Articles Index
Do I Need Stitches?
Some open wounds will benefit from stitches while others may not. Learn the difference before you head to the emergency room.
Never Go to the Doctor's Office for Chest Pain
Chest pain is one of a few medical complaints that always need emergency medical care, and should never be seen at a doctor's office.
Deadly Ignorance
There is no evidence that a rescuer, lay or professional, can contract HIV from a victim of cardiac arrest while performing CPR. A police chief barred a lay rescuer from helping a victim of cardiac arrest because he assumed the victim had HIV. Now the police chief is being sued for wrongful death.
Fainting Symptoms
Fainting (syncope) is a sudden loss of consciousness from a lack of blood flow to the brain. Victims usually wake up quickly after collapsing. Although fainting is defined as a sudden loss of consciousness, the moments leading up to actually passing out will probably show several signs and symptoms that the victim is about to faint.
Fainting Treatment
Fainting treatment is focused on treating the reason for fainting rather than treating the fainting itself.
Fainting Prevention
The best way to avoid fainting is to lie down when the symptoms start. Victims can prevent fainting by learning to recognize fainting.
Medical Alert Systems
Compare medical alert systems to see which is the best option to give the senior in your life peace of mind. Medical alert systems give seniors a way to summon help in case they are unable to get to a phone. There are several companies offering medical alert systems and at the end of this page is a medical alert system comparison chart.
When an Emergency Is Not an Emergency
Ask any paramedic, ER nurse or emergency doc to name their biggest frustration and they're likely to tell you that it's watching people misusing emergency medical services. It's hard not to be a little upset with the mom who calls an ambulance for her child and claims he has a fever, only to find out she doesn't have a thermometer and he doesn't show any signs of being sick.
Pat Him Down
Safety is the most important thing to consider at any emergency, even before it's an emergency. Paul had to make sure the victim in this case wasn't going to hurt the rescuers before he started treatment.
Degrees of Burns
Determining the severity of a burn includes establishing how deep the damage goes into or through the skin. Burn thickness in most burn units is classified by degree -- the higher the number, the worse the burn.
First Aid Kit & Medicine Cabinet Drugs
When picking medications for first aid kits and medicine cabinets, it's important to get the right kinds of drugs and avoid extras. Learn about pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and other classes of medications.
Surprise!
Her demeanor was not scared. The cardiac monitor didn't indicate trouble, but this woman's heart stopped and almost made the paramedic's, too.
Hip Fractures
Hip fractures hurt. In some cases, that's the only symptom. Consider the possibility of a hip fracture in any older adult with hip pain after a fall, especially if he or she is unable to move the leg.
No Good Samaritan
Good Samaritan laws are meant to protect lay people who, for no reason other than kindness, come to the aid of fellow human beings in need. The placement of California's Good Samaritan statute has all but rendered it useless for the very population it should protect, thanks to an appellate court ruling.
Your Papers, Please!
The more training a license required to achieve, the less likely the attendant was going to question credentials. It seems a rather backwards way to be cautious.
Why Mouth-to-Mouth During CPR is Not Necessary
Two studies have clearly showed a benefit to chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth. It's time to consider changing the way CPR is taught. Focusing on pumping blood during CPR, rather than on moving air, makes a lot of sense.
Burned Surface Area
Measuring the size of a burn is difficult because every person is different in size, shape and weight. A square foot of burned surface area is much worse to a person who weighs 130 pounds than it is to someone who weighs 200 pounds.
Determining the Severity of a Burn
There are several factors used to determine if a burn is critical enough to necessitate a specialty burn center. Any burn that matches the criteria warrants a call to 911.
Layers of the Skin
The layers of the skin are a lot like the layers of soil in a flowerbed. Each has its use and all the skin layers (or soil) work together to provide nutrients and protection for the stuff growing in it.
Understanding Tourniquets
Tourniquets are tight bands used to control bleeding by completely stopping the blood flow to a wound. Tourniquets have a bad rap in the field of emergency first aid. Complications of tourniquet use have led to severe tissue damage. However, tourniquets can arrest bleeding quite well - and are certainly useful in cases of severe bleeding that cannot be stopped in any other way.
Surviving the Island
On Survivor, all the real life dangers present a unique challenge to the crew of the TV show. An Australian company moves an Outback ER on location to provide medical care to the cast and crew.
Saved by Serendipity
The chain of survival promoted by the American Heart Association works well - as long as luck plays a bit of a role. This story is one of serendipity and survival.
Rollover, the Baby's Coming
Two weeks after her due date and two weeks after rolling her car, the same ambulance crew delivers her baby.
Tales from the Street - Lucky Crash
If you have to get into a crash, the best place to do it is in front of an ambulance and two off-duty firefighters.
Do You Prefer One Shock or Three?
First, there was CPR. Then, there was AED and shocking became all the rage. Now, CPR may be retaking its rightful place in the hierarchy of resuscitation. Three shocks or one, which do you prefer?