Riverside County paramedics are no longer allowed to insert breathing tubes in children under nine years old. Dr. Humberto Ochoa, medical director for the Riverside County EMS Agency, suspended the procedure on April 27. Los Angeles and Orange Counties have not used the procedure for years, however nearby San Bernardino County is still allowed to practice intubation on children.

The need to intubate a young child, technically called pediatric endotracheal intubation, is not a common practice among paramedics. The procedure is not simple and if done incorrectly (using the wrong size equipment, placing the tube in the esophagus instead of the trachea) carries a high risk of serious complications.

Instead of pediatric intubations paramedics are instructed to use bag valve masks. Ochoa referenced a well-known study in Los Angeles, albeit ten years old, that showed using bag valve masks outside of a hospital setting to help children breathe was just as effective as intubation.

Dr. Daniel Davis, professor of clinical medicine at UC San Diego and regional medical director for Mercy Air Medical Services, said that for every argument that suggests the procedure should not be used outside hospitals, there is another that suggests it should.

Davis noted that technology is always changing in regards to the well-known study Ochoa spoke of. For example, there is a device available to paramedics that monitors the concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaled breath and can show if the tube has been inserted incorrectly. While Davis agrees the mask is generally effective, there are situations, such as an allergic reaction which could cause the airway to swell shut before reaching the hospital, where intubation would be the better choice.

Each procedure has its pros and cons and has caused much debate. What if the nearest hospital is far away and the situation called for intubation, shouldn’t paramedics be able to go ahead with the procedure? What is the protocol at your department?

Source: PE.com

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Firefighters in Plano, Texas who are considered unfit are being asked to shape up or they may be asked to ship out. Plano Fire Chief Hugo Esparza is pushing that the departments waistline-challenged shape up or face a desk reassignment or possible termination if they do not comply or fail to slim down within a year.

Chief Esparza is looking out for the health and safety of his department but he has his own obstacle: the firefighters union. The union supports the goal however they feel that some of the requirements are over the top and would prefer to reward firefighters for good fitness. The annual fitness tests would include monitoring body fat, strength and heart health according to age and gender.

“Firefighters are certainly not the poster children for nutrition, and we’re all for improving health, but obviously, we’re never happy about having our jobs on the line” felt Scott Kerr, president of the Plano Firefighters Association.

While responding to emergency calls firefighters lug heavy rescue equipment and medical supplies on them however when they’re idle at the station it’s not as if they can take a jog around the block.

National studies suggest that firefighters are up to three times more likely to have heart problems than the general public. Firefighters also have to contend with stress, abnormal sleep habits and long shifts waiting on the next call.

To encourage physical activity the city of Plano is investing millions in exercise equipment and gym space at its 12 fire stations. In addition, supervisors will be required to extend staff at least one hour of workout time per shift.

Plano isn’t the first department to incorporate a fitness regimen. Dallas phased in a policy after a number of firefighters died of heart attacks in the 1990s. Carrollton, Irving and Farmers Branch are also on the health bandwagon.

Is it out of line for Plano to take these fitness measures? Should physical fitness standards be a job requirement?

Source: DallasNews.com

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When you dial 911 and need medical assistance emergency medical services (EMS) professionals come to your rescue. Specific job titles that fall into the EMS category are first responders, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, emergency dispatchers and emergency room team members. These are the trained men and women who are on the “front line” providing life-saving skills everyday.

National EMS Week is a celebration that takes place across the United States and Canada in order to recognize the achievements and dedication provided by the men and women in the EMS field. The theme of this year’s EMS Week is “A Proud Partner in Your Community” focusing on communities and families and their health and safety.

Show your appreciation May 17 – 23 for all the EMS agencies and personnel in your community.

For celebration and activity ideas check out the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) website which offers an EMS May 2009 Monthly Theme Planner PDF ready for download. For official EMS celebration novelties (balloons, teeshirts, pins, etc.) check out the ACEP’s online store featuring official EMS Week memorabilia.

Sources: ACEP.org, LakeCityReporter.com

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While the CDC recommends that schools no longer need to close due to H1N1 swine flu concerns, they recommend using antibacterial hand cleaners and sanitizing the campus. School Kids Healthcare comes to the rescue for two local Wisconsin school districts to lend a hand with a donation of hand sanitizers.

Roseann St. Aubin of the Milwaukee Public School District and Brad Smith

Twyla Lato of the Waukesha Public School District and Brad Smith

WAUKESHA, WI May 5, 2009 -Today, School Kids Healthcare (SKHC) donated 200 bottles of hand sanitizers to the Milwaukee Public School District (MPS) and the Waukesha Public School District to recognize National School Nurses Week. “We were looking for something we could do to help our local schools with the swine flu outbreak. At the same time, we wanted to recognize all of the hard work school nurses do every day to protect our kids,” Marketing Director Michael Margolies said. “We talk with schools and school nurses every day about trying to keep our kids safe with very limited budgets. Then, out of the blue, this flu pandemic happens. This donation lets us help a little in our own backyard.”

The CDC has recommended all public schools, colleges, and nursery schools provide hand sanitizers for students and faculty alike, as well as disinfect campuses. Many businesses and consumers are doing the same thing.

In addition to providing medical supplies and first aid products to schools and colleges, School Kids Healthcare is also a leading provider of infection control products such as hand sanitizers, wipes, surface cleaners, and other disinfecting products.

School nurses provide critical care to our students at a time when budgets are being cut and often school nurses are the first to go. Yet, today, we depend on them to dispense allergy medicines and prescriptions, diabetic care, perform vision and hearing screens, educate about sex and reproduction, provide first aid, help plan for emergencies and disasters, school lock downs and drug abuse issues while serving multiple schools or campuses at the same time. Recognizing the tremendous service they perform under difficult circumstances is what National Nurses Week is all about.

“School Kids Healthcare recognizes the important part we play in helping school nurses, health centers, and campus clinics provide for the health and well being of students and our own kids as well,” Director of Customer Service Kim Alexander said. “This current swine flu situation is just the kind of thing health care professionals depend on us for.”

About School Kids Healthcare

School Kids Healthcare is a provider of medical, emergency, and first aid supplies, and pharmaceuticals to school nurses, clinics, nursing colleges, campus health centers, safety, campgrounds, and individuals. SKHC is a division of Emergency Medical Products in Waukesha, Wisconsin, SKHC offers products though catalogs and online at www.schoolkidshealthcare.com. Schools and colleges automatically receive terms, SKHC offers bulk pricing, contract bidding, free ground shipping, and competitive retail pricing on consumer products. School Kids Healthcare and Emergency Medical Products are part of the privately held Sarnova family of companies.

For more information and a complete listing of products go to: www.schoolkidshealthcare.com, email: service@schoolkidshealthcare.com, or call: 866-558-0686

For media information or questions about this news release contact: Marketing Director Michael Margolies, at: 262-574-2200 or email to: michaelm@schoolkidshealthcare.com

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The H1N1 flu is believed to be waning in Mexico. Step by step businesses are slowly reopening and schools will be following suit shortly behind.

In the US the virus is still spreading with new cases being reported everyday. As of early morning, May 5, 2009, there have been 403 lab confirmed cases across 38 states and one death in Texas.

Although people seem to be tiring of the whole swine flu situation they’re still taking precautions. Americans are wearing respirators or face masks to protect themselves against H1N1 and using hand sanitizer and hand wipes like it’s nobody’s business.

Not that you can see it on your hands but have you wondered what does swine flu actually look like?

It doesn’t look too terribly scary but at the end of the day, the flu is the flu. No one wants it and if you do get it stay home and keep your germs to yourself.

Regardless of whether or not H1N1 is here to stay or on its way out it’s always a good idea to keep hand sanitizer with you. Soap and water are not always accessible and no one wants to walk around with “I just filled the gas tank up” hands. How many people touched that gas handle before you? Were their hands clean?

Do you believe America has hit its peak of H1N1 cases? Do you agree with schools being shut down so doorknobs, classrooms, bathrooms, etc. can be thoroughly disinfected? Are you toting hand sanitizer or sanitary wipes for those moments when your hands are feeling that not so clean feeling?

Sources: CDC, Lake County Record-Bee

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