Heartland Regional Medical Center is improving one of its training programs, and officials swear the change is not being brought about as a result of complaints by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Some will see the timing as more than coincidence, but the fact is that medical professionals will be better trained in managing critically ill infants and children. And that's good news for all of us.

It's all part of the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course, which the American Heart Association notes is designed for health care providers ranging from pediatricians and nurses to paramedics and respiratory therapists - all dealing in pediatric emergencies.

For more than 25 years, Heartland has used live cats in the training, and it has worked well. Participants must learn to intubate the small airways of infants and young children, and cats' airways are similar to those of children.

In June, however, the hospital drew criticism from PETA for using cats, with the group contending the procedure put the felines at unnecessary risk. Heartland officials maintained the cats were treated humanely and were the best training option. Until now.

The hospital recently purchased two state-of-the-art mannequins at $46,000 each and has begun using them in the training. They can be made to simulate a variety of conditions, such as airway constriction and swelling of the throat and tongue. "This probably is the closest we've seen to a representation of a live situation," says Charlie Shields, Heartland's chief marketing/communications officer.

Mr. Shields says the decision to use mannequins wasn't made as a result of the PETA complaint. But, he adds, "As technology develops, certainly PETA has brought this to the forefront."

PETA has received its share of criticism over the years - and a great amount of it is justified - but this is one instance where a complaint may have spurred officials to find a better way. Even if the cats were treated humanely, technology appears to provide a better option for training the people we rely upon in an emergency. And now Heartland is using this technology.