Bloodborne Pathogens: Where They Are and How They Are Transmitted

When considering bloodborne pathogens most people believe that in order to be contaminated by these pathogens they must come in contact with the infected person’s blood in some way into a bodily orifice such as the mouth or nose to become contaminated, as well. But, it is a highly mistaken misnomer of the fact that pathogens only reside in the bloodstream. These same pathogens can be found in many other places where bodily fluids reside in the human and mammal body.

There are many means for pathogen to come in contact with another host in the body and many ways for one to become infected by these pathogens. These potentially harmful fluids include semen, the viscid, whitish fluid from the male during sexual coitus and, vaginal secretions that come from the female cervix fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid, the colorless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord can carry serious pathogens that can lead to serious damage to the body and leave catastrophic brain damage and even death. Synovial fluid, fluid that lubricates and cushions joints between the bones in the body can be a carrier of these pathogens. Pleural fluid, the fluid between the pleural membranes of the lungs and the inner chest walls, can, also, be a carrier fluid of pathogens released into the air by simply coughing and even breathing. Peritoneal fluid, the fluid in the gastrointestinal organs, is yet another means of passing these pathogens along to other hosts that can pass the pathogens in a vicious cycle to another host. Amniotic fluid carried in the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus of a gestational female can carry pathogens that can be passed to the fetus from the mother and any other host that comes in contact with the pregnant mother. Saliva is another form and path to pass these pathogens on to the next host and probably the easiest way to send these pathogens on to their next destination. Practically any bodily fluid that carries blood cells, and all bodily fluids carry blood cells, will be able to contaminate the next available warm blooded host.

It is highly important to be aware and to be knowledgeable about the various and many ways that exposure and transmission are most likely to occur in any particular situation whether it is in providing something as simple as minor first aid to handling blood specimens in a laboratory, to cleaning a dirty bathroom floor or kitchen countertop. Various and just a few ways to make contact with pathogens include sexual contact, the sharing of hypodermic needles. From mother to babies at birth or before birth, accidental punctures from dirty needles, broken glass or other sharps, contact between broken or damaged and infected body fluids, contact between mucous membranes and infected body fluids. Anytime there is blood-to-blood contact with infected blood or body fluids, these is a potential for transmission.

Unbroken skin forms an impervious barrier to prevent these pathogens entering your body other than your natural bodily orifices. However, infectious pathogenic blood can enter your system through such ways as open sores, abrasions, cuts, acne and any sort of damaged or broken skin such as sunburns or blisters. Even your eyes, nose and mouth are pathways for bloodborne pathogens to enter your body. It is important to always remember to cover your mouth and nose by covering your face in the bend of your elbow when coughing and/or sneezing. Back away as quickly and as far as you can when someone else is coughing or sneezing without covering their face to ensure you are not contaminated should the other person be a carrier of such pathogens. One can never be too careful in keeping away from the microscopic pathogens that cause disease and illnesses that can lead to something as small as discomfort to as devastating as death itself.

Heart Attack During Business Travel: Heroes Among Us

Traveling for work can be stressful. Being in an unfamiliar city with no immediate support personnel like family or friends can add to that stress. Having a cardiac episode on top of all that stress can potentially be deadly. That is the story of a co-worker of my wife.

A 60+ year old Sales professional was on business travel when he started feeling ‘off’ while at the hotel. Arm/shoulder pain, feeling nauseated and feeling like he wanted to pass out, he went to the hotel lobby to get help.

Three (3) hotel staffers (all trained in CPR/AED) noticLobby-Businessmaned signs of a heart attack and immediately sprang into action. One staffer called 911. One prepped the hotel’s AED and provided aspirin. The 3rd staffer attended to him and kept him calm. It was no time before an ambulance arrived. He was transported to the hospital, treated and made a full recovery. A happy ending for certain, but how frightening does that sound? Having to deal with a serious health incident while being miles from home without your normal support network around you is hard to imagine.

When I think of this type of event, I NEVER associate it with being somewhere other than near home where help seems to be conveniently at hand. Some statistics indicate that Monday mornings are one of the more likely times an episode would occur. While that may be supported by statistics, variation exists in almost all statistical data.

This story ended well. But what if the hotel staffers were not educated and didn’t take the right actions?  What if emergency care was not contacted immediately? My wife’s friend got a 2nd chance thanks to trained personnel who took action. While you may not realize it, your life could depend on medically trained experts beyond the typical police/fire/paramedics. CPR/AED/First Aid trained experts that may be in the grocery store, at work, walking down the street, at the gym or in your hotel. Someone such as this could save your life.

Do yourself and others a favor: Educate yourself.

  • There are classes that can be taken to help teach you how to treat someone in need.
  • Symptoms can be researched so you can identify when such an event is occurring to you or someone else.
  • Learn lifestyle changes that can reduce your chances of having such an event.

“Knowledge is power” is cliché but it may save your life or help save someone else’s. Taking a course as mentioned above could put another potential hero out in public. How good would it feel to say that you helped save a life? How grateful would the survivor or their friends/family be? I’m sure you know of a similar story. Maybe it didn’t have a happy ending. Maybe one trained person could have changed the outcome. Give some thought to being someone who is trained to make a difference.

Young healthy Teen yet Cardiac Arrest still strikes Emily

Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States with 326,200 individuals experiencing out of hospital cardiac arrest every year, and ninety percent of those individuals die. Thankfully, Emily Orta was of the ten percent who made it.

At the age of fourteen, Emily was an active athlete who participated in soccer, track and cheer. Her active, healthy lifestyle and her age seemed to make her invincible to such things as cardiac arrest, but during a practice drill, she collapsed. At first, her coach believed she had begun to have a seizure, but soon realized Emily’s heart had stopped.

Her parents were forty-five minutes away when they were called and told their daughter had collapsed and experienced cardiac arrest. The entire time, her mother couldn’t stop wondering how such a healthy, active kid could have this happen to them.

A lifeguard from the school began CPR on Emily, keeping her heart pumping and oxygen moving to her vital organs until a team of first responders were on the scene. They used an automated external defibrillator to shock Emily’s heart into beating again, but if it hadn’t been for CPR, Emily’s heart might have never responded to those shocks.

From there, Emily was admitted to a local hospital, where she was then flown to the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital where she was diagnosed with ALCAPA. ALCAPA stands for Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery, which means her left coronary artery was connected to her pulmonary artery rather than her aorta, causing blood to flow to the wrong places. This condition is usually caught during infancy, but Emily made it all the way to fourteen before she collapsed and her heart stopped.

While hearing about the elderly collapsing of cardiac arrest is quite common, it’s shocking to realize that cardiac arrest can happen to anyone from the moment they are born, no matter what their age. It’s important to be equipped with the knowledge of how to keep their bodies from quickly deteriorating without oxygen through using CPR.

Quitting Smoking – Determination, Planning, and Changing Your Routine can Help

Smoking. We know the facts. The science is in and many people have personal horror stories attributed to a friend or family member that has lost the battle with lung cancer after a lifetime of nicotine addiction. Whether its to save money by not having to buy heavily-taxed tobacco products or to preserve one’s health, almost everyone who is a smoker has tried to quit at some point in time. Often, these people make the effort more than once only to fall victim to the pressures of the stress of daily life and the powerful cravings nicotine induces.

dangers of smoking

So, how does one finally kick the habit? The first step is actually deciding to do something about it. Addiction is a powerful force and must be met with an equally-equipped will to overcome. Half-hearted attempts at curbing addiction rarely pan out successfully.

Once the resolution has been firmly decided, planning is key. While procrastination is seductive, it is probably not in your best interest to attempt to quit smoking during finals week at school or while you prepare for a high level business meeting. If possible, avoid coinciding your efforts with intense, high-pressure events or activities. There will be withdrawal symptoms regardless of when you choose to break the streak, but stress is an excellent excuse to just have that one last smoke, and that is a scenario that is to be avoided.

Plan your distractions. What are some activities that you can do to get your mind off of your cravings? Some people hold a pen or pencil in the manner that they would a cigarette. Others squeeze a stress ball to relieve pressure and curb nervousness. Healthy alternatives to smoking are the preferred methods of distraction. Keep a bottle of water by your side or on your desk and take a few sips every time you feel the need to smoke. Celery sticks or carrot sticks can keep that smoking hand busy while also providing an added serving of vegetables to your diet. Get creative. The name of the game is trying to train your mind and body to replace an unhealthy habit with one that is, at best, healthy or at least not as harmful as smoking.

Here are some widely accepted tips for helping you quit smoking for good:

– Change your routine. Smoking, like all habits, is routine-based. Set your alarm a little earlier and do a few sit-ups instead of having that first smoke. Get into work a little earlier and eat your breakfast there instead of at home. Walk the dog a little bit longer. Change the timing of your breaks at work. Do whatever you can in an effort to reset the clock inside you that tells you when it’s time to smoke.

– Avoid places where other people will be smoking.

– Ask friends who smoke for understanding and courtesy during this challenging time. If they refuse to extinguish around you or goad you into having a smoke with them, make an effort to avoid them.

– Create a support system. Tell your family you are quitting and why. Encourage them to help you stay on track and hold you accountable.

– Take advantage of quitting agents such as nicotine gum and patches. While some prefer to go cold turkey, others choose to avoid the severity of withdrawal symptoms by weening themselves off gradually. You may have to experiment to see what works best for you, but follow the directions and understand that no method is without its challenges.

– Live past the relapses and enjoy the small victories. People rarely quit smoking and never look back. Relapses are extremely common when dealing with addictive substances. While they should be avoided at all costs, don’t allow yourself to fall back into your habit and start over. Plan a party or special dinner to celebrate personal milestones. These will give you goals to look forward to achieving and allow you to share your pride and accomplishments with those closest to you.

Lastly; do your research. Countless people have quit smoking successfully and they all have a story. Understand why nicotine is such an addictive substance and do some research into what other people have done to remove it from their lives. Knowledge is power, and in the information age there is no excuse to not find yourself educated and armed to the teeth.

CPR Education Equips Ordinary Citizens To Do The Extraordinary In Cases Of Cardiac Arrest

We have seen it countless times: the ambulance, with lights strobing and siren wailing, slithering its way through a congested city street. Apprehensively crawling under a red light at a busy intersection. Riding the brakes as the motorists in its path turn down their radios and check their mirrors, wondering what all the noise is about.

We dutifully pull over and, with a sigh of anxious pityambulance-flashing-lights, we always think the same thing: “I’m glad it’s not on its way to see me.”

However, this common thought underlines an important reality. The time it takes for paramedics to arrive on the scene of a cardiac arrest victim can make the stark difference between a life well-lived and a life cut short.

It is for this reason that it is of paramount importance for people outside of the health industry to have a basic understanding of CPR.

Ray Hanvey, an exercise instructor at the Stonestown YMCA in San Francisco, California, knows all too well the benefits of having life-saving education be the rule as opposed to the exception. He collapsed while teaching a class and benefitted greatly from the fact that his peers are required to know how to perform CPR. He was saved by the quick action taken by those around him who had insight into the steps that need to be taken in the face of a health crisis.

While Ray was lucky to have been stricken with a heart attack in the midst of well-trained company, many unfortunate others are not.

Anyone can find themselves in a situation where their own practical knowledge could turn the tide in an emergency. Even a baseline understanding of life-saving or first aid techniques can have an impact when applied to someone whose life may depend on the swift arrival of an ambulance howling impatiently at the rear end of a tractor trailer that has yet to find a suitable spot to pull over.

CPR training, in many cases, can draw the line between hero and bystander.

 

Check out some local public community CPR classes now!

 

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Hot-Weather Safety for Steamy Tampa Summers

Sun-drenched Tampa, with its subtropical climate, rewards residents and visitors alike with a seemingly endless procession of bright, warm days and brilliant blue skies. While other parts of the country are gridlocked in ice and snow, we enjoy mild, pleasant winters.

But Tampa residents know that part of living in this beautiful city is dealing with our sizzling summer temperatures. Designated by the Sperling Heat Index as one of the 10 hottest metropolitan areas in the nation, Tampa features summer temperatures that can, and do, creep into the mid-90’s. High temperatures, paired with Tampa’s abundant humidity, create a sort of double whammy: a high heat index that can lead to serious, even life-threatening, medical conditions.

A few simple precautionsDSCF4435  can help you prevent heat-related illnesses – heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke – from marring your Tampa summer.

What are heat cramps?

Heat cramps are involuntary muscle spasms, usually of the major muscles, following physical activity in hot or humid weather. The least serious of the three conditions, heat cramps can still be painful enough to bring your tennis game or your afternoon of landscaping to a halt. And stopping your hot-weather activity due to heat cramps is just what the doctor ordered; heat cramps, usually accompanied by heavy sweating, can serve as a warning sign for heat exhaustion, a more serious condition.

You can treat heat cramps by moving to a cooler environment, resting, and drinking cool water or sports drinks to replenish fluids that have been lost by perspiring. Medicinenet.com recommends gently stretching the affected muscles. If your heat cramps are very painful, uncontrollable or don’t respond to treatment, contact your doctor.

What is heat exhaustion?

With heat exhaustion, your body’s core temperature rises too high, due to the inability to cool off by sweating. Performing strenuous activity in high heat and humidity can make you more vulnerable to this condition.

In addition to muscle cramps, heat exhaustion involves a constellation of symptoms, which may appear all at once or develop slowly over a period of time. These can include profuse sweating, elevated pulse, goose bumps, headache, skin that is moist and clammy, and feelings of faintness, dizziness, weakness or nausea.

DSCF4648What should I do?

Stop activity immediately, get into a cool place and remain at rest.  Mayo Clinic advises lying on your back with your legs higher than your heart.  Drink cool beverages; if available, opt for electrolyte-rich sports drinks like Gatorade. You can cool down further by misting your skin with cold water, taking a cool bath or shower, or applying cold compresses.

These tactics should be enough to cool your body down and alleviate heat exhaustion.  If symptoms become worse, or don’t resolve within the hour, Mayo Clinic advises contacting your doctor. If your body temperature should reach 104 degrees F, call 911.

 Who is at risk for heat exhaustion?

Technically, everyone and anyone who overdoes it in the heat is at risk for heat exhaustion.

But, because very young and elderly people aren’t as efficient at regulating their body temperature, those over 65 and under 4 years old are particularly vulnerable. Being overweight can contribute to risk, as can taking certain medications, including beta blockers, diuretics, antihistamines, stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics and tranquilizers.tampa city worker

Vacationers take note: being unused to high heat can make you more susceptible. When travelling to a hotter climate, try to allow a couple of days to acclimate to the heat before exercising.

Heat stroke: a life-threatening medical emergency

With heat stroke, the body’s cooling system simply ceases to operate, causing body temperature to rise to dangerous levels, with resultant damage to the brain and other internal organs. If not treated, heat stroke can cause seizures, coma and even death; the Centers for Disease Control report that heat stroke and heat-related causes claim hundreds of lives each year. As with heat exhaustion, most at risk are the elderly, the very young, overweight people and those taking certain medications.  But even athletes are not exempt:  the young and fit can experience heat stroke after strenuous physical activity in high heat and humidity. Conversely, rigorous exercise doesn’t always play a role. For the susceptible, simply being exposed to very hot and humid weather for prolonged periods — such as two or three days — can result in heat stroke.

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

The universal symptom of heat stroke is extremely elevated body temperature, with readings at 104 degrees F and above. Skin is usually — but not always — flushed, hot and dry to the touch; if the heat stroke is caused by strenuous exercise, the skin could feel moist. Other signs include slurred speech, nausea, vomiting, headache, rapid breathing, delirium and elevated heart rate.

What should I do?

If you suspect heat stroke, call 911 at once. While waiting for emergency services to arrive, immediately get the person out of the heat and into an air-conditioned or shaded area, and remove their excessive clothing.  Try to cool the person off by any means necessary: sponging, misting, or immersing them in cool water. Ice packs, if available, can be applied to the person’s head, neck, groin and armpits.

Common-sense precautions to avoid heat-related illness

Experts say that a heat index of 91 degrees and higher calls for taking systematic precautions to keep cool. Fortunately, the best ways to prevent heat-related problems are also the simplest.

Wear loosely fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid strenuous activity when temperatures and humidity are high. If you don’t have air conditioning, try to spend at least a few hours in a place that does, such as a library or mall. And, of course, never leave children or pets in a parked car in warm weather.

Use sunscreen. Getting sunburned can raise risk of heat-related conditions.

And — although it may be tempting to envision sipping cool longneck beers or tasty Margaritas while basking in the sun — experts say: skip the booze. Alcohol can actually make you more vulnerable to heat-related problems.

Here’s to a glorious, hot and healthy Tampa summer!

 

 

 

 

Improve Heart Health with Cholesterol-lowering Foods

Improve Heart Health With Cholesterol-Lowering Foods

Heart disease, the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, is often associated with high cholesterol levels. If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe medication to help reduce your levels. However, you may also be able to lower your cholesterol naturally by making dietary changes and becoming more physically active.

What is cholesterol?

Although many people automatically associate cholesterol with health problems, this waxy substance in your blood is actually indispensable; without it, your body couldn’t continue to build healthy cells. It only becomes a problem if cholesterol levels – particularly levels of low-density lipoproteins, or LDL cholesterol for short – become too high and accumulate in your blood vessels, narrowing them and restricting blood flow. This condition, called atherosclerosis, can put you at risk for heart attack and stroke. By contrast, beneficial HDL cholesterol – high-density lipoproteins – actually picks up excess cholesterol and shuttles it back to your liver.

Although genetics may play a role in how your body produces and handles cholesterol, lifestyle factors, such as lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, and smoking can all contribute to a skyrocketing cholesterol count.

And this is actually good news: these are all things that you can do something about.

According to Mayo Clinic, foods high in saturated animal fat – such as red meat and full-fat dairy — can raise your cholesterol. Baked goods, which often contain trans fats, are another common culprit when it comes to ramping up unhealthy LDL cholesterol . But, just as there are foods that raise cholesterol, there are foods that lower it. The trio of foods below can become your allies in the battle against unhealthy cholesterol.

Oatmeal

This familiar breakfast offering may not seem particularly exciting or glamorous. But don’t let its homely image fool you: scientists say that when it comes to fighting high cholesterol, oatmeal is a virtual hero. And its secret weapon is its store of beta-glucans, a type of fiber found in oats.

In a review published in “Vascular Health Risk Management,” researchers concluded that beta-glucans not only significantly lowered levels of triglycerides – or fats – in the blood, they also reduced LDL while boosting heart-healthy HDL. A half-cup of oatmeal also provides .26 milligrams of niacin, or vitamin B-3 – a potent high cholesterol-fighter in its own right.

Bonus: the researchers also credited oat beta-glucans with reducing appetite, which could help control the excess calorie intake that contributes to high triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

If you find the taste bland, you can jazz your oatmeal up with healthy additions. Sprinkle it with raisins, mix it with sliced bananas, drizzle it with a little honey, or spice it up with cinnamon. Your heart will thank you for it.

Avocados

With their rich, buttery taste and creamy consistency, avocados would not seem, at first glance, to be a heart-healthy superfood. But when it comes to improving health and lowering cholesterol, these delicious fruits are MVPs. Avocados are rich in beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids, the “good” fat also found in olives and nuts. They are also very high in soluble fiber, which suppresses the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream.  Experts say you should ingest at least 5 to 10 grams of soluble fiber a day to decrease your total and LDL cholesterol; with a whopping 7 grams of fiber per 3.5-oz serving, avocados fill the bill.

And there is clinical support for avocado’s health-promoting benefits.  Mayo Clinic reports that overweight people who added one avocado per day to their diets significantly lowered their LDL cholesterol levels.  In other studies, scientists found that these unique fruits can lower LDL by as much as 22 percent, while raising HDL up to 11 percent.

Add luscious avocados to salads and sandwiches, or eat them out of hand as a snack. For a potent punch of disease-fighting antioxidants and micronutrients, pair avocados with tomatoes.  These two superfoods can actually enhance each other’s health-giving properties.

Almonds

Crunchy, nutty-flavored and satisfying, almonds are not only tasty but good for you. Like avocados, they contain healthy monounsaturated fats, particularly oleic acid, which can lower LDL levels while raising HDL.  They are also high in dietary fiber.

In a British study, participants who ate 50 grams – about a handful – of almonds a day experienced improved flow-mediated dilation, making for healthier blood vessels and reducing risk of heart disease.

Because almonds are high in calories, with a handful containing a hefty 575, it is best to eat them in modest amounts. However, you shouldn’t automatically assume they are a “fattening” food.  In one study, volunteers who added almonds to their daily diets — without making any conscious attempt to cut calories in other areas — not only didn’t gain weight but voluntarily reduced their intake of carbohydrates.

Bonus: Almonds have been shown to boost levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that cuts appetite while boosting mood.

You can use almonds to top off yogurt, add crunch to salads and enhance fish and chicken recipes.  To maximize health benefits, you should avoid smoked, sweetened or highly salted almonds.

Clearwater Florida resident survives after major heart attack

nicsmith2Clearwater resident  has had more than his fair share of physical challenges. On November 17, 2015, Smith, who is a cancer survivor, suddenly collapsed inside his apartment. Later, he would explain that his vision went black as he tried to protect his head while falling to his knees.

Fortunately, Smith’s fiancee, Ryen Hauck, was also present. Although she had never administered CPR before, she immediately sprang into action. After calling 911, she performed CPR for six minutes until emergency responders arrived. The 911 operator encouraged her while providing guidance, and the first responders continued CPR along with administering medication during Smith’s transit to the hospital.

After careful examination, doctors discovered that Smith had experienced a major heart attack and gave him only a one percent chance for survival. Amazingly, Smith beat the odds. He ended up needing less than two weeks of treatment, and he and was able to walk out of the hospital and get back to the life he loves.

Smith knows that his amazing recovery is due to fast action by his girlfriend and the emergency response team. The CPR administered by his girlfriend gave him the chance for survival that he desperately needed, and paramedics from Clearwater Fire and Rescue and Sunstar Paramedics continued his emergency treatments in those critical first minutes.

According to Dr. Robert Sanchez of the American Heart Association, administering CPR doubles or triples a person’s chance of survival. Survival rates go down a staggering 10 percent each minute that CPR is delayed.

CPR is not just for medical professionals, and it’s never too early or late to learn how to administer CPR correctly.  In-Pulse CPR is a local provider of CPR classes in the Tampa area.  Visit our calendar to find a CPR class in your area, or complete a refresher class to get the latest updates if it has been awhile. The skills you acquire could help save the life of someone you love.

 

 

 

Sources:

https://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2016/2/1/cpr_key_component_in.html

https://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/UCM_473161_CPR-and-ECC.jsp

https://www.sunstarems.com/patient-gives-thanks-to-the-crew-that-helped-save-his-life/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer job equipped me to save a life years later

During my teen years I became a life guard like so many of my peers and, thus, had to be trained in how to respond to emergencies.  If you had asked me then how to perform CPR or give aid I would have laughed about that weekend class I had taken because I did not remember anything. Beyond minor saves and giving out Band-Aids as a lifeguard, I wasn’t using any of the others skills and they faded.

 However, just a couple years later, I was driving home and saw a woman lying on the side of the road.  Her family was listening to the instructions being given over the phone but I could see that the hands were not placed correctly, the correct amount of pressure wasn’t being applied, and the rate of compressions was too slow.  I pulled over and asked the family for permission to help and I instinctively took over.  I checked the heart rate and checked for breathing.  She needed CPR and she needed it to be done correctly….100 compressions every minute… 2 breaths after every 30 compressions…head tilted…hold the nose….all the training flooded back.   Finally an ambulance arrived and the paramedics took over.  She appeared dead to me but I knew I had tried my best and at least I knew how to help.

 The next day at my restaurant job, there was that same family sitting at one of my tables.  We were all surprised.  The coincidence was unbelievable!  I had never even mentioned my job or my name.  They informed me that, while still in critical condition, the lady was alive and recovering.

Someone lived because of a CPR class that I needed for a high-school summer job, a class that did not prove useful at the time yet saved a woman’s life later.

Submitted by Natalie 7.13.2016

Edited by Christina

Survival Guide on Venomous Snakes in Florida

As the weather becomes less oppressive in the state of Florida, more and more people are venturing outdoors to take full advantage of the mild temperatures and cooler air that this time of the year provides. However, human beings are not the only creatures soaking up the sunshine on these cooler days. Lower temperatures force reptiles to be more proactive in regulating their body temperature, resulting in a higher probability of contact and interaction with people.

snakes

Florida is home to four species of venomous snake: the dusky pygmy rattlesnake, the eastern coral snake, the Florida cottonmouth, and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Each one of these snakes, depending of a variety of factors including the body size of the victim and the amount of venom injected, could deliver a potentially life threatening bite.

 

Ideally, bites won’t take place at all. When hiking on trails, walking along bodies of water, or spending time in wooded areas or those near thick foliage, pay special attention to where you are stepping. Snakes have excellent camouflage and tend to remain motionless in the face of danger, making them intentionally difficult to spot. Rattlesnakes emit their tell-tale warning buzz when they have enough time to sense that danger is near, but that is not always the case and a snake caught unaware is a frightened and aggressive animal. In spite of your best efforts, snakes may remain hidden from you. Wearing tall, thick boots is a preventative measure that can help to ensure that if a snake does strike, it will not make direct contact with you and its fangs will not penetrate your skin.

 

In the event of a venomous snake bite, there is a definite first-aid procedure that can help ensure safety until the person can get adequate medical attention:

 

– Get the person away from the animal in case it is still feeling defensive and aggressive. Multiple bites are more severe than one! Do not attempt to capture or kill the snake, but do observe its shape and color as emergency staff will want to know what kind of snake it was.

– Call for emergency help.

– Minimise movement of the victim in order to reduce blood flow and prevent spread of the venom into other areas of the body. If you are in a secluded area, this may be difficult and you may have to leave the person in order to seek help.

– Apply a pressure bandage to the bite area and use a sling or splint to prevent movement if the bite is on a limb.

– Loosen tight clothing or jewelry to prevent further discomfort if swelling takes place.

– Keep the bitten area at heart level or slightly below heart level. Too high and the venom will pour into the body more easily. Too low and swelling will increase.

 

DO NOT attempt to suck out the venom or cut into the bite wound as this can lead to infection and is not an effective way of reducing the danger of the bite

DO NOT apply a tourniquet to the affected limb as this could result in gangrene and amputation.

 

REMEMBER that most snake bites are not fatal. Stay calm and do your best to ensure that the victim does not panic.

Now offering American Heart CPR private group classes in Mason City, Waterloo, Dubuque and all of northern Iowa

In-Pulse CPR is a large American Heart Training Center (TC) offering private onsite CPR, AED, First Aid, and / or Bloodborne Pathogen training to companies and organizations looking to train 5 or more of their staff.

Course offerings include [BLS for Healthcare Providers],[Heartsaver CPR and AED],[Combination CPR and First Aid], [Bloodborne Pathogens] .

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Inquire or Schedule your CPR training

We are now offering private onsite CPR training to the northern part of IA including the following cities:  Mason City, Emmetsburg, Forrest City, Osage, Armstrong, Spencer, Cedar Falls, Fort Dodge, Webster City, Waterloo, Dubuque. Cresco, New Hampton, Clear Lake, Lake Mills, Britt, Gerner, Northwood, Charles City

Our CPR training are about 3 1/2 hours and include certification.  AED training is usually included with CPR.  Our CPR and First Aid combo training is usually 5 hours.   Bloodborne Pathogens training is about one hour long.

Counties:  Lyon County, Osceola, Dickinson, Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth, Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Obrien, Clay, Palo Alto, Hancock Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Chickasaw, Fayette, Buena Vista, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright County, Franklin, Butler, Bremer, Sac, Calhoun, Webster, Hamilton, Hardin, Grundy, Black Hawk, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall County

Hospitals in the region include Mercy Medical Center, Gabrielson Clinic, Van Diest Medical, Allen Memorial, Palmer Lutheran Health Center, Winneshiek Medical , Veterans Memorial Hospital, Palo Alto County Hospital

Learning to Save Lives: All High-Schools Should Provide CPR Training

highschoolA commentary recently released by the Mayo Clinic argues that CPR training in high school could be a crucial addition to the curriculum – allowing children to understand the benefits of caring for others and learn new ways to save lives. Recently, the number of U.S. states that have begun to consider cardiopulmonary resuscitation training a necessary requirement for graduation has been rapidly increasing, and requisite CPR training in high school is now used throughout 21 states, effected over one million high-school students a year. Although students have the ability to opt-out, they must obtain parental consent to do so, which compels the majority to learn the basic techniques of CPR.

The idea is that this widespread education will have benefits not only for high school students – but also the general U.S. public. Students in high school are in an ideal position to begin improving the rates of bystander initiation in the U.S. and their engagement could be crucial in reducing regional survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Why Should Students Learn CPR?

According to the Mayo Clinic commentary, more than 1,000 suffer from cardiac arrest outside of hospitals everyday – making bystander intervention essential to the victim’s survival. According to a 2006 study, CPR training is the leading influence as to whether a bystander will intervene. With cardiovascular disease hitting the top of the chart hs cpr classfor the cause of death within the United States today, the chances are that most students in high school will either be affected indirectly, or directly by a cardiac arrest at some point during their lives. This means that mandatory CPR training could help to mitigate existing health disparities.

Currently, legislation is being advanced throughout various states by champions of the cause. People who have survived cardiac arrest, bystanders who have attempted to resuscitate someone, students, and family members of victims who did not survive have all come together to actively promote high school CPR training. As a result, the American Heart Association suggests that more than 1 million students are engaging in training each year.

Accessing the Right Training

It is worth acknowledging that some legally-required training programs are currently better than others. Those which include defibrillator training generally offer a major incremental benefit – however, beyond that there is no evidence that certain high school CPR levels yield better results. The research simply shows that people who are trained in CPR are more likely to act in an emergency. What’s more, those involved in training may be more likely to lean civic lessons, helping individuals to become more involved within their communities, and inspiring students to enter into certain health professions.

Importantly, even if CPR training isn’t offered in schools, it’s crucial to ensure that there are means of receiving training available nearby. Organizations such as the American Red Cross, and American Heart Association typically offer in-person and online training for a small fee. The idea, however, is that implementing this life-saving skill into the natural education of children will make it easier for them to access that crucial information – and could help to change the way that people react when presented with emergency situations of cardiac arrest. The result could be the savior of thousands of lives.

Capella University students needing CPR certification

Capella Students welcome to attend CPR classes with In-Pulse CPR

Our classes provide you with the necessary CPR certification (American Heart Association for Healthcare Providers) for enrollment with Capella.

Per Capella University guidelines:  …providing documentation of a current CPR certification..  is required.  An American Heart Assoc BLS certification is the national standard for medical students.

Please be assured that all nursing or healthcare programs in the area will accept our program to fulfill your CPR requirements.   When signing up please select a BLS for Healthcare course.

At In-Pulse CPR we take pride in our quality of teaching. We use the latest technology and state-of-the-art equipment to provide for an interactive, experiential learning environment. We make sure that each student leaves the classroom feeling confident in the skills they gained.  Our classes are fun too!

We offer CPR certification at over 13 locations in the area

Click here to View our Class Calendar

 

 

We offer the following certifications:

Heartsaver CPR

Heartsaver AED

BLS Healthcare CPR / Heath care Professional – This is the certification Capella nursing and healthcare students would need to register for.  These classes are showing in yellow on our calendar.

Heartsaver First Aid

and More…

Capella’s health care degree programs
online nursing degree from Capella University

If you have recently attended a CPR class with In-Pulse CPR we want to hear from you.  Please post your comments below:

 

Local Crystal River / Inverness Florida CPR classes with the American Heart

Crystal River First Aid Training Classes | Crystal River, FL AED Training Classes | Inverness classes | Over 13 community class locations in central Florida!

At In-Pulse CPR we take pride in our quality of teaching. We use the latest technology and state-of-the-art equipment to provide for an interactive, experiential learning environment. We make sure that each student leaves the classroom feeling confident in the skills they gained.

Click here to View our Class CalendarCapture2

In-Pulse CPR offers CPR classes in Crystal River and Inverness for healthcare (BLS) and non healthcare individuals (Heartsaver).  We also offer private group classes.

Over 13 other class locations in Central Florida to choose from.

Our Central Florida training has many convenient class dates and times including weekends and evenings.  Please visit our classroom calendar for many other class locations.

Surrounding communities and organizations:  Homosassa Springs, Hernando, Inverness Highlands North, Beverly Hills, Black Diamond, Inglis, Yankeetown, Dunnellon, Citrus Springs, Citrus Hills, Lecanto, Sugarmill Woods, Pine Ridge, Withlacoochee Technical Institute, College of Central Florida Citrus Campus, and ItecLife University.  Nearby hospitals include:  Seven Rivers Community Hospital, Health Centr at Brentwood, Citrus Surgery Center, Lecanto Surgery Center, Sun Coast Endoscopy Center, and Citrus County.

The Importance of Healthy Exercise for seniors

Exercise and physical activity can be essential for helping to you to stay more energetic, independent and healthy as you grow older. Most adults over the age of sixty-five spend around ten hours or more either lying or sitting down every day. This establishes them as the most sedentary group. However, they can pay a price for that inactivity, suffering from higher rates of heart disease, obesity and early death. As you grow older, it becomes more important for you to stay active if you want to maintain your independence and stay as health as possible.

seniors walking

Understanding Physical activity

Physical activity can count as anything that gets your body moving, from recreational sport to simply going for a short walk. The first thing that you should be focusing on as you get older is keeping yourself moving. On a basic level, this means making sure that you don’t spend every hour of the day sitting down. In addition to reducing the amount of time you spend being still, it is important to engage in around one hundred and fifty minutes of aerobic activity at a moderate level each week. Usually, it’s a good idea to be active every single day, generally in bouts of activity ten minutes long or more. The more you do in terms of exercise, the greater your health gains will be.

One method for achieving your physical activity target on a weekly basis is to do thirty minutes of activity five days out of the week. In two of those five days, the activities should be something that helps to strengthen your bones and muscles, such as heavy gardening or carrying heavy loads. Activity that count as moderate intensity aerobics include:

  • Water aerobics
  • Walking fast
  • Playing tennis
  • Riding a bike on relatively level ground
  • Pushing your lawnmower

Daily chores such as cooking, shopping and completing housework should really count towards your weekly 150 minutes, as the effort will not raise your heartrate.

The Four Types of Exercise

For seniors who want to stay as independent and healthy as possible, the national institute of health recommends four primary types of exercises, including:

  1. Balance exercises, which build leg muscles and reduce your chances of suffering from falls. According to data, in the United States alone, hospitals experience 300,000 admissions caused by broken hips on a yearly basis.
  2. Strength exercises, which increase your metabolism and build your adult muscles, as well as keeping your blood sugar and weight in check.
  3. Endurance exercises are activities such as jogging, walking, biking or swimming that can be used to increase both your breathing and heart rate for a somewhat extended period of time. Make sure that you build your endurance slowly, starting with small periods of five minutes endurance activities at a time.
  4. Stretching exercises, these motions are intended to give you better freedom of movement, which can allow you to be active more often during your senior years. Stretching exercises by themselves however will not be enough to improve your strength or endurance.

American Heart CPR classes
for young and old alike

Florida Minnesota Pennsylvania

Best Exercises For Seniors To Burn Fat (No Injuries Risk)
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Disclaimer:
Use of any advise on this site is purely at your own risk.  The information supplied is designed to accompany CPR and first aid training not to replace.  In-Pulse CPR, Inc disclaims any liability for losses you incur as a result of inaccuracy of the information provided on this website.  Information on this site is for education, supplemental to examination by and advice of medical professionals.   Any information regarding first aid treatments is not meant to replace the advice of medical professionals including physicians, paramedics, emergency room attendants, nurses or other licensed medical personnel.