Heat Stroke : Kids in Cars Never Alone!

So you think you are not one of those parents that would leave their kid in the car and walk away unknowingly? Think again? This can happen to anybody!

So don't be so judgemental when it happens to others and children die, lets work together to educate each other about the problem and try to find a fix to keep it from happening to someone elses child. Make sure to watch the video below, it will make you stop and think about it. These tragedies are so completely preventable.

 

Heat exhaustion starts slowly and if it is not quickly treated can progress to heatstroke. In heatstroke, a child's temperature reaches 105 degrees F(40.5 C) or higher. Heatstroke requires immediate medical care and can be fatal.

 

Heatstroke is the common cause of death when children are left in the car by accident. Young children are particularly at risk, since their tiny bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult's.

To help parents not leave their kids in the car by accident, the organization “Kids and Cars” have created a helpful acronym (Be Safe) to assist parents:

 

Back seat: Put something in the back seat whenever you strap a child in, so you have to open the back door, or at least turn around to find that item, when you get out of the car. Your handbag or briefcase, cellphone, or employee badge.

Every child should be correctly restrained in the back seat.

Stuffed animal: Keep a brightly colored one in the car seat when your child isn’t there. Then move it from the car seat to the front seat after you strap your child in, to remind you when your baby is in the back seat.

Ask your baby sitter or child-care provider to call you within 10 minutes if your child hasn’t arrived on time.

Focus on driving: Avoid cellphone calls and text-messaging while driving.

Every time you park your vehicle—every single time—open the back door to make sure no one has been left behind.

Hopefully the PSA and the helpful tips for parents will help decrease the number of child deaths we see each year from vehicular heat strokes.

*Please note that Red Castle Productions have stated that this video is “a reenactment and no one was harmed in the making of this film.”




Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children. On average, every 10 days a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle.
Top Tips from Safe Kids USA:

Reduce the number of deaths from heatstroke by remembering to ACT.

A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.

C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.

T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

Teach children not to play in cars, make sure to always lock your vehicle, including doors and trunks when not using it. Keep keys and remote entry fobs up and out if sight, do not use them as toys for your child.

Teach children that trunks are for carrying cargo only and are not safe places to play. Anytime your child is missing, check pools and car trunks, call for help.

If your children are ever locked in a car, get them out quickly as possible and dial 911 immediately. Emergency personnel are trained to evaluate and check for signs of heat exhaustion.

 

Please stay safe today, watch for more Summer time tips coming soon.

National Football League is the past; Nursing the future! #nursing

National Football League is the past; Nursing the future!

On the face of it there is no comparison between the two; however if you look closely, a football player has a short playing career which gets shorter if there is any serious injury (chances of which are always very high). A nurse on the other hand, works for decades, not only serving humanity but also earning very decent amounts of money. In addition, nursing career has a great job outlook as well.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a registered nurse with an Associate’s degree earns in excess of $64,000 each year. Nurses with higher educational qualifications and prior related work experience may earn in excess of the quoted yearly income. For example, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), on average, earn $130,000 per year.

As mentioned earlier the career in nursing, nursing profession has a great job outlook as well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 26 percent faster growth of the industry as compared to other industries between the years 2010 and 2020.  This exponential growth is due to the large and ageing baby-boomer generation which now requires medical services. This is also because of technological advancements and an increased emphasis on preventive care.

Despite the attractive professional outlook if you are still unsure whether nursing is the profession for you, consider this; if you have the following skills, nursing is the profession for you:

• ·         Critical thinking skills
• ·         Speaking skills
• ·         Organizational skills
• ·         Patience
• ·         Emotional stability
• ·         An eye for detail
• ·         Compassion

In addition to acquiring the right educational qualification(s) it is worth remembering that all nurses must have a nursing license to practice. This means passing the National Council Licensure Examination or NCLEX-RN. Some states may have further requirements as well.

*infographic and article credit to: http://www.excite.com/education/careers/nursing-careers 

Arm Yourself With Knowledge and ASK #ASKingsaveskids

The Question To Ask On June 21, And After

In America, nearly 1.7 million children live in a home with a loaded, unlocked gun, and a
staggering 33 percent of homes with children have a gun.
Every year, thousands of children are killed or seriously injured as a result.
As parents, we can protect those we love by arming ourselves with knowledge and
educating ourselves about very real health and safety issues that fuel unnecessary tragedy.
One way of arming ourselves with knowledge is by making sure to ASK if there are guns
where our children play. If the answer is no, then we have one less thing to worry about.
If it’s yes, then we need to ensure that the guns are stored, locked, and kept separate from ammunition.
On Friday, June 21, 2013, organizations and individuals around the country will celebrate
National ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day. Held annually on the first day of summer, a season
when children spend more time in other homes, ASK Day reminds parents about the
importance of asking if there are guns in the homes where their children play.

Another resource for parents is the “Arm Yourself with Knowledge” Facebook Page, which
offers simple, empowering solutions to prevent youth violence by making your home, family and
community safer.
For more information or to participate in ASK day, email ask@cpyv.org, or visit
askingsaveskids.org

Just the facts ma'm:

FACT SHEET________________________________________________
• An average of 8 kids and teens are killed by firearms every day and 42 additional children
and teens are seriously injured (Injury Mortality Reports, National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control, CDC, 2010; 2011).
• 27 children and teens are seriously injured by BB or pellet guns every day (Injury Mortality
Reports, 2011).
• Studies show that between 33% and 40% of American households with children have guns
(Johnson, Renee, “Firearm Ownership and Storage Practices, U.S. Households, 1992-
2002.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 27, 2004; Peter Hart Research Associates
Poll, 1999, American Journal of Public Health, April 2000).
• 1 in 4 kids and teens whose parents own guns say they have seen or touched a gun without
their parents’ knowledge. (Global Strategy Group Youth Study commissioned by CPYV,
2011).
• Almost 90 percent of accidental shootings involving children are linked to an easy-to-find,
loaded handgun in the house (Society of Pediatric Nurses, 1998).
• Eighty-eight percent of the children who are injured or killed in unintentional shootings are
shot in their own homes or in the homes of relatives or friends (Pediatrics 2005).
• 42% of parents with guns keep at least one unlocked; 25% keep at least one loaded, and 14%
keep one unlocked AND loaded (Global Strategy Group Parent Study commissioned by
CPYV, 2011).
• Over 75% of kids in homes with guns say they know where the gun is hidden (Benenson
Strategy Group Study commissioned by PAX, July 2002).

THE ASK SOLUTION__________________________________________
• Less than 50% of parents reported being concerned about guns in other homes, but 79%
would be concerned if they knew there was a gun in the home their child was visiting (GSG
Parent Study).
• Only 23% of parents said they had asked in the past, but by the end of the survey, 89% said
ASKing was important (GSG Parent Study).
• 97% of parents who owned a gun said that they would not be offended if another parent
asked about a gun in their home (GSG Parent Study).

TIPS FOR STARTING THE CONVERSATION_______________________
• “We all know how curious kids can be…”
• “I hope you don't mind me asking a few questions about the kids’ safety…”
• “I heard the most surprising fact from my pediatrician…”
• “Do you remember that tragic story about the kids who found a gun?....”
• “All of us on the PTA have committed to making sure our kids are safe…”
• “Remember what we found in our houses when we were kids!”

DogGone, It's Summer, Keeping your Pets Safe

Do you have animals that ride in the car with you? Remember those animals depend on you to take care of them. Cracking a window does not cut it if you are going to leave them in the car. Even on a mildly warm day, a car can quickly become an oven for an animal.{EAV:26fac7f2f724fef5}

Leaving them outdoors without shelter, on a chain, in a cage or without water or a way to get some relief from the heat is just as bad. Know the signs of heatstroke and get your animals the appropriate treatment if you suspect any problems. 

Even with emergency treatment, heatstroke can be fatal. The best cure is prevention, and Fido and Fluffy are relying on you to keep them out of harm's way. Summer does not have to be fraught with peril--with ample precaution, both you and your furry friends can enjoy those long, hot, dog-days of summer.

Signs of Heatstroke

• Panting
• Staring
• Anxious expression
• Refusal to obey commands
• Warm, dry skin
• High fever
• Rapid heartbeat
• Vomiting
• Collapse

Precautions to take if your pet lives outdoors

• Ensure adequate shelter from sun/midday heat
• Outdoor kennels should be well-ventilated and in the shade
• Provide plenty of fresh water in a bowl that cannot be tipped over
• Avoid excessive exercise on hot days
• Talk with your local veterinarian to determine if your long-haired Fido needs a summer haircut

A US & Global View Of Child Injury #prevention #safety

A Tweet A Day Keeps The Doctor Away {infographic}

 

All gave some...Some gave All

On this Memorial Day lest we forget those nurses and field medics who gave so much to care for our military for so many years and wars. A fundamental part of each branch of service, the medical corp staff is on the forefront when soldiers need assistance both in the field and the field hospitals. Many of the concepts I use today in the ED started in the military fields. Heros are made both on the battlefield and at the bedside of a injured or dying soldier. Many nurses or medics are the last contact that the soldier has to say with his/her last breath " tell my momma or my wife I love her".

Some interesting facts from Scrubs Magazine:

• More than 10,000 nurses served in World War I. They traveled across the Atlantic Ocean by ship, and the journey took about two weeks.

• Somewhere between 200 and 300 nurses died in World War I. Many contracted illnesses such as scarlet fever and influenza, which took their lives. Some died in military accidents, and some died at the hands of enemy weapons.

• In the 1960s and 1970s, the nurses who went overseas to nurse injured soldiers in the Vietnam War were young women who had just graduated from nursing school. This was their first nursing experience, and they served for one year minimum. They could serve longer if they chose to.

• As the machines of war evolved, the nurses who served overseas saw and treated injuries they would never have to deal with again. For example, during the Vietnam War, napalm, a flammable liquid that causes severe burns and often death, was a commonly used weapon, and nurses saw its horrible effects.

• Today, the nurses who go overseas range in age from 20 to 60, and one-third are men. The service term is six months, but “active duty” nurses can be reposted (sent back) several times.

• The Army Nurse Corps became an official branch of the Army Medical Department in 1901. You can learn about joining the Army Nurse Corps on the U.S. Army website.

• There are 10 different nursing specialities in the Army Nurse Corps, ranging from Army Public Health Nurses to Perioperative Nurses to Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners.

• Military nurses have served in numerous wars, including the Spanish-American War, both World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. They have served with NATO troops in Haiti, Bosnia and Kosovo.

• During World War II, 67 Army nurses and 16 Navy nurses were held by the Japanese for three years as prisoners of war.

• Located near the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., is a memorial to all nurses who have served in all wars. It’s a bronze statue of a nurse caring for a wounded soldier. As a nurse, hopefully you’ll have the opportunity to visit this memorial someday—if not on this Memorial Day, then perhaps on another Memorial Day, or any day.