Monthly Archives: August 2015

Debunking 5 Myths about Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the leading cause of death in the U.S., affects nearly 326,000 people of all ages in the U.S. every year. More than 65% of Americans underestimate the seriousness of SCA. They believe SCA to be a type of heart attack. There are five common myths about SCA that act as a barrier to bystander action.

•    Myth #1: SCA occurs only in elderly adults: SCA occurs in all age groups including the senior people, athletes and teenage group.
•    Myth #2: SCA and heart attack is same: Heart attacks generally occur in individuals with an existing heart condition. In SCA, victims lose consciousness immediately, which can cause brain damage if not treated within first few minutes. However, in heart attack, patient has a chance to arrive at a hospital for receiving treatment.
•    Myth #3: Waiting for EMS professionals to arrive would be a better option: EMS professionals generally take in an average 11 minutes to arrive at the emergency site. Bystander intervention before they arrive may make a difference between life and death for the victim.
•    Myth #4: I’m not qualified to perform CPR: SCA victim’s chance of survival increases with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). People can take CPR training course or learn hands-only CPR to save a life during emergency. During the National CPR/AED Awareness week in June 2015, the American Heart Association encouraged all Americans to learn and use hands-only CPR if they have difficulty remembering conventional CPR.
•    Myth #5: I may hurt the patient by using AED: Though AEDs are complicated instruments but not difficult to operate once you’re trained in it. A SCA patient must be revived within 5 minutes using AED in order to avoid brain damage.

Myths about Sudden Cardiac Arrest
October is the National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, dedicated to educating public about what SCA is, myths to be avoided, and how to respond in a SCA emergency. Get trained in CPR and support the community during the SCA Awareness Month.

Use “PASTE” for deeper assessment when taking “SAMPLE” history

“SAMPLE” is a first aid mnemonic acronym used for a person’s medical assessment. The SAMPLE history taking is either performed by emergency medical technicians (EMT) or first responders during an emergency. The questions that are asked to the patient include Signs & Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, and Events leading up to present injury (SAMPLE).

The signs and symptoms assessment is very important, especially during respiratory emergencies, but they are objective. So “PASTE” can be used by the rescuer to gather relevant information about the patient’s health. This is an alternate mnemonic for evaluating a patient having difficulty in breathing. PASTE stands for:

•    Provoke: Find out whether any external factor such as movement is making the situation better or worse.
•    Associated Chest Pain: This will elicit descriptions of the patient’s pain in and around chest area.
•    Sputum production (color): Is the patient coughing up sputum. Mucus-like sputum can be an indication of infection or any problem in respiratory system.
•    Talking & Tiredness: Is the patient talking with you? Is he/she feeling tired? If the patient is not talking or responding to your voice, perform CPR immediately.
•    Exacerbation: Check whether the condition of the patient is worsening with time.

PASTE Technique

Usually, OPQRST (Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, and Time) acronym is used in lieu with SAMPLE for taking history of an injured person. However, this can be modified for a specific assessment of a patient with a complaint of shortness of breath. PASTE history taking proves to be beneficial in saving life of a person during respiratory emergencies. Such emergency mnemonics are being taught in first aid training classes so that EMTs and first responders can better assess the patient’s condition.

Tips for Keeping Children Safe at Home and Outdoors

Every year, thousands of toddlers and children are injured either inside their homes or outside while playing. In fact, injuries are the leading cause of death in children older than 12 months. That’s why keeping children safe at all times is a big worry for most parents, babysitters, childcare professionals, and nannies. Learn new ways to keep your child safe at home and away in this infographic.

Children are always eager to explore their environment, whether they’re in the kitchen or bathroom. But the fact is that children are not able to anticipate the consequences of their actions. Fortunately, most injuries suffered by them are avoidable through prevention and care. The more cautious you are, the less likely children are to be seriously injured. From how to childproof your kitchen to maintaining safety when they play outside, the infographic below will help you take care of your child whether indoors or outdoors.

 

National Preparedness Month is coming: Get ready!

National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is observed every year in the month of September in the U.S. FEMA aims to empower and educate Americans to respond to all types of emergencies and disasters throughout the National Preparedness Month. Emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime, so it’s very important for you to prepare yourself for an unexpected emergency. Here’s how you can support FEMA in its emergency preparedness efforts:

•    Be aware of emergencies: Keep yourself and family members aware of different emergencies that may affect you. Access the website www.ready.gov to know what’s important for you and others when an emergency might occur.

•    Get an emergency supply kit: A basic emergency kit should include first aid supplies and food & water in sufficient quantity for at least 72 hours.

•    Make a family emergency plan: Discuss and identify the responsibilities of each family member about how to respond to emergencies while at home, work or public places. By having an emergency preparedness plan you save time and life during real situations.

•    Get trained: At least one member of your family should be trained in first aid and CPR. This will help you improve your response level during and after an emergency.

National Preparedness Month is coming: Get ready!
This September, as part of National Preparedness Month, all Americans are encouraged to take actions, develop an emergency plan, and get involved with the community for emergency management.

How to Perform CPR on Dogs: Step-by-Step Guide (Video)

If your dog becomes unconscious, is unresponsive, or have no heartbeat, you must begin to perform CPR immediately. This video will help you learn how to do CPR on a dog in an emergency situation.

Pet CPR is appropriate when a dog, cat or other pet is experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest, choking, electrocution, or trauma. Pet cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving procedure used to help dogs that have stopped breathing. Pet CPR procedure consists of three steps: Positioning the dog, performing chest compressions, and providing artificial respiration. Before beginning the compression procedure, the dog must be laid on its right side on a flat surface. Compressions should be given at a rate of 15 per 10 seconds. Alternate chest compressions with mouth-to-nose rescue breaths. These steps should be performed until the dog starts breathing or gains normal heart rate. Equipping yourself with the knowledge of CPR can help you buy time for your dog in an emergency situation. See the below video to get a proper demonstration on how to provide CPR to a dog.