Influenza Virus Mashup

(Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:28:00 +0000)  

#4952

Almost exactly a year ago I wrote a blog called A Hospital Is No Place for A Sick Person, about the HR policies at many hospitals that make it exceedingly difficult for HCWs (Health Care Workers) to call-out when they are sick.

Other blogs have focused on the willingness of HCWs and other essential personnel to work during a pandemic.

Study: Willingness Of HCWs To Work In A Pandemic

And The New Survey Says . . .

Will GP’s Work In A Pandemic?

Australia: Will Doctors Work In A Pandemic?

Lisa Schnirring of CIDRAP news brings us a look at two recent studies that explore both of these issues.

Studies explore working in a pandemic, working sick

Lisa Schnirring Staff Writer

Sep 30, 2010 (CIDRAP News) – A new study suggests that about half of essential workers, such as police and emergency medical personnel, might be unwilling to work during a serious pandemic. Meanwhile, another study indicates that it’s common for employees in private industry to work while sick with flu-like symptoms.

 

Both studies were published on Sep 25 in an early online edition of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

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(Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:24:00 +0000)

4951

Every year in the United States somewhere in excess of a quarter of a million Sudden Cardiac Arrests (SCA) occur – and the majority of them happen outside of the hospital.

With SCA, the heart suddenly stops beating, and the overall survival rate is a dismal 8%.

This can come as the result of a heart attack, a heart rhythm irregularity, electrocution, drowning, trauma, or a number of other causes.

As an EMT and later as a paramedic, I saw them on a daily basis.  Some shifts I might deal with 4 or 5.

Most of the time, even with a good response time, we were fighting a losing battle since most SCA victims had been `down’ – often non-breathing or pulse less – for several minutes before anyone called an ambulance.

Usually we’d arrive to find the family milling around worriedly, doing nothing (or worse putting a pillow under the victims head to `make them more comfortable’ – but in reality compromising their airway).

The window for resuscitation is short – as brain damage can begin after only 4 minutes without oxygenation of the blood.  

Every once in awhile, though . .  . we’d roll up on the scene to find someone doing CPR.   And those patients were far more likely to survive.

I’ve told the story before – but in the mid-1970s I was a CPR instructor, and I gave dozens  of high school CPR demonstrations over the years to hundreds of students.

One day my partner and I roll up on a scene to find a 16 year-old-boy doing effective CPR on his grandfather.  We took over, and the old guy survived.

 

Turned out, the grandson had taken my CPR class.

October 1st marks the start of National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month which the Heart Rhythm Society first launched in 2009. 

The CDC’s  MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) has an announcement this week on the start of SCA awareness month.

Announcement: National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month — October 2010

Weekly

October 1, 2010 / 59(38);1243

October is National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, dedicated to educating patients and the public about what sudden cardiac arrest is and how to respond to a cardiac arrest.

 

Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating, resulting in no blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Approximately 300,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States, with a median reported survival-to-hospital-discharge rate of 8% (1).

 

Rapidly implementing the “chain of survival” model (2) can help increase the chances of survival from sudden cardiac arrest. The steps in the chain include activation of emergency medical services by calling 9-1-1, starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using an automated external defibrillator (AED), and acquiring appropriate care. This year marks the 50th anniversary of CPR; updated CPR guidelines will be released later this year by the American Heart Association (AHA).

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Far more information is available on the Heart Rhythm Society’s press announcement, including resources for clinicians and the general public.

Every two minutes, someone in this country dies from SCA.  While not all of those deaths can be averted by rapid actions by bystanders, a significant number of them can.

So take the time this month to learn what to do to help someone – perhaps a friend or loved one – if they suffer a sudden cardiac arrest.

An investment of a little time and energy today could prove lifesaving for someone you care about tomorrow.

Via Ida’s Bird Flu Information Corner, a translation from Riau Mandiri: Tembilahan, Riau ::: Possible bird flu suspect. Excerpt:

A 17-year-old girl, named Intan, a resident of Jalan Kayu Jati, Kecamatan Tembilahan Hulu, had been treated in Puri Husada hospital, Tembilahan, Riau Province. 

Patient was suspected of having bird flu infection according to laboratory examination done by a doctor in Puri Husada hospital, confirmed the director of the hospital, Rasul Alim.

The story goes on to say the girl is now back home.

It’s almost bedtime here in Vancouver, but in Malaysia it’s Friday and Arkanoid Legent is doing a great job covering the news, including flu in Hong Kong and Taiwan, a suspected dengue death in Australia, and 96 new dengue cases in Delhi.