Health

How To Respond To Life-Threatening Injuries

Published

1 month ago

December 23, 2022

Harry Miller

Emergencies can happen anytime, and knowing how to respond to life-threatening injuries is crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of those involved.

Life-threatening injuries pose a serious risk to an individual’s health and survival. These injuries often require immediate medical attention and can include severe burns, head or brain injuries, stab or gunshot wounds, and internal bleeding.

Knowing how to respond in emergencies can significantly impact the outcome for those who have suffered life-threatening injuries. By following the appropriate steps, you can provide vital care and support to the injured person until emergency medical services arrive. For further reading on responding to emergencies, consider consulting with a medical professional or referring to reliable sources online.

Accordingly, keep reading to learn the practical steps to respond to life-threatening injuries.

Assessing The Situation

When faced with a life-threatening injury, it’s crucial to remain calm and take immediate action to assess the situation and provide the necessary care. Here are some critical steps to follow:

Determine the extent of the injury: Quickly assess the type and severity of the injury, as this will help you determine the best course of action. Look for any visible wounds or injuries, like cuts, bruises, or fractures, and try to find out the cause of the injury.

First Aid. Engineering supervisor talking on walkie talkie communication while his coworker lying unconscious at industrial factory. Professional engineering teamwork concept.

Check for other injuries or potential dangers: It’s vital to check for any other injuries or potential dangers that may be present. It could include checking for head injuries, broken bones, or internal injuries. It’s also necessary to assess the environment for potential hazards, like fire, electrical wires, or dangerous objects.

Assess the victim’s level of consciousness and responsiveness: Determine the victim’s level by asking them simple questions and observing their responsiveness. If the victim is unconscious or unresponsive, it’s crucial to call for emergency medical assistance immediately. If the victim is conscious and responsive, continue monitoring their condition and keeping them calm.

Seeking Help

Every second counts in a life-threatening emergency, and immediately seeking help can save a life.

The most effective way to get assistance is to call emergency services by dialling 911. This number is available 24/7 and is a direct line to local emergency response teams.

Once you’ve called 911, stay on the line and follow the operator’s instructions. It’s necessary to provide as much information as possible, including your location, the type of injury, and other relevant details. This information will help the operator dispatch the appropriate medical personnel and equipment to the scene.

If you’re unable to speak or if the situation is too dangerous for you to remain on the phone, try to find a way to alert emergency services to your location. It might involve leaving a note or message for someone to find or using a signaling device such as a flashlight or whistle.

Providing First Aid

It’s crucial to follow any specific instructions provided by the operator or first responder when providing first aid, as they may have clear procedures based on the situation. In general, however, there are some basic first-aid techniques that you can use to help someone injured or ill. They are as follows:

Protect the victim from further injury: If the person is in a dangerous location, such as on the side of a road, try to move them to a safer place if possible. If they’re unconscious, don’t move them unless it’s necessary to keep them safe.

Stop bleeding: If the person is bleeding, use a clean cloth or bandage to apply pressure to the wound to help stop the bleeding. If the bleeding is severe, don’t remove the cloth or bandage—keep applying pressure until medical help arrives.

Administer CPR: If the person isn’t breathing, you may need to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). To do this, follow these steps:

Place one hand on the person’s forehead and tilt their head back slightly.
Pinch their nose shut and blow into their mouth to give two breaths.
Place the heel of your hand on the person’s chest, just above the nipple line.
Position your other hand atop the first hand and interlace your fingers.
Push down on the chest with both hands, using your body weight to help.

Remember, these are just basic first-aid techniques. It’s always best to seek medical help as soon as possible. If you’re not trained in first aid, consider taking a first-aid course to learn more. These courses can teach you how to recognize and respond to different types of injuries and provide you with the skills and confidence to take action in an emergency.

Conclusion

Everyone must know how to respond to life-threatening injuries, as this knowledge can help save lives. In many cases, the actions taken in the first few minutes after an injury can significantly impact the outcome. By taking the time to learn about first aid and emergency response procedures, you can help ensure that you’re prepared to handle a variety of emergencies.

Health

BlackburnNews.com – Outbreak declared at local hospital – BlackburnNews.com

Published

51 mins ago

January 30, 2023

Harry Miller

Outbreak declared at local hospital

By Bob Montgomery
January 30, 2023 5:41am

A COVID-19 Outbreak has been declared on the Inpatient Unit at Seaforth Community Hospital.

Quality, Patient Safety & Infection Control Manager Erica Jensen explains what an outbreak means.

“An outbreak refers to two or more COVID positive cases. So one of our control measures in response to outbreaks is that we restrict the family and caregiver presence on the unit to essential need only, so that is for palliative patients,” Jensen stated.

Jensen adds, the restrictions will be in place until, in collaboration with the local health unit, they can determine that no ongoing transmission is occurring within the outbreak unit.

“Definitely call ahead if you’re wanting to visit someone at the Seaforth Hospital. I know that the staff there are working diligently to contact family and caregivers who do have loved ones in the hospital right now,” Jensen added.

Jensen also points out, as much as COVID cases have gone down recently, testing is still quite limited, so it’s difficult to know exactly what the situation is and COVID is still present, so the outbreak wasn’t a complete surprise. She advises people to continue to take precautions like washing their hands, wearing a mask in public places and get vaccinated.

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Health

Many good health reasons to eat an apple every day – Delta Optimist

Published

9 hours ago

January 29, 2023

Harry Miller

Apples are one of the oldest cultivated fruit, dating back at least 6,500 years, and have some of the greatest health benefits. There is truth behind the old adage “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

They are high in soluble fibre, low calorie, low on the glycemic index, and contain beneficial vitamins like Vitamin C, quercetin, pectin and potassium. They are a good antioxidant (especially the peel) and are the number one fruit to help prevent diabetes, cancer and heart disease. They help lower cholesterol as the soluble fibre in apples binds with saturated fat (preventing it from entering the bloodstream).

To aid weight loss, it is beneficial to eat an apple prior to a meal, as they curb your appetite. Apples encourage more saliva production, which protects your teeth. Some studies show mental health benefits of increased intellectual capabilities and a slowing down of mental aging and Parkinson’s (due to their antioxidant properties). The fibre and quercetin (a plant polyphenol) builds immunity to combat virus and bacteria, especially when one is stressed. The antioxidant properties help regulate ocular muscles and nerves, helping to preserve one’s eyesight.

Apples also speed up liver regeneration. The pectin in apples binds with heavy metals in the gut (aluminum and lead) and helps eliminate them. Heavy metal poisoning is one of the leading causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Apples are also proven to reduce anxiety when eaten regularly. The soluble fibre pectin aids IBS symptoms and ulcerative colitis.

Apple cider vinegar (fermented apple juice) has become a health rage and has its own set of health benefits including aiding digestion and weight loss, lowering inflammation and boosting energy.

Consuming it before a meal is said to help reduce blood sugar spikes afterward. It also helps with the absorption of the following nutrients: protein, calcium, iron, carbohydrates, fats, Vitamins A,B,C and E and magnesium. Apple cider vinegar is an antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral helps with absorption of calcium and other minerals. Even though it is acidic, once absorbed in the gut it is slightly alkaline. As it is acidic before digestion, it shouldn’t sit on the teeth as it may soften enamel. It is best to drink apple cider vinegar through a straw or rinse your mouth out afterwards with water.

These are some (proven and unproven) folk remedies using apple cider vinegar. Here are several but not all: removes age spots, as a soak for arthritic hands and feet or for athlete’s foot, soften foot corns, prevents asthma, heals bruises, fights cancer, helps prevent cataracts, eliminates cold sores, soothes a sore throat, eliminates cramping, treats dandruff, lowers blood sugars, kills diarrhea causing bacteria, soothes eczema and itching due to rashes, bites or stings, eliminates fatigue, increases stomach acid for those with gallbladder issues (associated with low stomach acid), aids hay fever, reduces headaches, dissolves the glue that holds nits (head lice eggs) onto the hair, treats hiccups, lowers blood pressure, aids osteoporosis by aiding calcium absorption, stops nose bleeds, aids absorption of all vitamins and minerals, treats smelly feet and warts.

As with any alternative remedy, it is important to talk to your naturopath and doctor beforehand to make sure there are no contra-indications with existing medicines, but there doesn’t seem to be any doubt that apples and apple cider vinegar contribute to healthy living. There are also many beauty aids but space prevents me from covering them in this article.

I personally use apple cider vinegar in a wonderful salad dressing with our Lemon-Honey Elixir, crushed garlic, avocado oil and a pinch of dried mustard.

Claire Nielsen is a health coach, author, public speaker and founder of www.elixirforlife.ca. The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional health and medical advice. Please consult a doctor or healthcare provider if you’re seeking medical advice, diagnoses and/or treatment.

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Hospitalizations fall at North Vancouver’s Lions Gate – North Shore News

Published

10 hours ago

January 29, 2023

Harry Miller

COVID-19 infections haven’t gone away on the North Shore.

But serious illnesses from respiratory diseases of all types are on the decline.

That’s the latest information this week that can be teased from statistics from both B.C.’s Centre for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health.

One of the biggest indicators of serious illness – hospitalizations – are thankfully on the decline.

Number of people in Lions Gate Hospital drops over 7%

Between Jan. 6, when Health Minister Adrian Dix first raised the alarm about high numbers of hospitalizations, the number of people in hospital at Lions Gate on the North Shore has fallen 7.2 per cent, according to the Ministry of Health. The number of people in hospital at Lions Gate went from 319 on Jan. 6 to 296 on Jan. 26.

A similar trend was seen at most major hospitals in B.C.

In Vancouver Coastal Health, hospitalizations fell 10.6 per cent in Richmond, 6.5 per cent at St. Paul’s and 4.2 per cent at Vancouver General. The only hospital where that didn’t happen was B.C. Children’s, where numbers remained stable.

As of Jan. 26, there were 42 people hospitalized who had tested positive for COVID-19 in VCH, two of those in critical care. There were also three new deaths in VCH among people who recently tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, flu – which peaked early in November – has now fallen to low levels. RSV infections – which have hit children hardest – remain high but have continued to decline. COVID cases have remained relatively stable.

North Shore sewage plant data shows small COVID uptick

According to recent data from wastewater sampling, levels of COVID-19 measured on the North Shore rose slightly from early January, although levels of virus being shed in sewage water were still not as high as they were over the Christmas period. Levels of the virus in most other Lower Mainland plants had declined as of Jan. 16.

Numbers of people vaccinated haven’t changed much on the North Shore. Between 92 and 95 per cent of adults 18 and over received at least two doses of the vaccine. But those numbers fell with each subsequent booster shot. Only 47 per cent of adults on the North Shore have received two boosters. There is also a relatively small uptake for children. Between 52 and 64 per cent of children age five to 11 have received two doses of vaccine, while under 20 per cent of the youngest children have received two doses.

Monday marks the third anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 as a global public health emergency.

On Friday, a committee of WHO voted on whether to maintain that designation. A final decision will be announced on Monday, but it isn’t expected to change anything in practical terms in Canada.

jseyd@nsnews.com

twitter.com/JaneSeyd

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