When you injure yourself and you cannot find an over the counter pain reliever to help and alleviate the pain you should go see your family doctor and talk to him about getting a prescription for a muscle relaxant such as Soma. You can get your prescription from your doctor and then go home and find cheap Soma online instead of having to go to your sometimes over priced local pharmacy.
The prices of pharmaceuticals are on a constant rise in the twenty first century but there are many ways to save money with these online pharmacies that are spread throughout the world. The internet has revolutionized the way people can do almost anything in this modern age and being able to get your prescriptions online is on that list.
Buying cheap Soma online does not mean it is a lesser product or any less effective, all it really means is that another company besides the original manufacturer of the drug has found a way to produce it at a fraction of the cost and because of this they are able to pass the savings onto the customer. Cheap Soma online still contains all the same ingredients as name brand Soma so there is no reason for you not to be able to save money with a generic form. Taking this medication will greatly help ease the discomfort you are feeling while you are trying to recover from your muscle injury. Soma also works miracles for patients who suffer from back problems and many other muscle problems such as muscle spasms or pinched nerves.
One of the other nice things about the world wide web is that it is possible to get the prescription medications you need without having to need a prescription. Trying to do this at a local pharmacy is impossible and could cause legal problems. Online there are procedures for online pharmacies that enable them to monitor whether a person is actually in need of the prescription for medical reasons or if they are trying to obtain drugs for illegal reasons. Many pharmacies that are based in countries such as Canada or Mexico offer cheap online Soma and they will ship it right to your house, this eliminates having to wait at the pharmacy for twenty minutes while they fill it. This is also handy when you have an injury that can make it hard for you to get around, now even if you cannot drive and have no one to get your meds filled for you they can come to you.
When you are getting ready to purchase cheap Soma online just be sure you are dealing with a legitimate online pharmacy which is not hard to do. Most legitimate online pharmacies will have a physical mailing address and usually an eight hundred number for customer service and complaints. Buying prescriptions for cheaper prices online is entirely safe and the majority of these companies are very easy and pleasant to deal with, plus all the time and money they can save you is wonderful in our fast paced and expensive world.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a baffling diagnosis because it comes only when a seemingly healthy infant is laid down for a nap or at bedtime no different from all the other naps and bedtimes that have come before. The terribly baffling part of a SIDS diagnosis is that it comes only after that seemingly healthy sleeping baby fails to wake up.
SIDS is no less baffling for the medical community than it is to grieving parents and family members. SIDS is a diagnosis given when no other cause of death can be found during autopsy or other post-mortem examinations.
In recent years, we’ve been urged to be frugal about the fluffy pillows, blankets, and toys we place in a sleeping baby’s bed. Too much soft bedding can strangulate a sleeping baby who doesn’t yet have the strength to turn his or her head in a different position for freer breathing.
We’ve been advised repeatedly that smoking is linked to SIDS. Fathers who smoke should seriously consider quitting before the baby’s born, if not before the pregnancy begins.
Babies born to mothers who smoke are at very high risk of dying from SIDS, much more so than babies born to mothers who don’t smoke. Behavioral and developmental problems are also associated with the children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy and/or after the birth of the child.
British researchers have recently announced the possibility of yet another cause of SIDS – two very common bacteria. Of 365 cases studied, almost half of them, 181 of the 365, involved the presence of Staphylococcus aureaus and E. coli.
The research team, from London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, doesn’t know if the bacteria are solely responsible for the SIDS diagnoses or if the bacteria intensify the ill effects of underlying conditions that were not detected earlier.
Autism is once again in the news. And well it should be. Diagnosis of this truly heartbreaking disease is coming with more frequency than ever before. Treatment options are lackluster. A cure is not in sight and the disorder’s origin is under increasingly heated debate.
Autism is both heartbreaking and devastating. Heartbreaking because it strikes in early childhood. And it strikes with devastating symptoms that vary wildly from one autistic child to the next.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC) have recently explored the connection between the mental health of parents who have a child diagnosed with autism and the likelihood that they’re offspring will develop autism. They scrutinized the records of 1,237 autistic children for comparison against the records of 30,925 children without the disorder. For research purposes only, the mark of mental illness in a parent was defined as one that required hospitalization at some point during life, either before or after the birth of the autistic child.
The research team discovered that a parent with schizophrenia is twice as likely to have a child with autism than a parent without a history of mental illness. Mothers who battle depression and some personality disorders are also more likely to give birth to children who develop autism. There is no increased likelihood of autism in his offspring, however, when a father suffers from the same personality disorders and depression.
This UNC study on autism and parental mental health used records dating from 1977 to 2003. The study group consisted of children who had been diagnosed with autism before their tenth birthdays.
There is no conclusive answer thus far as to what, exactly, is the cause of autism nor is there a universally accepted reason for the rise in diagnoses in recent years. Autism is a very complicated disorder and its cause is proving to be just as complicated.
After a certain age, everyone knows what cirrhosis of the liver is. It’s a disease that alcoholics get. Drug users can get it too, especially when they enjoy playing with needles. It’s a disease that is spoken of in whispers and behind closed doors. It’s a shameful disease that strikes sad people.
Perhaps the saddest development of all is that an alarming number of American children and teenagers are developing cirrhosis, too. It’s just one heart-breaking aspect of the childhood obesity epidemic that is sweeping the United States and many industrialized nations around the world.
The childhood obesity epidemic is fueled by the typical American childhood diet. This diet is sky-high in fats and loaded with sugars and other refined and over-processed ingredients that exert too much stress on the liver to process effectively for long. Just as with the alcohol and the IV drugs, excessive fats and sugars wreak havoc on the liver’s ability to clear toxins from the body.
An internal medicine professor at the St. Louis University Liver Center, Brent Tetri, MD, fed laboratory mice a diet based on the typical diet eaten by American kids today. The diet included 40% fat and high-fructose corn syrup was used liberally. To replicate the lifestyle of the average American child, the mice were kept sedentary during the four weeks of the study.
In just one month, the mice produced liver enzymes that signal liver damage. They also exhibited symptoms of glucose intolerance, a condition that is indicative of type II diabetes.
Researchers in Sweden used real, adult, humans to further test the health benefits of the diet attributed to childhood obesity. These 18 healthy, slim adult volunteers dined on only fast foods for a month and minimized physical activity as much as possible.
How did the adults fare? Enzymatic evidence of liver damage appeared during the first week. By the end of the month, the average study participant had gained 12 pounds.
With increasing scientific evidence pointing to childhood obesity, a diet high in fats and artificial sugars, and a growing rate of cirrhosis of the liver in American children, parents are urged to get their child’s liver enzymes tested as a regular part of a childhood physical exam. Such tests are routine in adult physical exams but the disease has, until recently, been so rare in children that it’s never been a standard part of medical protocol.
Kids are eager for instant gratification. A favorite candy bar tastes great right now. One last story before bedtime right now. A new toy from the supermarket. Right now.
Exercise is something most American children need more of but it’s almost impossible to sell them on the value of exercise as a means of instant gratification. After all, the only instant returns on an exercise session are fatigue, sore muscles, and a lot of perspiration.
The gratification may come sooner than later, however, when regular exercise becomes a part o a child’s life at an early age. A team of researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (UNC) monitored 400 children from the time they were just entering school until they became teenagers. The researchers claim their research proves early childhood exercise makes for a healthier teenager.
In the UNC study, all children were enrolled while attending grade school. Their aerobic fitness and activity levels were assessed and each child was weighed, measured, body mass index (BMI) calculated. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels were recorded.
Seven years later, the entire regimen of tests and measurements was done again. Researchers were astounded by the findings.
The children with the most inactive, or sedentary, lifestyles were at significantly greater risk for developing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome has long been considered a disease of overweight, middle-aged people at high risk for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Children getting the lowest level of exercise, identified in the study as fewer than 20 minutes of daily exercise, were at significantly higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome than their schoolmates who exercised more. The inactive lifestyle during early childhood raised the risk of disease during the teen years by five or six times.
Close to 5% of the sedentary children had already developed at least three of the risk factors associated with metabolic disorder. Those risk factors include:
Obesity.
High blood pressure.
Low levels of the good (HDL) cholesterol.
Glucose intolerance.
Elevated triglyceride levels.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children of every age enjoy at least one hour of exercise, at a moderate rate of intensity, every day for optimum health during childhood and beyond.
For one reason or another, fruit juice has acquired a bad reputation as a source of nutrition for children. In fact, fruit juice is sometimes blamed for the epidemic of obesity that is endangering the lives of our children at an alarming rate.
The truth of the matter, however, is that fruit juice is an excellent source of nutrition for children of all ages and is associated with a better diet and healthier lifestyle in general.
The trick to drinking juice and not gaining excess weight is to make sure the juice your child drinks is 100% fruit juice. And nothing more.
There is little to claim as nutrition in a beverage made of high-fructose corn syrup, other sugars, and food dyes, colors, and additives even when the label reads 100% fruit juice. There may be no more than a drop or two of 100% fruit juice in a can or bottle of a beverage casting the illusion that it’s healthy when, in fact, it isn’t. Advertising pays off in the beverage business and identifying even microscopic quantities of a single healthy ingredient on the label is legal, although misleading, and it makes people feel good about buying it.
There is little or no level of nutrition in these artificially sweetened and chemically flavored beverages. They satisfy no nutritional needs, leaving the child still hungering for the missing nutrients. This leads to excessive hunger, which leads to excessive weight, which leads to a life-long array of medical woes.
Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine recently studied the diets of 3,618 children aged 2 to 11. They found the average child drank 4.1 fluid ounces of 100% juice, or just over half a cup, each day. Four ounces of 100% juice is a nutritional powerhouse, with very few calories, no fat, and no artificial stuff to reverse the nutrient quality. All that for just 58 calories.
According to the Baylor research, the children who drank 100% juice were not more likely to be overweight than children who didn’t drink juice, nor were they more likely to reach for unhealthy foods. Juice-loving children have a tendency to enjoy eating whole fruits and vegetables, too.
Dietary recommendations and guidelines for optimum nutrition during childhood are developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), who recommends children drink 4 to 6 ounces of 100% fruit juice every day until they turn seven years old. At age seven, the AAP recommends doubling intake of 100% fruit juice.
An article in the December 2007 issue of the medical journal, Pediatrics, voices concern over the increasing number of children who are developing allergies to peanuts. Many of them are showing symptoms of peanut allergy at a significantly younger age than children of the 1990s.
Lead researcher, Todd D. Green, MD, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and his colleagues, examined medical records of children diagnosed with peanut allergy from the 1990s to 2006. Some alarming findings:
— In 1990s, age when child first ate peanuts: 22 months; — In 2000s: 14 months.
— In 1990s, age when first bad reaction to peanuts was noted: 24 months; — In 2000s: 18 months.
Children often outgrow their peanut allergy without any medical intervention. One theory as to why this happens is that children’s immune systems strengthen as the child grows but also as the child is exposed to more environmental elements of daily living. As he or she gets bigger, little things like peanuts don’t seem to be such a bother anymore.
For this reason, a growing number of pediatricians is urging parents to wait until a child is at least three years old before introducing peanuts into the diet, especially if the child or either parent has a family history of peanut allergies. The idea is that, by age three, the child’s immune system is probably strong enough to allow peanuts without triggering any peanut allergy symptoms. The effect is thought to be life long.
To provide the most protection possible, women should avoid eating peanuts during pregnancy and nursing, especially if there is a history of peanut allergies in her family.
Symptoms of peanut allergy often become apparent as soon as ten minutes after eating peanuts. Immediate medical treatment is advised if the child is experiencing his first allergic reaction or if the severity of his allergies is such that his life may be jeopardized.
Peanut allergy symptoms frequently begin as atopic dermatitis, one form of eczema that signals food allergies. Some children experience gastrointestinal distress and others develop breathing difficulties.
The breathing difficulties are caused when the immune system responds to the peanut allergy by closing the airway in the throat. The dangerously swollen tissue lining the airway blocks breathing to such a degree that a child can die from anaphylaxis shock. Anaphylaxis shock can kill a person of any age within minutes. It is vitally important to seek emergency medical assistance immediately.
Under current guidelines sanctioned by the United States government, there are 27 doses of immunization and vaccination shots a child should receive by his or her second birthday party. This might seem like an incredibly large number of shots to be giving to the littlest, most delicate children but public health officials consider the recommended series of vaccines to be vital to eradicating and preventing some diseases once known as childhood killers.
The more kids in a family, the more complicated the mission of the parents to maintain the proper schedule for immunization and vaccination for each and every single child. They grow so fast, time for a booster shot comes around so quickly.
When immunization and vaccination booster shots are missed, immunity to disease is diminished. When an initial vaccine is missed, the child has no immunity at all to the ravages of the disease or diseases in question.
Each time immunization and vaccination boosters are missed, it is important to take the vaccine even if it is late and out of schedule. The child’s pediatrician will need to re-calculate the correct dosage and formula according to many factors, including your child’s age, weight, time elapsed since last vaccine, and the vaccine itself. The missed vaccine may be delayed even further, if the pediatrician’s calculations say it’s better to wait till the next round of vaccines are due.
Formulating missed immunization and vaccination booster shots is tricky business, due to the many, many differences in growing toddlers. Thankfully, a team of researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology has come up with a computerized tool developed to help pediatricians and parents stay on track with these life-saving vaccines.
The vaccine calculator works online and is accessible to both doctor and parent. Each time a child is vaccinated, his or her vaccination records are edited to include the very best time to schedule the next booster, all things considered. For every child and for every vaccine.
The immunization and vaccination schedule recommended today includes protection against diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, Hepatitis types A and B, measles, meningitis, mumps, pertussis, polio, rotavirus, rubella, tetanus, and varicella.
Recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate about 28% of all American toddlers haven’t been fully vaccinated.
The concept of mental health leaves most people to believe that it only
applies to those with a mental illness. This is not the case, however,
as many underlying and outside factors can be a large contributor to
everyone’s mental health. While not all of us need the assistance of a
psychologist or a psychiatrist to help us function in our daily lives,
the idea of needing good mental health still applies. Good mental
health can help produce functioning, productive, and reliable human
beings. Those who suffer from mental health problems often find
themselves victims of the system and often cannot perform normal duties
that others can. While some people suffer from mental health disorders
via reasons they cannot control such as chemical imbalances, still
others have these problems thanks to deeper rooted issues like family
problems or past abuses. It is important to foster an environment
conducive of good, positive mental health when raising and mentoring
children to prevent these problems from occurring later on in life.
As mental health issues come to light, it is now easier than ever to recognize signs and symptoms of any kind of mental health problem. The use of various drugs and anti depressants seems to be more and more common, as more people
are coming forward with their problems. Of course, as crime increases,
many people try to use the mental health defense which is blurring the
lines between sanity and insanity when it comes to criminal trials.
This has become a subject of hot debate between lawyers and judges, as
well as between the families of victims and their perpetrators. Mental
health is something that science will never fully be able to grasp, but
as the years go by, scientists and doctors are learning more about this aspect of the human mind.
Normal Vital signs for an average: Male, Female, Child & Infant. It should also be noted that Body temperature reflects that of taken Orally, NOT Rectal.
How to Take your Blood Pressure:
One of the most important vital signs is the patient’s blood pressure: the amount of pressure that the surging blood exerts against the arterial walls. Blood pressure (BP) is an index of the efficiency of the complete circulatory system. The sphygmomanometer (blood pres- sure cuff) is the instrument used to measure blood pressure. Blood pressure normally varies with the age, sex, and medical history of an individual. The usual guide for systolic pressure in the male is 100 plus the individual’s age, up to 140-150 mm Hg. Normal diastolic pressure in the male is 66-90 mm Hg. Both the systolic and the diastolic pressures are 8-10 mm Hg lower in the female than in the male. Blood pressure is reported as systolic/diastolic as in 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) The result of contraction of the heart which forces blood through the arteries is called systolic pres- sure. The result of relaxation of the heart between contractions is called diastolic pres- sure. All Patients should be taught how to take blood pressures, but many do not realize that it is not unusual for a patient’s blood pressure to vary from 24 to 34 mm Hg (both diastolic and systolic) between the first reading at the accident scene and the reading at the hospital emergency room. The blood pressure may actually change as a result of medication, but the problem may be the sphygmomanometer, the person taking it, or both! Blood pressure readings may also fluctuate from the right to the left arm for a number of reasons. Record the pressure accurately so that the receiving physician can tell how much it has changed since you first saw the patient.
To take a blood pressure:
Fasten the cuff of the sphygmomanometer on either arm above the elbow. Apply the cuff on the arm one inch above the anterior crease of the elbow with the bladder can- centered over the brachial artery, then wrap snugly. (Proper size of BP cuff is deter- mined as follows: Bladder of the cuff should cover one half (1/2) of the arm cir- conference. If not, a larger or smaller BP cuff will need to be used.)
Now inflate the cuff rapidly with the rubber bulb while palpating the radial pulse until it cannot be felt. Make a mental note of the reading (as this may be the only BP recorded). This is known as the pulse obliteration method. Without stopping, continue to inflate the cuff to 30 mm above the level where the pulse was obliterated (cannot be felt).
Apply the stethoscope. Place the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the brachial artery at the antecubital fossa (artery on the medial anterior surface). The diaphragm may be held with the thumb. Deflate the cuff at approximately 2 mm per second (faster if skill permits), watching the mercury column or needle indicator drop.
Record as the systolic level the point on the gauge when you hear the first pulse sounds.
Continue releasing air from the bulb. Re- cord the diastolic level as the last sound is heard. The point at which the pulse sounds disappear is the diastolic pressure. Continue to deflate slowly for at least 10 mm. Note: Slow pulses require slower-than- normal rates of deflation.
Record the limb on which the BP was taken. Record the position of the person when the BP was taken if other than supine. Record the size of the cuff if other than standard.
If, in an emergency situation, a BP cuff and stethoscope were not available, you could quickly establish an idea of the approximate blood pressure by palpating the different pulses and using the following rule of thumb: If the radial pulse is palpable, the blood pressure is at least 80 systolic. If the brachial pulse is palpable, the blood pressure is at least 70 systolic. If the femoral pulse is palpable, the blood pressure is at least 60 systolic. If the carotid pulse is palpable, the blood pressure is at least 50 systolic.
Locating Pulse Sites
To assess a patient’s pulse, you can auscultate at the heart’s apex with a stethoscope or palpate a peripheral pulse with your fingers. Although either method can determine heart rate [beats per minute], auscultation
proves superior for assessing heart rhythm (regularity). You can palpate or auscultate the pulse in various locations. [For an illustration of these locations, see
Locating pulse sites]. Typically, you assess the radial pulse because of its easy accessibility. To do this, palpate the radial artery with the pads of your index and middle fingers for 60 seconds while compressing the artery gently against the radial bone. Don’t use your thumb because it has a pulse of its own that you could confuse with the patient’s pulse. Although some practitioners count the pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, avoid this practice, especially if the patient doesn’t have a normal heart rate and rhythm. If you have trouble distinguishing a faint peripheral pulse from your own pulse, check another site. Amplitude and rhythm As you obtain the pulse rate, also assess pulse amplitude and rhythm. Document pulse amplitude (which reflects the strength of left ventricular contractions) by using a numerical scale or a descriptive term. Different health care facilities may use numerical scales that differ slightly. If you use a numerical scale, make sure it corresponds to the one used in your facility or by your colleagues. The scale below, along with the corresponding descriptions of pulse amplitude, is among the most commonly used.
Remember, only + 2 describes a normal pulse.
+ 3 = bounding – readily palpable, forceful, not easily obliterated by finger-pressure
+ 2 = normal- easily palpable and obliterated only by strong finger-pressure
+ 1= weak or thready, hard to feel and easily obliterated by slight finger-pressure
O = absent-not discernible When you assess pulse rhythm, you evaluate the regularity of the electrical conduction of the heart.
Check the rhythm as you count the pulse rate for 60 seconds. Normally, rhythm should be regular, with roughly the same interval between pulsations. If you detect an irregular rhythm, describe its pattern. Also auscultate the apical area and palpate the radial area simultaneously to identify a potential pulse deficit [difference between the two pulse rates].
A pulse deficit occurs when a premature heartbeat can’t produce the wave of blood needed to fill the Arteries- thus, peripheral radial artery pressure is too low to palpate every heartbeat. To calculate a pulse deficit, have another nurse record one pulse rate while you.
Breathing [Respirations]
Respiration. When assessing respiration, focus on the rate, depth, and rhythm of each breath. To determine the respiratory rate, count the number of respirations for 60 seconds. (One respiration consists of an inspiration and an expiration.) Do this as unobtrusively as possible – a patient who knows that you’re counting respirations may inadvertently alter the rate. In one unobtrusive method, hold the patient’s wrist against his chest or abdomen as if checking the pulse rate. If respirations are too shallow to see a rise and fall of the chest wall, hold the back of your hand next to the patient’s nose and mouth to feel expirations. To estimate respiratory depth, observe the chest as it rises and falls, and assess the effort required to breathe. Respirations should be quiet and easy. Note any abnormal breath sounds, such as wheezing. Describe respirations as shallow, moderate, or deep. As you assess the respiratory rate and depth, note the respiratory rhythm, or pattern. Irregular rhythms in children or adults, such as Blot’s or Cheyne-Stokes respirations, commonly result from NEUROLOGIC disorders.
The first step of basic life support is to:
Actually determine whether the patient is breathing on his own. In some cases this will be evident, such as when a patient is gasping. At other times, you will need to carefully assess the patient’s condition.
To quickly determine whether the patient is breathing, follow these steps:
Find out if the patient is conscious. Gently try to arouse him by shaking his shoulder, leg, or foot. Speak loudly to him. If he does not respond, lightly scratch the palm of his hand with a pin or needle, or rub his sternum with your knuckles. If he does not respond to pain, he is unconscious.
Position the patient on his back. Do this only if cervical or spinal injury can be ruled out and if the patient is not already lying on his back. If you suspect spinal injury, determine respirations and heartbeat if possible, then find help and roll the patient as a unit (head and neck in alignment) onto his back.
Open the airway. Head Tilt This is the most important step in opening the airway. Place the palm of one hand on the patient’s forehead. Apply firm, backward pressure, tipping the patient’s head backward as far as possible. Additional assistance is gained by using either the neck lift or chin lift, performed with the other hand.
Head Tilt-Chin Lift
It has been known for twenty years that head tilt-chin lift offers a better opening of the airway than head tilt-neck lift. The American Heart Association has not emphasized this for fear of confusing the issue. The 1979 National Conference on CPR recognized that the chin lift is superior in some ways and may eventually supersede the neck lift; however, the proven efficacy of the head tilt-chin lift and worldwide acceptance of this sequence was also appreciated.
It was recommended that:
the two techniques be accepted as alternatives
chin lift be emphasized as having certain advantages that may eventually make it the approach of choice; have had a previous episode of pulmonary embolism
With the answers to these questions, you should obtain a general idea of the patient’s problem. The physical assessment will enable you to check your hypotheses and gain further information.
Physical Assessment:
By the time you complete the history, you will already have some important information about the patient’s physical signs. Did he appear anxious, uncomfortable, in distress! Did his dyspnea cause him difficulty in speaking? Did he have to stop to catch his breath? Or did your questions easily distract him from his symptoms? What position did he assume? Was he lying down or sitting very upright, straining to breathe? Did his answers Co your questions seem appropriate and coherent, or was he confused and disoriented! By making such observations, you are per- forming the preliminary steps of the physical assessment — that is, assessment of the patient’s general appearance and mental status. The patient in severe respiratory distress is frightened and intensely uncomfortable; he is usually sitting upright, and he may be gasping or laboring to breathe. Confusion and disorientation may also be evident. Injury often causes the patient to breathe up to twice the normal rate (twenty-four to twenty-eight times per minute). If an injury patient is breathing under the normal rate, he most likely has problems in the airway, diaphragm, lungs, chest wall, and or central nervous system. After completing your primary survey, take the patient’s vital signs. Pay particular attention to the breathing. Are the respirations abnormally rapid [tachypnea] or unusually deep [hyperpnea]? Is the respiratory pattern abnormal such as the Cheyne-Stokes respirations, consisting of rhythmic waxing and waning of the depth of breathing with periods of absent breathing suggesting a disorder in the central nervous system? An irregular respiratory pattern may be associated with severe head injuries.
Signs of Respiratory Distress:
Look for the signs of respiratory distress, which include:
Nasal flaring: the nostrils open wide during inhalation.
Tracheal tugging: the Adam’s apple is pulled upward during inhalation.
Retraction of intercostal muscles (those between the ribs) during inhalation.
Use of the diaphragm and neck muscles to assist in inhalation.
Use of the abdominal muscles during exhalation.
Cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes).
And Hands grasping at the throat & Neck (classic)
Performing a Cricothyrotomy
Cricothyrotomy consists of the insertion of a knife through the cricothyroid membrane. A horizontal incision of less than one-half inch is usually performed . The handle of the knife is inserted into the incision and rotated 90″ to maintain the patency of the opening, but it is usually necessary to insert a tubular device such as a small leg, 4 mm internal diameter) endotracheal tube or metal cannula. This may be attached to a bag-valve or other such device for providing positive-pressure ventilation with high oxygen concentrations. This should only be performed by a trained & qualified person.
Remember to call 911
Remember! Brain Death can occur after only 4 minutes.
If you should come in contact with these plants: Wash with soap and water being careful not to spread the affected area to the eyes or face, or any other part of your body. Wash your clothes thoroughly.
POISON IVY:
Appearance of plant: slightly glossy green leaves, growing in groups of three; flowers and berries, when present, are greenish-white; grows as either a trailing vine or erect shrub; most common in eastern and central United States. Symptoms of reaction: initial redness of affected area, followed by development of bumps and blisters; oozing lesions appear and crust over; severe itching accompanies symptoms; symptoms appear anywhere from four to seventy-two hours after exposure and are usually self-limiting. Emergency care: wash skin and clothing with soap and water, making sure all sap is removed; wipe skin with solution of 70 percent alcohol; in self-care use wet compresses of cold water, boric acid, or liquid aluminum acetate to relieve inflammation while lesions are oozing; use calamine location to relieve itching; obtain allergy shots if you are in constant contact with plants or if symptoms are severe.
POISON OAK:
Appearance ofplant: green leaves, slightly glossy, shaped like oak leaves; plant usually grows in shrub like clusters; found on west coast of the North American continent. Symptoms of reaction: same as for poison ivy. Emergency care: same as for poison ivy.
POISON SUMAC:
Appearance of plant: found chiefly in uninhabited areas, such as swamps and damp mountain terrain; leaves grow singly, and are veined; berries are green and drooping (harmless sumac have erect, red berries); grows as a tree, achieving heights of five to six feet. Symptoms of reaction: same as for poison ivy. Emergency care: same as for poison ivy.
Potentially Poisonous Insects
Anaphylactic Shock
All Insects below, including Bees and Wasps, can cause a severe allergic reaction (Anaphylactic Shock) in some people if bitten or stung. If you start to feel an allergic reaction coming on, Call 911 Immediately.
Symptoms of Anaphylactic Shock: Severe itching, Redness or Blotching of the skin, Breathing Problems, A Choking sensation in your throat, Light-Headiness, Swelling of the Hands, Face and Extremities, Nausea and Vomiting, and in some cases a feeling of Impending Doom. Patients susceptible to Bee Stings and or have had Anaphylactic Shock in the past, Should carry a Bee Sting Kit. The kit contains a syringe filled with Epinephrine 1:1000 and usually a tablet of some sort of antihistamine. Contact your Doctor to get a prescription for one if you think you are susceptible.
Ticks:
Ticks are small arthropods belonging to the spider class (arachnids) that feed on blood and transmit diseases, such as Lyme disease, Tularemia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, through their bites. The prolonged bite of a certain female tick can cause ascending paralysis, a condition in which a toxin in the tick’s saliva affects the motor neurons. The paralysis usually begins in the legs, which is usually the site of the bite. In severe cases, this can lead to paralysis of the respiratory muscles and can be fatal. Ticks are found in grass and weeds and attach themselves to the exposed skin of the host. As the female tick engorges herself with blood, she swells and turns red or purple in color. The male tick generally remains unchanged. There are two categories of ticks: hard ticks and soft ticks. Hard ticks have a hard shield on their back and may attach themselves to the host for days. Soft ticks are nocturnal and attach themselves to the host for short periods of time. Ticks should be encouraged to drop off by placing a drop of alcohol or ether on the tick or coating it with petroleum or nail polish. If a tick is pulled off forcibly, its mouthparts may be left behind and cause infection.
Lice:
Lice are small insects, about 1/8th of an inch (3 mm) in length, that feed on blood. Three species of lice affect humans: Pediculosis humanus capitis (head lice), Pediculosis humanus corpus (body lice), and Phthirus Pubis (pubic lice, commonly known as crabs). Lice cause dermatitis (severe skin irritation and inflammation) and, in some cases, transmit disease. The microorganisms that cause typhus, lapsing fever, and trench fever are transmitted to human hosts through the saliva of the lice. The Pediculosis capitis lice infest and feed on blood from the scalp. They infest people of all social classes. The lice are transferred form person to person through contact with infested hair or use of a comb, towel, hats, and hair ornaments of an infected person. The bites cause severe itching and scratching can lead to a secondary infection. The adult lice live for several weeks. The adult females lay eggs, called nits, that are firmly attached to the shaft of the hair. The eggs hatch in about two weeks. Head lice can be treated with lotions or shampoos containing malathion or carbaryl, which kill the lice and nits (eggs). The dead lice and nits must be removed with a special comb. The Pediculosis corpus lice infest the entire body. They infest people who do not change and launder their clothes regularly and do not practice good hygiene. When the lice feed on the blood of the host, they leave small red marks that itch. Scratching may lead to a secondary bacterial infection. Body lice often transmit epidemic diseases. The lice are transferred from person to person through infested clothing or bedding. The lice live in the seams. Proper hygienic practices and laundering clothes with very hot water (140 degrees Fahrenheit- 60 degrees Celsius) will kill the lice, although the nits remain viable for as long as a month. They hatch when they come into contact with body heat. Body lice can be treated with lotions containing malathion or carbaryl, which kill the lice and their nits (eggs). The dead lice and nits must be removed with a special comb. The Phthirus pubis lice infest the area of the genitals causing severe irritation. They are passed from person to person through sexual contact or from infested clothing and linen. This form of lice is often referred to as crabs because of their crab-like claws. Pubic lice can be treated with lotions or shampoos containing malathion or carbaryl, which kill the lice and nits (eggs). The dead lice and nits must be removed with a special comb. Prolonged use of these chemicals, however, can cause irritation to these sensitive areas of skin. An infested person’s sexual partner should also be treated. After consulting with your doctor or pharmacist for the best treatment plan, remember to use the delousing agents exactly as directed. The usual steps are: thoroughly scrub the infected area; apply the medication and leave it on for the recommended amount of time; rinse the area to remove the medicine; when the hair is dry comb out the nits with a nit comb; and repeat the treatment in another week to kill any newly hatched eggs that survived. It is important to consult your physician or pharmacist before using any over-the-counter drugs or treatments. They will be able to advise you on proper usage and can warn you of possible side effects and contraindications.
Chiggers:
Chiggers, also called harvest mites or red mites, are the larvae of trombicula mites and are found among the grass and weeds. Mites are arachnids, small eight-legged animals. They are less than 1/20 of an inch (1.2 mm) long. Mites attach themselves to exposed parts of the skin of the host and feed on the blood. The mouthparts are specially adapted for piercing the skin. When they bite, they promote an allergic reaction that causes a swelling about a half-inch in diameter that itches. The swelling may develop into a blister. Chiggers stick to the skin and cause irritation and severe itching.
Fleas:
Fleas are small insects, only about 0.1 inches in length. They are of the order Siphonaptera and feed solely on the blood of mammals and birds. More than two hundred different species of fleas can be found in the United States. Fleas cause irritation to the skin through their bite. They have specially adapted mouths to puncture the skin of the host and feed on the blood. The bites cause temporary pain and itching, although some people have a severe allergic reaction to them. Flea bites are characterized by a rash or small red blotches and bumps at the site of the bites. Scratching the rash can lead to secondary bacterial infection. In some instances, fleas transmit disease, such as bubonic plague, and murine typhus, through their bites. The virus that causes bubonic plague is carried by rats and transmitted to humans by fleas, specifically the Xenopsylla cheopis flea. The bubonic plague killed millions of people during the middle ages. Advancements in sanitation methods, pest control, and better public hygiene practices have reduced the episodes of plague caused by fleas. The flea Pulex irritans is a species of fleas parasitic on the skin of humans. It is a host to the larval stage of Dipylidium caninum, a species of tapeworm found primarily in dogs. The larva and, thus, the tapeworm is passed on to humans by the fleas. The flea ingests the larvae by feeding on the blood of an infected dog. The larvae are passed to the human host through the saliva of the flea when it bites the new host. The larvae enter the bloodstream of the human host and travel to the lungs. They then ascend the respiratory tract to the mouth where they are swallowed. The larvae mature in the intestine and compete with the host for nutrients. The adult female deposits eggs in the intestine. The eggs are excreted with feces, although some enter the bloodstream and begin the cycle again.
Other insects shown above (such as the black widow spider) can cause you to become very sick, and with the Brown Recluse Spider, a very dangerous ulceration can occur. Seek Medical attention as soon as possible!
Deer Tick’s can carry LYME Disease. Have your Doctor check you for LYME Disease if you have been bitten by a Tick. For poisonous bites or stings, a constrictive band can be placed apx 2 inches above the bite making sure that it is tight enough to only limit Venous blood flow. You can check this by making sure that you can place your pinky finger snugly under the constricting band. If you can not slide your finger under! The band is to tight. A constricting band can be made from a piece of string or clothing material. Remember do not use a tourniquet.
Burns
First-Degree Burns:
First-degree burns are caused by a flash, a flame, or the sun. They are the most common and the most minor of all burns. The skin surface is dry; no blisters or swelling occur. The skin is reddened and extremely painful, but the epidermal layer is the only one affected. First-degree burns heal in two to five days with no scarring. Peeling of the outer epidermal layer usually occurs, and some temporary discoloration may result.
Second-Degree Burns:
Second-degree burns result from contact with hot liquids or solids, flash or fame contact with clothing, direct fame from fires, and contact with chemical substances. The skin appears moist and mottled, and it ranges in color from white to cherry red. The burned area is extremely painful. The epidermis and dermal layers of skin are usually burned, and damage may result to some fat domes of the subcutaneous (fatty tissue lust under the skin) layer. Second-degree burns are considered minor if they involve less than 15 percent of the body surface in adults and less than 10 percent in children. Fifteen to 30 percent of adult body surface and 10 to 20 percent of a child’s body surface indicates a moderate second degree burn. The burn is also considered moderate if it involves the face, hands, feet, or genital area. A second-degree burn is considered critical if it involves more than 30 percent of the total body surface in an adult and 20 percent in a child. Healing of a minor second-degree burn usually requires five to twenty-one days. If infection occurs, healing time is extended to over thirty-five days, and the burn is con- sidered third-degree.
Third-Degree Burns:
Third-degree, or full-thickness burns, are the most serious, resulting from contact with hot liquids or solids, flame, chemicals, or electricity. The skin becomes dry and leathery; charred blood vessels are often visible. The skin is a mixture of colors: white (waxy- pearly), dark (khaki-mahogany), and charred. The patient feels little or no pain, because the nerve endings have been destroyed. Hair pulls out easily with no pain. The burn extends through all dermal layers and can involve subcutaneous layers, muscles, organs, and bone. Third-degree burns are considered minor if they occur on less than 2 percent of the body surface. Moderate burns involve 2 to 10 per- cent of the body surface. Third-degree burns are classified as critical if they occur on more than 10 percent of the total body surface, if there is any involvement of the face, hands, feet, or genital area, or if the burns are caused by chemicals or electricity. Third-degree burns that cover large areas usually require skin grafting and take months or years to heal completely; small areas require weeks.
Do not put anything on the burn. Tell the caller that under no circumstance should grease, oil, ointment, butter, or any other substance be applied to the burn.
Remove all clothing and jewelry from the burned area. Instruct the caller not to pull off any item that is sticking to the skin but to remove any clothing or jewelry that might be dangerous if swelling should occur. Also make sure that any jewelry that might conduct heat is removed promptly.
Immediately immerse the burned area in cool water. In addition to providing pain relief, cool water can stop the spread of the heat damage to surrounding tissues. Make sure that the patient does not get immersed in ice water — the rapid temperature extreme can cause severe complications. Direct application of ice to the burn can cause frostbite and complicate the severity of the burn. Tell the caller to halt the application of cool water after thirty minutes. Further treatment by immersion is ineffective and may actually lead to complications, such as causing a chill that may induce shock.
Leave the burn uncovered if possible. Stress that the burn will heal more rapidly and more completely if it is not covered. If a dressing is necessary, tell the caller to apply only a clean (sterile if possible) cloth and to leave it as loose as possible. Applying constricting bandages will further damage the burned area and may even tear burned skin loose from the body.
Give the patient emergency care for shock. Even if the patient manifests no signs and symptoms of shock, have him lie down, drink fluids, and stay warm. Such a course of action may prevent any shock that may occur after the burn incident. If the burn is not severe enough to require medical attention or hospitalization, make sure that the patient receives the best care possible, and instruct the caller to consult his physician if any complications occur. If the burn is severe enough to require hospitalization or close medical attention or even if you think that it might require such care, get the Patient to the Hospital as quickly as possible.