Is it possible to increase the percentage of cardiac arrest patients walking out of a hospital neurologically intact? Of course anything is possible, but according to Jim Keiken, BS, MSM, EMT-P, the way to potentially achieve this goal requires a change in how you perform CPR. The change is called cardiocerebral resuscitation (CCR) and has been proven successful in Tucson, Ariz., Kansas City, Miss. and Rock and Walworth counties in Wisconsin.

If you’re interested in CCR training or protocols, check out the flow chart of steps (CCR Flip Chart) to perform CCR and a training video for ALS providers provided by Keiken.

Source: jems.com

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First aid kits should be stocked and ready to go so if you haven’t got yourself one here’s a list of basic first aid kit contents:

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
• 1 blanket (space blanket)
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
• 1 instant cold compress
• 2 pair of non-latex gloves (size: large)
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
• Scissors
• 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
• Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass)
• 2 triangular bandages
• Tweezers
• First aid instruction booklet

Whether you prefer to make a homemade first aid kit or just buy a completely stocked first aid kit is all a matter of personal preference. Just know that it’s a good idea to tailor your first aid kit contents to the situation at hand.

Hiking or camping? You could go for a pocket size first aid kit for the trails and a wilderness first aid kit for the campsite. If you have a pool or boat a waterproof first aid kit would be a great choice. The Fourth of July may be behind us but it’s not the only day fireworks are lit, so you may want to consider a burn first aid kit.

Stay safe.

Source: redcross.org

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Summer is in full effect and for some of us that means camping is on the horizon. Camping can be a blast or down right unbearable depending on how you go about it. Here are some camping health and safety tips to get you by:

• Get vaccinated (hopefully you were up to date to begin with, but if not, now’s as good a time as any)
• Prepare healthy and safe food (if the deviled eggs have been out since yesterday’s roasted marshmallows, ditch them)
• Practice fire safety (keep your distance from the fire pit and the fire pit a distance from the shrubbery)
• Include safe physical activity (wear protective gear for the appropriate activities, no one is invincible)
• Protect against carbon monoxide poisoning (the fuel-burning gadgets and equipment should not be running in an enclosed environment)
• Avoid wild animals and protect family pets (what may look cute and cuddly may have a fierce bite and scratch)
• Fight the bug bite (apply insect repellent containing DEET to clothes and exposed skin and check for ticks daily too)
• Prevent temperature-related illness (dress in layers, bring adequate bedding and put a plastic ground covering under your tent to help keep you dry)
• Protect yourself from the sun (this should be part of your daily routine, but wear sunscreen, lip balm with sunscreen and a hat)
• Avoid water-related illness and injuries (stay hydrated and don’t swallow the water you swim in, or swim alone for that matter)

You can never be too prepared. Check out more camping tips and a packing checklist at cdc.gov.

Source: cdc.gov

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If it isn’t a drug shortage then it’s a drug recall. On June 15, 2010 McNeil Consumer Healthcare announced the recalls of four lots of Benadryl Allergy Ultratab Tablets, 100 Count, and one product lot of Extra Strength Tylenol Rapid Release Gels, 50 Count.

When you check your medicine cabinet here’s what you need to be on the lookout for:

If you did purchase any of the above products from the noted lot numbers stop using them. Contact McNeil Consumer Healthcare for information on product disposal, product replacement and request for refund at www.mcneilproductrecall.com or call 1-888-222-6032 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time).

Source: fda.gov

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Increase in demand. Unanticipated increased demand. Product has been discontinued. Product continues to be available with short expiration dating. Unexpected increased demand and manufacturing delays. Please see attached Recall Letter.

No matter how you look at it drug shortages can cause problems. Whether it creates low stock, no stock, short-dated stock, whatever the case may be, it doesn’t make it easy.

EMP works hard to make sure the pharmaceuticals you need are in stock and ready to ship. However, the occasional drug shortage or recall may sometimes restrict our allocations. Rest assured EMP has always got their foot wedged in the door and strives to ease current drug shortage situations for our customers.

View current drug shortages

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Healthcare–Associated (sometimes also referred to as hospital-acquired) Infection (HAI) is when someone develops an infection at a hospital or other patient care facility that they did not have prior to treatment.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) affect thousands of patients every year often leading to lengthened hospital stays, an increased likelihood of readmission and not to mention the added cost of care.

Healthcare professionals must continually update their infection management knowledge to reduce the risks of HAIs. In an ongoing effort to provide quality care and infection prevention doctors and hospitals nationwide are partnering with Kimberly Clark to deliver continuing education (CE) programs about HAI prevention.

The HAI Education Program is part of a national infection awareness campaign for healthcare professionals called “Not on My Watch” which provides facilities a toolkit that contains flyers, patient safety tips and posters. The “Not on My Watch” campaign provides CE programs based on the best practices and guidelines.

For more information on the “Not on My Watch” campaign please visit HAIwatch.com.

Sources: haiwatch.com, haiwatchnews.com

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The month of May has a number of holidays and national observances. Mother’s Day is this Sunday, next Saturday is Armed Forces Day, the last Monday is always Memorial Day but did you know the whole month of May is High Blood Pressure Awareness Month?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a disease. Generally showing no symptoms it’s sometimes referred to as “the silent killer”. Without symptoms you may not even realize you have high blood pressure while in the meantime it could be wreaking havoc on your arteries, heart and other organs.

If you do suffer from high blood pressure it’s important that you take your blood pressure regularly to monitor your numbers as well as keep up a healthy and active lifestyle. Your personal life choices can make a huge difference in your quality of life.

If you should ever experience a hypertensive crisis, when blood pressure reaches levels of 180 or higher for the systolic (top) number or 110 or higher for the diastolic (bottom) number, it’s imperative that you call emergency medical services immediately or get to a hospital. Uncontrolled blood pressure in this range could lead to a stroke, heart attack, blood vessel damage, loss of kidney function, etc.

Assess your high blood pressure risks with the American Heart Association’s High Blood Pressure Health Risk Calculator.

Source: americanheart.org

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Alaskan State Trooper Terrence Shanigan was on his way to check out a fire when his GPS froze up. About to take a wrong turn his vehicle lights caught the “Buddy” who would lead the way.

Buddy, a German Shepherd dog, saw Shanigan’s car. After eyeing Shanigan Buddy began running down a side road occasionally looking back to make sure Shanigan was following him, thus leading Shanigan to the fire at his owner’s workshop.

Shanigan’s dash cam captured it all. If you haven’t seen this video or at least heard about it you’re missing out.

PS
Buddy received a stainless steel dog bowl engraved with words of appreciation from troopers for his “diligence and assistance” and a big rawhide bone. His owner, Ben Heinrichs, received a framed letter documenting his efforts.

Source: sfexaminer.com, youtube.com

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The LIFEPAK 15 monitor/defibrillator is designed for use by trained medical personnel in out-of-doors and indoor emergency care settings to monitor patient heart rhythms and to treat patients experiencing cardiac arrest.

The FDA notified healthcare professionals of a Class I recall of LIFEPAK 15 Monitor/Defibrillator manufactured and distributed between March 26, 2009 and December 15, 2009. There is a potential for the device to unexpectedly:

• Power Off then On by itself.
• Power Off then NOT turn On.
• Power Off by itself requiring the operator to turn it back On.
• Stay powered On and not allow itself to be turned Off.

Recalling Firm:
Physio-Control, Inc.
11811 Willows Road NE
Redmond, Washington 98052-2003

Public Contact:
Physio-Control Technical Support at 1-800-442-1142 – option 5, Monday – Friday between 6:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. (Pacific Time).

View the Physio-Control Inc., LIFEPAK 15 Monitor/Defibrillator recall notice

More information available at http://www.physio-control-notices.com/LP15pcba

Source: fda.gov

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In an effort to raise public awareness about the impact of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the importance of preventing, testing for, and treating STDs April is annually observed as STD Awareness Month.

So, what can you do? Talk with your doctor or health care provider about STDs and ask about recommended vaccinations and testing. Untreated STDs can lead to serious long-term health consequences, especially for adolescent girls and young women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that undiagnosed and untreated STDs cause at least 24,000 women in the United States each year to become infertile.

With that said, get tested! STDs are often asymptomatic and unrecognized. To find a testing location near you check out www.findSTDtest.org. A number of partners, including MTV, the Kaiser Family Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the CDC, are supporting National STD Awareness Month with the Get Yourself Tested (GYT) Campaign. The GYT Campaign is geared towards young people and STD awareness as well as getting them connected with testing centers. For more information about the GYT Campaign visit www.GYTnow.org.

Just as important? Talk openly and honestly with your partner about STDs. This cannot be stressed enough. The CDC estimates that there are approximately 19 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States, almost half of them among young people ages 15 to 24.

Also, just as important is the proper use of condoms. Consistent and correct use of the male latex condom reduces the risk of STDs and HIV transmission. Just remember condom use does not provide absolute protection against any STD. The most reliable way to avoid the transmission of STDs is practice abstinence or be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner.

Sources: cdc.gov, cdcnpin.org

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