# Vortex Approach Trainer > Simulated airway management training tool for clinical teams using the Vortex Approach. (iPhone/iPad app by Nicholas Chrimes.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vortex-approach-trainer/id980202243 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Nicholas Chrimes](https://appshunter.io/developer/980202242) - Category: Health & Fitness, Education - Price: Free - Rating: 3.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 18 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2015-04-11 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vortex-approach-trainer/id980202243/reviews.md ## What is Vortex Approach Trainer? This App is designed to facilitate the training of clinical teams in use of the Vortex Approach to airway management, in a simulated setting. It is not intended for use for airway management in a clinical environment. Use of the App assumes familiarity with the principles of the Vortex Approach including the Emergency Surgical Airway (ESA) Status and proficiency with the associated technical skills. Clinical teams being introduced to the Vortex Approach can use the App to help guide them through their management of a simulated difficult airway in a structured manner. Selecting any non-surgical airway technique allows access to menus which provide prompts for specific optimisation interventions for that technique. Prompts are arranged under the 5 general categories of optimisation strategies used by the Vortex Approach. These cues assist staff to associate each of these categories with the individual techniques that may be required to achieve an "optimal attempt" at each of the 3 non-surgical airway techniques. In this way these 5 categories become more effective prompts when using the standard printed cognitive tool alone. Once all interventions for a given category of optimisation strategy have been considered it may be crossed off. Crossing off all 5 categories of optimisation strategy for a given non-surgical airway technique leads to a "greying out" out the relevant non-surgical airway technique on the Vortex graphic and escalation of the ESA Status. These visual cues assist staff to understand how movement towards an "optimal attempt" at two or more separate non-surgical airway techniques can occur in parallel. It also reinforces the progressive limitation of remaining options that results as this takes place and the need to escalate preparation for performing emergency surgical airway. Selection of the Green Zone provides prompts to reoxygenate, gather resources and make a plan. Potential plans are broadly categorised as those that can be undertaken whilst remaining in the Green Zone and those that require returning to the "funnel" of the Vortex. Voice prompts are present to model the declarations that should be made to facilitate team situational awareness at key points during airway management. These can be disabled to encourage team members to make these declarations themselves as they move towards understanding the concepts and implementation of the Vortex Approach so that they are able to use only the standard printed cognitive tool when managing an actual difficult airway in a clinical setting. ## Key features - Simulated difficult airway scenarios - Vortex Approach training - Optimization strategy prompts - Visual cues for progress - Voice prompts for team communication - Emergency Surgical Airway (ESA) Status tracking ## Recent user reviews (2 of 2) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vortex-approach-trainer/id980202243/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Vortex is the Airway Management for Future *2016-12-24* I went through the website for the last two days. Let me congratulate the authors for the intuitive and well worked solution for success to secure airways. Everything starts from a vision and the vortex emblem clearly stands for it. I am downloading the app now and am sure to implement the training in my setting. ### 4/5 — Useful Prompt *2016-02-09* A good visual prompt It is a good idea to read the help file the free pdf eBook/iTunes book before using this app. It was most useful to me a a proceduralist GP to think - how can I get back to the green zone, re-oxygenate, take a pulse (mine), practise some tactical breathing (mine) and think how badly I need to go back into the vortex. This approach also re-enforces the idea that the more fiddling you do, the more likely you are riding the funnel down. Will not work on iPhones - ipad only. ## Frequently asked questions about Vortex Approach Trainer ### What is the Vortex Approach Trainer used for? Vortex Approach Trainer is designed to facilitate the training of clinical teams in the Vortex Approach to airway management within a simulated setting. It helps guide teams through simulated difficult airway scenarios and reinforces optimization strategies. ### Is Vortex Approach Trainer suitable for actual clinical use? No, the app is explicitly not intended for use for airway management in a clinical environment. Its purpose is solely for simulation-based training and familiarization with the Vortex Approach principles. ### What kind of prompts does Vortex Approach Trainer offer? The app provides prompts for specific optimization interventions for non-surgical airway techniques, arranged under the 5 general categories of optimization strategies used by the Vortex Approach. It also includes voice prompts for team situational awareness. ### How does Vortex Approach Trainer track progress? Users can cross off optimization strategies as they are considered. Crossing off all 5 categories for a technique leads to a visual cue on the Vortex graphic and an escalation of the ESA Status, indicating progress. ### Can the voice prompts in Vortex Approach Trainer be disabled? Yes, the voice prompts can be disabled. This allows team members to practice making the necessary declarations themselves, encouraging self-reliance when using the standard printed cognitive tool in a clinical setting. ### What devices is Vortex Approach Trainer compatible with? Vortex Approach Trainer is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is available for download on iOS. ### How often is Vortex Approach Trainer updated? The app was last updated on October 3, 2017, with version 1.2. It was originally released on April 11, 2015. ### What is the user rating for Vortex Approach Trainer? Vortex Approach Trainer has a rating of 3.0 stars based on 2 user ratings. This indicates a mixed reception from its limited user base. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 1.2 — 2017-10-03 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. small bug fixes ### 1.1 — 2017-09-23 Minor bug fix. ### 1.0 — 2015-04-10 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Vortex Approach Trainer | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Weight Tracker, BMI monitor](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/weight-tracker-bmi-monitor/id500465721) | 4.3 (154) | Free | Health & Fitness | | [MM - Challenge you](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mm-challenge-you/id1474300516) | 4.7 (60) | Free | Health & Fitness | | [IRON Weight Lifting Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iron-weight-lifting-tracker/id1400313064) | 4.5 (421) | Free | Health & Fitness | | [Mindset: Hypnotherapy & Sleep](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindset-hypnotherapy-and-sleep/id1334431656) | 4.5 (696) | Free | Health & Fitness | | [Velites Workout Interval Timer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/velites-workout-interval-timer/id1463869938) | 4.8 (109) | Free | Health & Fitness | | [Sync Solver - Health to Fitbit](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sync-solver-health-to-fitbit/id954858369) | 3.5 (695) | $4.99 | Health & Fitness | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*