Critical Care

3 Types of Heat Injuries

If you are exercising or if you work in a hot environment, heat injuries can be over looked easily which is an extreme health risk to the person involved.

There are many ways to categorize heat injuries but we will discuss them in 3 major heat induced classes:

Heat cramps are crippling contractions of muscles, usually following exercise. These usually happen to people who are not acclimatized to the specific environment. There is no research to say what causes them specifically but some have shown a depletion of electrolytes is responsible. Thankfully these craps usually subside once the person is completely acclimatized to the environment. Read more…

Resources For Caregivers

Over the years I have witnessed many families struggle with the onset of illness of a loved one. Its unfortunate that making decisions are often left to the point where urgency is the primary motivator. In an ideal world the family would get together and have an open conversation about what alternatives are available. It is not uncommon for the primary caregiver to hide the extent of their loved ones disability, by compensating for their deficits actually causing the crisis situation.

Many people believe that Medicare will cover the care needed at home. It often comes as a shock to families when they learn that Medicare Home Health provides intermittent visits. For example if a patient is released from the hospital after breaking a hip Medicare, when ordered by the doctor, will pay for a skilled nurse, a physical therapist and a home health aide depending on the patients’ needs. But the health care professionals are only in the home for a limited time, meaning that the patient may be without help the majority of the day and all night. So the question becomes what options do families have when they find themselves faced with this situation. Read more…

Suture Kits – What to Look For in Buying an Emergency Suture Kit

In an uncertain world, accidents will happen, whether to you or people associated with you, such as family and friends. This is not meant to scare you, but to present reality as it is. The important thing, as boy scouts already know, is to always be prepared. In emergencies, you have to be assured that you have the sufficient tools for action. Your tools must deliver, providing you with the dependability assistance you need. Having emergency suture kits in strategic locations is one aspect of being prepared.

Although commonplace accidents may result in punctured skin and open wounds, the regular emergency kit may contain only materials such as bandages and iodine, nothing to close the wound itself. This is unfortunate, as blood loss could be a major problem. Sure, there is the tourniquet you can make, but it is hardly as effective as the use of sutures, and certainly not for long term use. A prolonged tourniquet application also results in decreased blood flow which is potentially as harmful. Read more…

How to Defeat the Effects of Pepper Spray

Whenever you are stuck in a serious situation or just goofing off with friends, coming in contact with pepper spray is something more and more people are faced with today. This link with agent has very powerful effects. Here are just a few tips to counter the effects of pepper spray.

How to Defeat the Effects of Pepper Spray in Four Steps

Step 1 – Do Not Panic – The worst thing you can do is panic. Never panic! Whatever you do, do not rub the affected area. Pepper spray is both a physical and mental attack. It makes you physically blind and makes you think you are suffocating at the same time. From the moment your hits with pepper spray in the eyes stopped taking deep controlled breaths and stay calm. Another side effect is snot draining out of your nose. Again not something to be alarmed about.

Step 2 – Rinse with Water – From the moment you are hit with pepper spray asks somebody close by your guide you to the nearest water supply. There, rinse your eyes thoroughly with running water preferably through a hose for 10 to 15 minutes. Even though you will feel an immense amount of burning on your eyes keep grimacing and force your eyes open to allow the water to get in. Read more…

Preventing Head Injuries – Why You Should Wear a Helmet When Skiing Or Snowboarding

When the snow starts to fall the mind shifts to various winter sports, specifically skiing and snowboarding. Does this describe you? Both kids and parents get excited about the prospect of skiing or snowboarding down their local ski hill or possible heading off to a resort on a winter vacation. Whatever it is, there is excitement in the air when the snow first hits the ground.

But with all this excitement comes some potential dangers. Sports can be quite dangerous if the proper precautions are not taken. Both skiing and snowboarding are action sports and involve falls and accidents. These falls and accidents, more often than not, result in head injuries, both minor and serious. To help prevent these head injuries it is important that both old and young wear some form of head protection such as a ski or snowboarding helmet.

Now, not just any helmet should be used. Helmets are made for specific sports. Hockey helmets for hockey, helmets for biking, helmets for baseball as so on, the point is that helmets are designed and made for protection from head injuries unique to the particular sport. Not only should the helmet be tailored for a specific sport it should also fit properly and comfortable to wear. Read more…

Importance and Health Benefits of Antioxidants

Antioxidants are usually referred to a group of chemicals that are naturally found in vegetables, plants and fruits. They can also be synthesized in our body. Antioxidants are essential for the prevention of the human diseases like cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

They also have anti-aging effect and they fight against the free radicals that are associated with aging related diseases. This disease includes Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Anti-oxidant suppresses the formation of free radicals thereby protecting the body from various diseases. Antioxidants are responsible for the proper functioning of the immune system.

The immune cells produce certain free radicals for normal defense function, if the number of free radicals increases beyond the fixed level it affects the immune system to a greater extent. When these conditions prevail antioxidants fight against the free radicals and promote the immunity. They also play a main role in cellular metabolism, gene activation, signal transduction and transcription. Read more…

Amputated Fingers and Knocked Out Teeth – What to Do With the Amputated Or Torn Out Body Part

Everyone likes to watch those TV shows about emergency room life, where trauma victims roll through the door on gurneys, with blood squirting all over the place. One common scenario is the unfortunate victim who accidentally amputates his finger. The person comes in by ambulance with the stump bandaged up to stop the bleeding, and what do you see? You see the nurse place the amputated finger on ice, before the surgeon strolls in to save the day by reattaching the body part. This scenario is pretty close to the truth, and is commonly what you’d expect happens in the ER. But, is it the right thing to do? What’s the best way to preserve an avulsed or amputated body part?

Finger avulsion or amputation is a common ER situation. To best preserve a severed body part, you NEVER place it directly on ice. This is because, the amputated body part is no longer is perfused (lacks circulating blood). Therefore it freezes much easier and is prone to immediate frostbite and critical vascular damage. If you want a prayer of saving the amputated body part, avoid direct contact with ice. Cold however, does slow down tissue death due to lack of oxygenation. A solution or slurry of saline water with a little ice is the way to go. In a pinch, you can make some saline, with 1 teaspoon of salt mixed in with 2 cups of water. Pure water is a poor preservative. Read more…

Basic Portability Factor of Basic Portable Finger Pulse Oximeter

When you take care of a sick child there is nothing more important than their well being, and a portable finger pulse oximeter can help enhance that well being. Sick children, especially those that require monitors like pulse-ox monitors or apnea monitors, tend to leave the house infrequently. They end up with less stimulation, as does the parent, and they end up with fewer friends.

Parents and children do require a certain amount of time away from home in order to be able to live in a healthy and fluid environment. This is difficult to balance when it comes to creating a healthy place for them physically as well as a healthy lifestyle for them emotionally.

You, as well, need a balance of health in your life. Being taxed on a continuous basis can be exhausting, and being able to take a break for yourself is necessary for your own health.

A portable finger pulse oximeter can help make that happen. We all know how hard it is to carry around a chest monitor, a diaper bag, extra supplies, and perhaps even a nebulizer and an apnea monitor just to run to the store for a few essentials. Being able to replace just one of those items with a small, slip it in your pocket device is a huge burden lifted.

The truth of the matter is that many of us are fearful of changing our children’s health equipment. We hate it for what it represents but we can’t imagine being away from it for a moment… Just in case. Moving into a portable finger pulse oximeter can seem frightening, but the good news is that it’s just a back up until you’re ready. It’s just a monitor that you can take with you in the car and to go see Grandma. Read more…

Diseases Simulating Appendicitis

Diseases Simulating Appendicitis Appendix is a tubular organ of narrow caliber; found attached to the first part of colon. Its structure is similar to that of intestine. Inflammation of it is termed as appendicitis. Its lumen may get obstructed to initiate infection. Infection can occur as such without an obstruction. The classical symptoms include

* Pain, starting from around the umbilicus and settling in the right lower abdomen.
* Vomiting, two to three times or till the stomach contents are expelled out.
* Fever, typically around 100 degree Fahrenheit.

The symptoms vary considerably to confuse with other diseases giving rise to similar symptoms.

* A Mackel’s diverticulitis causes similar symptoms, but here pain is more toward the flanks and positions a little upwards. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the two; necessitating a surgical exploration.
* Diverticulosis or diverticulitis of right side of colon is often associated with that of left side, as diverticulum occur at multiple places throughout colon. Pain on pressure can be felt as well in the left side. It may be associated with blood and/or mucus in the stool. Usually, middle aged male suffer from it.
* Amoebic colitis of right side may give rise to similar symptoms, but usually associated with that of left side. Here, an identical pain on pressure spot on left side can be found. Besides this, a history of mucus motion in the recent past will help in diagnosis. A stool examination may be a corroborative finding. Read more…

Traumatic Brain Injury – The Critical Role of Family on the Road to Diagnosis Treatment and Recovery

Brain injury is one of the leading causes of death in people under the age of 45. Many who suffer mild to moderate injury do not appear to be injured and they have few outward physical manifestations of personal injuries. In short, they “look” good, despite the fact that they have suffered a severe personal injury that can mean the loss of employment, the destruction of personal relationships and the anguish that accompanies the knowledge of all that has been lost.

Mild to moderate survivors of traumatic brain injury routinely are reassured by doctors that they will recover from their fatigue, slowness in thinking, and reduced memory, just as they expect to recover from cuts, bruises and broken bones. The all too common belief is that time heals all wounds. For every rule there is an exception and unfortunately time does not heal all traumatic brain injuries. Over time doctors address objective physical injuries, but the head injury does not receive the special attention it requires and TBI goes undiagnosed. As a result, many head injury patients with permanent impairments never receive a full evaluation by a neuropsychologist, including neuropsychological testing. Without testing by a neuropsychologist, this personal injury cannot be diagnosed and these patients never receive appropriate care and treatment for their physical, cognitive, psychological, sexual and social impairments.Famili to obtain a complete copy of the survivor’s medical records including the rescue and ambulance service, emergency room and hospital records if there was an admission. A complete set is critical because it contains all of the detailed evaluations and objective measurements made by emergency medical technicians, E.R. nurses and doctors and neurologists that are necessary to understand the nature and extent of this personal injury.

Since the brain regulates our state and level of consciousness, we can learn much about the extent of a brain injury by evaluating consciousness itself. If the level of consciousness is other than normal, the head injury is serious, no matter what a physical examination or other evidence may indicate. The categories of altered consciousness are: Read more…