Emergency Medicine Matters - After Concussion, Return to Normality

 Image Credit: Child Brain Injury Trust UK

The After Concussion, Return to Normality (ACoRN) leaflet is a great new resource which details expected signs of concussion and provides a comprehensive step by step guide of how to manage these signs. 

The resource was designed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board. However, it can be downloaded and edited to allow healthcare teams across the United Kingdom, and further afield, to put their own logo and department details on the resource, as they wish.

Credit goes to Mark Lilley, Paediatric Major Trauma Coordinator for all their efforts in developing this resource. This will be a valuable resource for many families.

You can download this resource here.

Image Credit: Child Brain Injury Trust UK

#LifeIsPrecious #FamilyMatters #HomeHealth

Resuscitation In A Time Of COVID-19

A new infographic by the American Heart Association outlines key considerations regarding resuscitation administered by healthcare providers who are treating suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients.

#AmericanHeartAssociation ##HealthCareProviders #CPR #COVID19 #DuringATimeOfPlague

Nursing In A Time Of Crisis

Nursing has been at the core of the International Red Cross Movement since the beginning and Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, first came to public attention as an amateur nurse who provided aid to soldiers during the Civil War.

Today’s Red Cross nurses are continuing a proud tradition of service that stretches back to the earliest days the organization, volunteering as clinicians, educators, leaders, and more. Red Cross healthcare workers exemplify the core values of Compassion; Expertise and Trust.

Read more about the role of nursing in this Colorado & Wyoming Red Cross Blog article.

#AmericanRedCross #ClaraBarton #Nursing

#Compassion #Expertise #Trust

American Red Cross Military Appreciation Month

It’s Military Appreciation Month and the American Red Cross is proud to honor those who serve in the military. The Red Cross stands beside our heroes from the day they enlist, throughout their military careers and beyond. 

The Red Cross provides critical services with a caring touch wherever and whenever it is needed - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year - serving military members and their families at home and around the world.

We want to say thank you to all our active duty service members! Supporting the military and their families has been a key part of our mission since the Spanish American War.

Visit the Colorado and Wyoming Red Cross blog to learn how they were able to support a disabled veteran and mother.

#AmericanRedCross #Volunteer #DisasterResponse

Training In A Time Of COVID-19

@NREMT @NAEMT #EMS #EMR 

#LifeIsPrecious #COVID19 #DuringATimeOfPlague

Why I Wear A Mask In A Time Of COVID-19

I wear a mask in public, not for me, but for YOU. I want you to know that I am educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.

No, I don’t “live in fear” of the virus, I just want to be a part of the solution, not the problem. I don’t feel like the “government is controlling me”, I feel like I’m being a contributing adult to society and I want to teach others the same.

The world doesn’t revolve around me. It’s not all about me and my comfort. If we all could live with consideration for other people, this whole world would be a much better place. Wearing a mask doesn’t make me weak, scared, stupid, or even “controlled”, it makes me considerate.

When you think about how you look, or how uncomfortable it is or what others think of you, just imagine someone close to you. A father, a mother, grandparent, Aunt or uncle choking on a respirator. Then ask yourself if you could have sucked it up a little for them.

Feel free to copy and paste and share. I did. 😊

#WearAMask #WashYourHands 

#StayHome #COVID19 #DuringATimeOfPlague

Why Am I Posting This? So We Don’t Forget....

Why am I posting this? So we don’t forget.... 😷🧤😥

Today is Sunday, April 26, 2020. Next year & then every year after, this status will appear in my memories feed, for as long as Facebook exists. And it will be an annual reminder that life is precious & that nothing should be taken for granted. 

We are where we are with what we have. Let's be grateful 💜

- We are at 39 days of social isolation.

- The Dollar is worth $ 5.32, the Euro $ 5.77, and the British Pound $ 6.54.

- Schools have been closed since mid-March and are teaching remotely on-line. This will continue for the rest of the school year.

- There are lines / tapes inside the stores to keep people 6 feet apart.

- Bars and restaurants only for home delivery & pick-up.

- Parks, beaches, and walk-in places are not accessible to the public.

- All sports competitions have been canceled.

- All festivals and entertainment events have been banned.

- Weddings, family celebrations, and birthdays have been canceled.

- Funerals limited to 10-20 people.

- People are doing drive-by parades to celebrate birthdays!

- Young kids can’t understand why they can only see grandparents & other extended family and friends on a screen or thru a window if someone visits in person.

- Hugs and kisses are not given.

- The churches are closed or online.

- We have to stay away from each other more than a meter.

- Shortage of masks and gloves in hospitals.

- There are fewer ventilators than there should be.

- People are wearing masks, some places even REQUIRE that you wear them to enter! People are even making their own masks for sale or donation to medical facilities!

- Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, and anything Lysol or Clorox is in short supply and limited per person...IF you can even find them!

- Stores are closing early to disinfect everything. (24-hour stores are even closing by 9pm)

- Store checkouts, pharmacies, and even fast food drive-thru windows have added plexiglass between employee and customer. Have to reach around or under to pay!

- You can't find isopropyl alcohol easily. .. supply per person is limited.

- Australia, USA, and Europe have closed their borders.

- Western Australia has been divided into 9 territories & an instant $1,500 fine issued for crossing the border without a valid reason. (Transport workers, Essential services, etc)

- No one is traveling for leisure. Airports empty. Tourism has the worst crisis in history.

This text comes from an anonymous author, it's not mine. I copied because I want to remember it too. 

#AMomentInTime #LifeIsPrecious 

#COVID19 #DuringATimeOfPlague

Thought For The Day

During these interesting times, and throughout life, we will discover that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.

Leave No Trace In A Time Of COVID-19

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics aligns with the CDC recommendations to help slow the spread of the virus. Let’s keep ourselves, our communities, and our natural world safe and healthy during this time.

It is important to be aware of the most current information from the CDC on these changes, and that goes for changes to the way we spend time outside as well.

We will see you out there on the other side!

#LeaveNoTrace #OnePlanet #OneHome 

#COVID19 #DuringATimeOfPlague

Fuel Up Safely In A Time of COVID-19

According to the CDC, current evidence suggests that COVID-19 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials.

Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for the prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings. This included surfaces like the gas pump.

#AmericanRedCross #Volunteers #WashYourHands 

#WearAMask #COVID19 #DuringATimeOfPlague

Help Stop The Spread Of Germ In A Time Of COVID-19

#WearAMask #WashYourHands 

#StayHome #COVID19 #DuringATimeOfPlague

Myths And Facts In A Time Of COVID19

#WashYourHands #StayHome

#LifeIsPrecious #COVID19 #DuringATimeOfPlague

Thought For The Day

Marmite. The stuff of legend, myth, and cultural confusion. Enjoy....or not! 

#Marmite #LoveItHateIt #AMomentInTime

Emergency Medicine Matters - Use of Adrenaline in Anaphylaxis

Image Credit: Backpacking Mastery

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening emergency and is one of the most stressful medical conditions that an expedition medic could face. Fortunately, the condition is reversible with prompt administration of adrenaline by intramuscular injection.

Because the onset of anaphylaxis can be very fast, an adrenaline auto-injector can be very useful upon witnessing the first signs of a severe reaction.

Signs of a severe reaction include:

• Swelling in the throat (altered voice, difficulty swallowing or breathing) and extremities (if stung).

• Wheezing

• Dizziness, feeling faint, tiredness (symptoms of low blood pressure)

The most commonly seen auto-injectors are still EpiPen®. Certainly, this brand is most commonly carried by children and adults in the UK setting. Therefore it may be that some participants on expeditions may carry these.

Figure 1 - EpiPen® Auto-Injector

All auto-injectors should be injected into the muscle of the outer thigh.

There has been a recent slight change in the guidance for administration for EpiPen®.

There is no change to the device or the drug (adrenaline); the change is in the instructions for use as outlined below:

    • Reduced injection time from 10 seconds down to 3 seconds – this is based on research confirming the delivery of adrenaline for 3 seconds is sufficient.

    • Removal of the massage step after the injection – this step has been removed to simplify the process of administering EpiPen®.

The changes above are aimed to improve patient compliance.

Image Credit: Backpacking Mastery

Remember that anyone who uses an auto-injector must have had training in its use (as they are all slightly different). However, it is a drug that can be administered by a non-health care professional in the UK setting if required to treat a patient with anaphylaxis.

It is hoped that the manufacturers of the other auto-injectors (Jext and Emerade) available in the UK will also change their guidelines to match those of EpiPen®.

Wilderness Medical Training recommends the use of Emerade as the autoinjector of choice as each one contains 0.5mg adrenaline (Resus Council UK guideline dose) rather than the 0.3mg adrenaline dose in the EpiPen®.

The guidance for the Emerade auto-injector remains to hold the autoinjector against the thigh for 5 seconds.

Figure 2 - Technique for use of the Emerade Auto-injector

#BasicLifeSupport #FirstAid #EmergencyMedicine