All posts by Ryan Davis Philip

 

Firework-related burns and first aid

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First Aid for burns. Canberra First Aid will teach you the specific treatments for burns and also explain many other misconceptions. Please book your training with the best provider in Canberra. Canberra First Aid.

Fruitland — As families prepare to set off fireworks or be near them, officials want to remind individuals of what to do in case of a firework-related burn.

In 2016, there were an estimated 11,100 firework-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments, according to an annual report from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Depending on the level and size of a burn, some injuries can be treated at home while others require medical attention.

First-degree burns are associated with only the top layer of the skin, where the skin can turn red, swell and be painful. Those burns can typically be treated at home, said Dr. Ryan David, who works at St. Luke’s Fruitland Family Medicine Clinic.

Anyone with a first-degree burn can use cold water –not iced water–  to cool the burn for five minutes to decrease heat in the area as well as help with inflammation, David said.

“However, if the red burn is bigger than the size of dime, it may need to be looked at depending on the location,” David added.

Second-degree burns will also turn red, swell and be painful, but more often, they will also blister, David said.

Individuals should seek urgent care if the burn is bigger than a size of a dime, David said, or if it’s located on the genitals and if there are signs of infection. He warns to not pop blisters as doing so may expose the burn to infection.

He advises to cool a second-degree burn as well as keep it clean and covered.

A thin layer of ointment, such as petroleum jelly or aloe vera, may be used on the burn. A sterile non-stick gauze may lightly be taped or wrapped over the burn, but do not use a dressing that can shed fibers, because they can get caught in the burn, according to MedlinePlus, a health website by the National Library of Medicine.

Any burn that turns black, would indicate a third-degree burn, David said, and in those cases, people should seek immediate assistance as offered by emergency rooms.

“Sometimes those burns can be painless because the nerves have been damaged,” David said. “The edges may be painful but the center may not because of the damage to the nerve endings.”

David encourages people to be safe when using fireworks today, adding that most serious injuries are because of aerial fireworks, which are both illegal to use in Oregon and Idaho without a proper permit.

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Your Go-To First-Aid Kit

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Canberra First Aid Training at a great rate. Excellent Provider with years experience. Provide First Aid Kits and Defibrillators. 

When you’re enjoying a long-awaited vacation, the last thing you want to think about is an injury or illness spoiling your fun. Away from home, small inconveniences can turn into a major headache, which is why having a well-stocked travel first aid kit can save the day.

BY
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Before you head out

Make sure you know how to have a healthy flight, and then swing by the Center for Disease Control website which gives specific advice for individual countries. This includes a list of possible health risks, immunizations you should get done, and even a list of recommended items to take with you.

If you have health concerns, visit your physician some weeks before you travel, and ask their advice about which medications to take with you in your travel first aid kit. They’ll be able to offer clear and specific advice, and prescribe any necessary medication for you to carry along.

Prescription meds

Start with any prescription meds and keep them in the original containers so people can see at a glance what you’re carrying. This will save delays (and possible confiscation), by border security. Ask your pharmacist for smaller labeled bottles if your usual ones are too large for traveling, and use tamper-proof containers, especially if traveling with children. Take enough for an few extra days, in case you get delayed.

Sharon Carlson, RN, director of Emergency Preparedness at Sharp Healthcare, San Diego, has more advice: “I always recommend folks who take regular medication keep a list of their normal medications, what the doses are, when they take them, and their physician’s contact details. Fold that little list up and put it in a wallet or a purse. Then if something were to happen, first responders can pull that list out, and it helps them to know what medications they’re on.”

Medication for digestive problems

Always take steps to avoid getting sick in the first place, and anticipate the need to manage issues like motion sickness. According to Carlson, digestive problems are some of the most common vacation ailments. “Eating and drinking in places you’re not used to can sometimes cause traveler’s diarrhea or upset stomachs,” she says. Be sure to pack your travel first aid kit with antacids for indigestion and heartburn, diarrhea medication, and rehydration remedies.

Sunscreen

Sharon also cites sunburn as another common—yet potentially serious—vacation health risk. “I would always bring sunscreen and I recommend using at least a 15 SPF or higher,” she says. She also recommends sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat for added protection. Soothing after-sun lotion can also help if you do get too much sun. Don’t make these seven sunscreen mistakes.

Painkillers

Minor aches and pains can be treated easily with over-the-counter painkillers. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are both suitable, but beware of packing codeine-based tablets as these are illegal in some countries. You may find generic products are cheaper than branded medication, but they work equally as well—just check the labeling to see that the active ingredients are the same. “I don’t recommend one brand over another,” says Sharon. “I think they’re all pretty much the same.”

Dressings

Minor cuts and abrasions may need covering with a dressing until they heal. Especially in tropical climates, a small graze or cut can become infected very quickly, so pack a variety of Band-Aids, along with sterile dressings or gauze and some small bandages. Surgical tape to hold a dressing in place can be useful, and don’t forget scissors so you can cut dressings to size.

Antiseptic medication

Antiseptic products will be useful for preventing infection in small cuts or grazes. Use wipes to clean and sterilize an injury and ointment for ongoing treatment. If you’re concerned that a wound is becoming infected, seek prompt medical advice.

Antihistamines

Who knows what kind of bugs and itchy plants might trigger an allergic response in you: Pack some OTC antihistamine medications to tame a bad internal or external (skin) reaction in your travel first aid kit. Some medications can cause drowsiness, which is something to bear in mind if you’ll be driving or planning to sample the local spirits.

Insect repellent

At best, mosquitoes are a nuisance; at worst they carry diseases like dengue fever, West Nile, Zika, or malaria. (Here are nine things that mosquitoes absolutely hate.) In addition to taking anti-malarial medication if you’re traveling to countries where it’s endemic, always use a suitable repellent. The best way to avoid trouble is to not get bit in the first place. DEET products are available in various strengths—a minimum of 50 percent concentration is recommended for tropical destinations.

Water purification tablets

If you’re going off the beaten path or visiting a country with sketchy water sources, take along purification tablets or a purifying device like the LifeStraw in your travel first aid kit. The tablets can purify a liter of water at a time, though it can take around 30 minutes. Purification devices can often treat the water on the spot.

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Shareholders vote down Mylan chair’s $128 million package

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More Epipen news in the first aid course world. Seems like a good pay to us, if only first aid trainers got this. haha. Please remember the new administering of the Epipen is only 3 seconds.

THE drug maker behind EpiPen has been savaged by shareholders for paying its chairman a whopping $128 million salary.

Mylan, which last year came under fire for hiking the price of the lifesaving emergency allergy treatment by 400 per cent, held its annual general meeting last Thursday, where shareholders rejected an executive compensation plan which included a $US97.6 million package for Robert Coury.

According The Washington Post, the non-binding vote was led by major proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services, which described Mr Coury’s pay packet as “egregious”.

It’s only the third company in the S&P 500 index this year to not receive a majority of shareholder support for its executive compensation plan, and Mylan is only one of four companies in the index that has failed the vote more than once since 2011.

“This is a company that’s had broad dissent from their pay package year after year, and hasn’t seemed to adequately respond to shareholder criticism,” ISS head John Roe told The Washington Post.

EpiPens are used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions from bee stings, food allergies or other triggers. Mylan has a near monopoly on the product, which sufferers must replace every year.

Mylan chief executive Heather Bresch was last year dubbed the “the Martin Shkreli of allergies” by critics who likened the EpiPen price hikes to the former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO’s infamous 5000 per cent increase in the cost of HIV medication Daraprim.

Ms Bresch was paid $18.2 million ($US13.8 million) in 2016, down from $25 million ($US18.9 million) in 2015.

In a statement to the newspaper, a Mylan spokeswoman said the board would “carefully consider these results, as well as future shareholder input, as we continue our investor outreach and in designing our compensation programs going forward”.

She said that any allegations of disregard for consumers, government officials, shareholders, regulators or any other of our valued stakeholders are patently false and wholly inconsistent with the company’s culture, mission and track record of delivering access to medicine”.

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Coconut Oil Is High In Saturated Fat

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It’s time to stop turning to coconut oil to make your brownies healthier.

Coconut oil, it turns out, is not the health food people think it is. This oil might be stocked on the shelves of your health food store, but a recent report released by the American Heart Association suggests that this might be a mistake.

You’re not alone in this misconception. An AHA survey found that 72 percent of Americans considered coconut oil a health food. But coconut oil, it turns out, is shockingly high in saturated fats. And saturated fat ― even though some elements of its effects are up for debate ― isn’t good for you no matter how you slice it.

In fact, 82 percent of the fat found in coconut oil is saturated ― that’s significantly more than olive oil, which clocks in at 14 percent and canola oil, which contains a mere seven percent.

The AHA reviewed existing data on saturated fats and found that in seven out of eight studies, coconut oil actually increased LDL cholesterol ― the bad cholesterol ― which is a cause of cardiovascular disease. The findings were so clear that Frank Sacks, the report’s lead author, told USA Today, “You can put it on your body, but don’t put it in your body.” Roger that.

You’re better off sticking to oils that are lower in saturated fats such as the aforementioned olive oil. Olive oil, some studies suggest, helps good cholesterol do its job. And we can all use help with that.

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Junior footy player collapses, game called off

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First Aid Course in Canberra. All sports teams need to have a first aid qualified person, it just makes sense. Book in now to get trained in your local area Canberra.
Steve Lillebuen

A junior footballer in Melbourne is recovering in hospital after he was hit in the face with the ball during a suburban game.

Pines Under 19s player Kadel Key collapsed and suffered breathing problems when he was hit during the game against Mt Eliza on Saturday morning.

A doctor performed CPR on the teenager before paramedics arrived and continued treatment at the Eric Bell Reserve in Frankston North, an Ambulance Victoria spokesman said.

He was taken by ambulance to The Alfred hospital in a serious condition, but his condition improved and he remained listed in a stable condition on Sunday evening.

The injury occurred when Key was hit in the face with the ball while trying to block a Mt Eliza player from kicking a goal, said Pines Club president Jeff Svigos.

“It was a freak accident,” he said.

“You see players get hit with the ball all the time, but when he didn’t get up this time it was a bit scary.”

The game was called off when the serious injury occurred near the start of the second quarter.

The club has been in touch with Key and his family.

Officials will talk about what happened with the rest of his team on Monday.

The Mt Eliza Football Club said it was thinking about the player and his family.

“Under 19s game called off just after 1/4 time after Pines player Kadel Key was seriously injured,” the club wrote on its Facebook page.

“Thoughts go out to him and his family!”

The story Junior footy player collapses, game called off first appeared on The Age.

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‘Hunger Games’ First Aid

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A 12-year-old girl remembered a technique she read about in one of The Hunger Games novels and used it to tie a tourniquet around a friend’s open leg wound.

Megan Gething and friend Mackenzie George were playing a marsh in Gloucester, Massachusetts when Mackenzie fell and cut her calf open on a steel pump.

Megan quickly used a pair of shorts to fashion a tourniquet on the wound and applied pressure to stem the bleeding.

“I knew it from a book I read,” she said of the young adult fiction trilogy written by Suzanne Collins. “I figured it was a well-known method of stopping bleeding,” Megan told The Gloucester Times.

The main character in the series, Katniss Everdeen, lives in a dystopian future and is often in nature hunting, fighting, and trying to survive a morbid game pitting young people against each other in life-threatening situations.

Mackenzie was taken to hospital and doctors said there was no muscle or nerve damage to her leg. Her parents are thankful for Megan’s quick thinking and help in what could have been a dire situation had she lost more blood.

She is expected to make a full recovery in the next month.

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Bluetooth-connected defibrillator

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First Aid Course Canberra. Wow what an idea, the young minds of today in the first aid world are amazing. Make sure you book in to one of our first aid course in Canberra by clicking this link now. 
BY NANCY SOKOLER STEINER | PUBLISHED JUN 8, 2017 | OUTSTANDING GRADS 2017

AGE: 18
HIGH SCHOOL: Milken Community Schools
GOING TO: USC

When Ashley Yeshoua selected a project to pursue for her Science Research class at Milken Community Schools, she chose an idea that was close to her heart.

She formulated a way to enhance defibrillators, devices implanted to deliver an electric current after detecting a life-threatening irregular heartbeat. Her innovation would warn patients through an app upon detecting an irregular heartbeat before an electrical shock returns the heartbeat to normal.

Yeshoua drew inspiration for her idea from her mother, who had gone into cardiac arrest at home seven years ago.

“Fortunately, we live a block from the fire department, so she was treated quickly,” Yeshoua said.

After that episode, Yeshoua’s mother had surgery to implant a defibrillator. The device served its purpose four years later, when she went into cardiac arrest while riding in an elevator. The defibrillator shocked her and restored her heartbeat. “The defibrillator saved her life,” Yeshoua said.

But the shock caused her mother to fall and hit her head against the elevator wall. She suffered short-term memory loss as a result.

Yeshoua’s proposal involves inserting a Bluetooth device inside the defibrillator that could wirelessly send an alert to an app or smart watch, triggering a warning sound.

“This way, the person could prepare by siting down, or by pulling over if they were driving,” she explained.

Yeshoua named the concept a “Defraprillator” as it allows the defibrillator to interact with an app that would provide alerts.

She also proposed creating a wirelessly rechargeable battery for defibrillators. Normally, batteries require changing every five to seven years. That subjects patients to the risks of surgery along with an expense of around $35,000.

“My mom was about 32 years old when she had her first cardiac arrest,” Yeshoua said. “That means during her lifetime, she could expect to have about eight surgeries to replace her defibrillator batteries.”

Instead, Yeshoua theorized, why not create an external charging unit that a patient could wear overnight to recharge the device wirelessly?

Yeshoua presented the concept at the 2016 Milken Global Conference, an annual gathering bringing together leaders in health, government, education and other disciplines to address pressing challenges. She also entered the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge, a national competition inviting high school students to propose innovative solutions to problems in health and other fields. She was selected as a semifinalist and traveled to Florida to present her ideas.

In addition to her interest in cardiology, Yeshoua  also is drawn to dentistry. She began volunteering in the dental lab at the Veterans Affairs hospital the summer before her junior year. She helps make prosthetics and dental devices such as bridges and retainers.

Yeshoua’s pursuits extend beyond the medical field. She plays on Milken’s basketball and tennis teams and is an avid skateboarder.

The second of four children, she enjoys music and has played piano for about 10 years.

“All of my siblings play sports and instruments,” she said.

“I’m a huge family girl,” she added. “I love spending time with my siblings.”

Family played a role in Yeshoua’s choice of colleges. When deciding between UC Berkeley and USC, she chose the latter so she could spend Shabbats at home. Also, her older brother attends USC. He will join her in pursuing the defibrillator project. 

Yeshoua’s mother expressed concern about the workload that a science-based choice of study would entail for her daughter. But Yeshoua has no reservations. “This is my true passion,” she said. “This is what I want to do.”

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Scalded toddlers get incorrect first aid

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First Aid Course in Canberra. We will teach you the best way to treat burns and other first aid techniques that you can use to help save lives. Book in today on our website at http://www.canberrafirstaid.com/first-aid-courses-canberra/
Sarah WiedersehnAustralian Associated Press

More than two-thirds of toddlers burned in hot drink accidents are not treated with correct first aid, new Australian research has found.

Hot drink scalds are the leading cause of childhood burns in Australia, and 74 per cent occur in children aged under two.

A year-long study of children aged 0-36 months at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Queensland found only 28 per cent of children received correct burn first aid for hot drink scalds.

This was despite 66 per cent of parents reporting that they had undertaken first aid training in the previous 12 months.

University of Queensland PhD candidate Jacquii Burgess at the Centre for Children’s Burns and Trauma Research – who led the study – says there is strong evidence that applying 20 minutes of cool running water to a burn or scald reduces pain, scarring and hospital stays.

“The most common reason parents reported applying water for shorter periods of time was that they thought it was adequate or the child was too distressed,” Ms Burgess said.

The study also found that on most occasions children were within arm’s reach of a supervising adult when a hot drink scald happened.

“Lack of supervision is often cited as a primary contributor to childhood injuries but for these scalds it appears that attention and continuity of supervision play a more important role than just being close to your child to keep them safe,” she said.

This finding, says Ms Burgess, may reflect the competing demands placed on parents and caregivers in a busy household.

“The majority of incidents recorded were caused by the child pulling down a cup of hot liquid over themselves.

“It’s about putting your cup of hot coffee or tea to the back of the bench or out of reach of your toddler to give yourself those few extra seconds to intervene.”

The research has been published in the Burns journal.

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NRL Confidential: The day James Graham infamously broke his hand

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THE STORY BEHIND GRAHAM’S BROKEN HAND

Englishman James Graham has always been reluctant to talk about how he broke his hand while on Mad Monday with St Helens back in 2006.
The injury cost the firebrand prop his spot in the Great Britain side for the Tri-Nations that year, which left him angrier than usual.
And unfortunately for him, former teammate Leon Pryce has revealed the story behind it in his recently released autobiography Pryceless.
Graham won the competition with Saints that season and had passed out after some pretty big celebrations.

That’s when Pryce, along with teammates Lee Gilmour and Nick Fozzard, decided to take advantage.

“Gilly lay thick black dye all over Jammer’s ginger locks and his eyebrows. He doesn’t move because he’s dead to the world,” Pryce wrote in his book.

“It started running into his eyes so we dragged him to the shower and he starts to come around and sees that his hair is turning black!

“He goes mad, punches the wall and the window frame, going berserk.”

When asked about it on NRL 360, Graham said the prank “was not hilarious at the time for me, but everyone else thought it was genius and looking back it was pretty funny”.
According to Pryce, Graham took his anger out onto the street and deliberately crashed his car into Pryce’s, causing more damage to his own than his teammate’s.

“He didn’t speak to me properly for a good six months after that,” he added.

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AEDs: The Life-Saving Devices that Everyone Should Know How to Use

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For the best chance of survival, an AED should be used within three to five minutes after collapse. For every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, the chance of survival for a victim of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) decreases by 7 to 10 percent. After 10 minutes, very few SCA victims survive.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death and a major health problem in the United States, with more than 356,000 people suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year, according to the American Heart Association. Without immediate treatment, death can occur within minutes if the victim collapses, causing nine out of 10 victims of SCA to lose their life (Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation).

However, when bystanders intervene by giving CPR and using an automated external defibrillator (AED), survival rates can triple. An AED is a lightweight, portable device that checks a person’s heart and delivers an electric shock if it has stopped beating normally. An AED is the most effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during SCA. Created with the layperson in mind, these devices are designed to guide the everyday person through a cardiac emergency with simple, step-by-step instructions. An AED can determine if a shock is necessary by analyzing the patient’s heart rhythm and will automatically deliver the right shock, at the right time.

AEDs Through the Years

AEDs have improved immensely from when they were first introduced in 1980s and they have helped drastically change outcomes for people who have suffered a SCA. Before AEDs were available, the first intervention for SCA was cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). While CPR is important, it alone cannot save SCA victims.

When they were first introduced, AEDs weighed 13 pounds and only were used by trained professionals, such as police officers, fire fighters and EMTs. In 1984, the first AED specifically designed to be used by the public was brought to market. At this time, the public at large knew virtually nothing about defibrillators in general and it didn’t cross the publics’ imagination that AEDs would be available in airports, schools, office buildings and even the home.

In the early 1990s, Heartstream, a pioneer in early defibrillation, embarked on a journey to create the small, lightweight, biphasic defibrillator. In the mid-1990s, in response to the availability of public access AEDs, legislatures across the U.S. began putting Good Samaritan legislation in place.  While the specifics of these laws vary from state to state, they generally reduce liability risk and assume that when an unconscious victim cannot respond, a Good Samaritan can help them on the grounds of implied consent.

In the early 2000s, AEDs were developed that included attenuated pads for pediatric indications. Shortly thereafter, AEDs were developed that provided guidance for the layperson, acting as a personal coach to guide the user through a cardiac emergency. These AEDs give an untrained responder the confidence to act quickly, decisively and lead the way to save a life.

Today, AEDs are on board major U.S. airlines, dozens of regional airlines and many of the largest international carriers. They also be found in the busiest U.S. airports, professional sports team arenas, shopping malls, casinos and Fortune 500 companies.

The Importance of Training

Despite wide availability, many people still do not know what AEDs are, how to use them or that they are designed to be used by laypeople with no medical background. Contrary to popular belief, trained professionals are not the only people who can help a nearby SCA victim.

Today’s AEDs are designed for the layperson. The more familiar people are with the signs of SCA and the use of the AED, the more likely they are to be calm and helpful in an actual emergency.

Setting up an AED is easy with instructions that guide the user through the set-up process. The entire procedure is complete in just a few minutes and the device is ready to use. AEDs are self-monitoring and perform regular self-tests to make sure that everything is working. Regular maintenance includes periodic replacement of pads and batteries every few years. The device has both audio and visual indicators to alert you of its ready for use state and each AED comes with a sticker reminder system.

AEDs should be placed in visible, accessible and clearly marked location that increase the chances of getting the AED to a person having an SCA in less than three minutes. Elevators, cafeterias and reception areas are all good locations for AEDs.

When bystanders intervene by giving CPR and using AEDs, four out of 10 victims survive (Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation). CPR by itself can only extend a victim’s life temporarily, giving the victim a small amount of extra time until an AED is available. Defibrillation is the only treatment option to restore a normal heart rhythm. It is a two-step process to save a SCA victim, with CPR and an AED going hand-in-hand.

Only one-third of SCA victims receive CPR from bystanders, and only 2 percent are treated with AEDs before the paramedics arrive at the scene. For every minute that passes, the chances of survival decrease significantly.

The availability of AEDs in public spaces is crucial and can drastically improve someone’s chances of SCA survival. By driving awareness around AEDs, people will have the understanding of these tools that can empower them with the knowledge and confidence to save a life.

About the Author: Joe Sovak is vice president and general manager, Emergency Care & Resuscitation, Philips. Click here for more information about Philips HeartStart products and survivor stories.

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