Paramedic UK

Mystery of the 1918 “Spanish Flu” Pandemic: Solved

Editor — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:55:44 +0000

MIT researchers have explained why two mutations in the H1N1 avian flu virus were critical for viral transmission in humans during the 1918 pandemic outbreak that killed at least 50 million people -believed more than that taken by the Black Death, and higher than the number killed in World War I.

The 1918 flu pandemic -commonly known as the Spanish flu- was an influenza pandemic that started in the United States, appeared in West Africa and France and then spread to nearly every part of the globe in three waves lasting from March 1918 to June 1920, spreading to the Arctic and remote Pacific islands. It was caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. In contrast to most influenza outbreaks which predominantly affect juvenile, elderly, or otherwise weakened patients, the Spanish Flu also claimed healthy young adults, resulting from infection rates of up to 50% and the extreme severity of the symptoms, suspected to be caused by cytokine storms.

Read full article: The Daily Galaxy

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) to be banned by FDA?

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:35:05 +0000

Pain is such a common problem in the United States that Vicodin is the most widely prescribed drug in the country.

It alleviates the pain of surgery, soothes aching joints, and beckons to Gregory House, the misanthropic TV doctor played by Hugh Laurie.

Vicodin and similar painkillers are so tightly woven into daily American life that if the Food and Drug Administration takes the advice an expert panel issued Tuesday and prohibits them, doctors and patients will scramble for alternatives, experts said.

“If they were to ban those, what do you think would happen tomorrow? It would be a mess,” said Timothy Ives, associate professor at the University of North Carolinas Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

Read full article: Philadelphia Inquirer

Barriers To Best Resuscitation Practices

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:49:51 +0000

American Heart Association Rapid Access Journal Report:

Study highlights:

Cardiac arrest patients may not be getting the best care by EMS personnel due to a number of external factors.

EMS should have adequate time in the field to give high-quality CPR and other resuscitation efforts before transporting cardiac arrest patients.

EMS should follow national guidelines for transporting cardiac arrest patients and determining when to end unsuccessful resuscitation efforts.

Read full article: Earthtimes

US: Boy allegedly steals from ambulance as mom treated

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:02:28 +0000

A boy was arrested over the weekend on charges of stealing from an ambulance while paramedics were treating his mother.

The Johnson City Press reported the boy, who was not named because he is a juvenile, was charged with stealing $5,000 in medical supplies. That includes an oxygen tank and an oxygen sensor machine.

Read full article: guardian.co.uk .

Paramedic assault man told he could be jailed

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:53:49 +0000

A drunken man who assaulted a paramedic as he tried to help him has been warned he faces a possible prison sentence.

Passers-by were so concerned when they saw Barry James Jones, 60, of Fowler Road in Blacon, Chester, asleep on a grass verge that they tried to wake him up and then called an ambulance.

Read full article: Chester Evening Leader .

Movano front-line with WMAS

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:46:37 +0000

Good performance by the Vauxhall Movano in a front-line accident and emergency ambulance role has led West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust to order a further 64 vehicles.

The new ambulances are currently in build and will enter into service alongside 60 Movanos already operated by the Trust since last year. Once deliveries are complete the model will make up to half of their fleet of 275 emergency ambulances.

They will operate out of all the Regional ambulance stations from which over 720,000 emergency calls are responded to each year. During their five years in service the ambulances will be worked hard with each covering at least 250,000 miles.

Read full article: Vauxhall Van News

Spared jail after abusing medics

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:40:20 +0000

A cemetery visitor who drunkenly abused ambulance crew members has been placed on probation for two years.

James Morrison Smith Scalley threatened medics who had been called to treat him by concerned passers-by at Old Monkland Cemetery on May 31.

The 45-year-old, of Hutchison Place, Coatbridge, admitted behaving in a disorderly manner, shouting, swearing, issuing threats to the two men and committing a breach of the peace – all while on bail.

Read full article: Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser.

Ambulance ready for ‘nuclear attack’

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:37:38 +0000

Pararamedics carry out one of the largest ever rehearsals for a “dirty bomb” attack on the UK.

More than 1,000 cops, paramedics and firefighters were involved in treating “radioactive casualties”.

Emergency services worked on the scenario that terrorists had set off a radiological device at a college near Dover Castle.

Read full article: The Sun.

LAS warns of increased calls during hot weather

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:34:05 +0000

With more hot weather expected, the ambulance service has warned the number of emergency calls it is answering is mirrored by the soaring temperatures.

The London Ambulance Service’s control room sent paramedics to 2,152 patients reported to be seriously ill or injured over the weekend, compared with 1,751 during the previous Saturday and Sunday.

It is an increase of 23 per cent and deputy director of operations Jason Killens said: “The weekend was very busy for both our control room and frontline staff and we would urge everyone to take care when they are out and about in the sun this week.

Read full article: This Is Local London.

Paramedic feels the heat

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:31:33 +0000

A paramedic was taken ill in yesterday’s soaring temperatures as she treated a teenage casualty on a South Devon beach.

Both were rushed by Devon Air Ambulance to Torbay Hospital after being flown from Landcombe Cove, near Blackpool Sands outside Stoke Fleming.

The youngster, aged 16 and from Stoke Fleming, had collapsed after suffering an epileptic fit on the beach following a night out camping with pals.

The paramedic, from Dartmouth, and ambulance colleagues arrived at the remote site with help from eight members of the Dartmouth Cliff Rescue Team who used lines to make the descent to the beach.

But both ended up in the aircraft after she felt the effects of the heat immediately after the 300 yard drop through a field to get to the patient.

An ambulance service spokesman said: “I think the fact she had walked a considerable distance with a lot of kit in a reflective jacket may have caused her not to feel too great, so she hitched a ride in the helicopter.”

He added: “She was fine after a bit of re-hydration.”

Read full article: This is Devon