know-how to help in the resuscitation of newborn babies.

Recognising the similar speed and co-ordination required by neonatal resuscitations and Formula One pitstops, staff at UHW invited members of the Williams team to the hospital last year for an exploratory meeting to discuss how Formula One techniques and processes could be incorporated into their work. Neonatal staff from UHW visited the Williams factory in Oxfordshire last month to observe the team practise pitstops to see first-hand how they operate.

Following these site visits, the neonatal team has identified and started implementing a number of changes to improve its resuscitation processes that are based on those used in Formula One racing. The resuscitation equipment trolley has now been audited and streamlined to ensure that equipment can be located as quickly as possible. The neonatal team has mapped out a standardised floor space in delivery theatres to clearly show the area for the neonatal resuscitation team to work in – copying the customised floor map the Williams team takes to races to map out the specific pit box requirements at each track. The pitstop resuscitation team at UHW are also in the early stages of implementing Formula One communications and analysis techniques, including the use of a "radio- check" prior to a resuscitation, greater use of hand signals rather than verbal communi- cation, and video analysis to analyse performance following a resuscitation with debrief meetings as standard.

Dr Rachel Hayward, Specialist Registrar in Neonates, said: "There is a growing amount of evidence to support a systematic approach to resuscitative care, which is time-critical and dependent upon optimal team dynamics and clear communication. Analogous with the requirements of an effective pitstop, we have worked with the Williams team to implement Formula One techniques and processes to augment neonatal resuscitative care."