C

Composite failure: refers to the significantly elevated risk of alternative ventilation lifelines being challenging or failing once one ventilation lifeline has declared itself to be challenging or has failed. The term is derived from this article.

Collaborator: team member responsible for anticipating, prompting, implementing and even querying management decisions by the team coordinator or other members of the team. Collaborators may also self-initiate tasks to facilitate achievement of team management priorities and should communicate effectively in relation to all of the above activities. Synonymous with the term ‘follower’ but preferred as it emphasises that this role extends beyond simply passively obeying instructions.

Coordinator: team member responsible for managing the information, skills and knowledge available in a clinical situation. Synonymous with the term “leader” but preferred as it emphasises that the role is primarily concerned with having the skills to effectively coordinate the above elements rather than necessarily being the most senior or expert person present. This emphasis simultaneously broadens the scope of individuals who may be appropriate to take on this role and focuses the skill set required to perform it effectively. In addition the terminology ‘coordinator’ rather than ‘leader’ may help overcome some of the barriers to being willing to assume this role and declare it clearly to the team.