Hello Rescue Fans! I’ve debated as to whether I should discuss Ebola from either a professional or lay person level or even discuss it at all. Because of an experience I had where I walked into a contaminated bathroom that could have been an infectious problem, I decided it was definitely worth taking about. In this episode, I talk about Ebola, it’s risks and how breaking the chain of infection through disinfection and barriers, it’s almost impossible to contract an infection. My hope is that rather than simply re-discussing the same things you’ve been hearing about Ebola, I’ll help shed light on how to arm yourself with awareness, and the techniques required to stop an infection in it’s tracks. I hope this helps.
Tag Archives: infection
Trampolines, Teeth and Cuts With a Concussion!
I received a Rescue Fan’s email today that described what sounds like an accident on a trampoline. Their friend hit their mouth on their head and now they sound as though they have concussion symptoms with a possible infection on the scalp. They asked my opinion and the following is my reply. It’s warm and it’s trampoline weather so if this happens to you or someone you know, I hope it helps!
I wrote:
Ouch! So, it sounds like your friend hit their mouth on your head and though it didn’t knock you out, it made you feel dizzy and now is painful/sore and maybe even a small abrasion or cut? If you’re feelings dizzy, nauseated(sick to your stomach) and have a headache, it sounds like you may have a concussion. As long as the symptoms get better with time from the concussion, you’re probably in pretty good shape. Some people just take tylenol or another over the counter(OTC) pain medication for the headache. With time and rest, it should get better. If not, call your doctor. If you it’s severe or you go unconscious, a family member should call 911. The pain to the touch, redness, or cut and possibility of something coming from the wound may indicate an infection which could be a problem too. If you think it’s something that could be getting infected, it sounds like it may have been a laceration. If so, I’m not sure if needed stitches originally(didn’t sound that way from your story) but it’s probably too late for stitches at this point. Some people like to put triple antibiotic on their cuts and abrasions to control infection. If you’re not comfortable with over the counter or it’s really starting to concern you, it may be a good idea to see your doctor. Have your mom take a look at the wound by separating your hair. Is there a laceration where the skin forms a fish mouth? Is it oozing any white, or discolored and blood tinges secretion? If any of these, then it’s probably a good idea to see a doctor. If not, and the wound is closed but red and sore, it’s common for people to get triple antibiotic at a drug store or grocery store, keep the wound clean and then put some of the ointment on the abrasion with a Qtip or cotton swab. Do this until the wound is healed and not painful. Wash your hands before and after all treatment to help not re-infect or infect the wound.
Remember, when in doubt, call your doctor and follow their advice. In the meantime, I hope this helps.
Sore Throat or Strep Throat, How Do I Know?
Hey Rescue Fans!
It’s been a while since my last post but I wanted to get back into the swing of things with something practical, helpful and that some of you may be experiencing as we speak!
Sore throat. If you’ve ever wondered if your sore throat was serious and needed to be seen by a doctor, check out this episode to help educate yourself and answer that question.
Stay well and keep on rescuing!
Why Put On Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) Before Checking For Consciousness?
Hello Rescuers!
I just received a question via our ProCPR customer feedback that read: 
Dear ProCPR, “Question 16 says you have on PPE (personal protective equipment) already, then you check for
responsiveness. Why would you put on your PPE before you check consciousness?
– Anthony
In case anyone else may have asked the same question I though I’d address it. First, Question 16 is the number this person was on while taking the ProCPR.org test. This is the online portion of the Health Care Provider level BLS certification training in case anyone was wondering.
Okay, now for the answer. As professional health care providers, we should always be thinking about cross contamination. We don’t want to catch what the patient may have and we don’t want to give the patient anything that we may have! Remember, PPE works both ways. Can anyone say, nosocomial infection? Even if the patient isn’t in obvious distress or obviously infectious, we should be thinking about the fact that the person seems to be in need and may require medical treatment. This means that we may need gloves, CPR shield with one way barrier, goggles, face mask, respiratory protection etc. This is why it’s so important to think about PPE whenever we encounter a situation that may call us into action. Not just when the person is unconscious or not breathing.
Forever, I’ve battled the problem with health care professionals short cutting PPE while giving care or even thinking about care. We really do need to consider the two way protective properties related to infection control as it relates to appropriate personal protective equipment.
When it comes to layperson rescue, one of the top five reasons that laypeople will not intervene when a person is in distress is the fear of disease! If the rescuer is approaching a victim and dons their gloves early as well as ensures that they have a CPR shield available, the fear of catching a disease is greatly diminished. This will increase the chances that the Good Samaritan may actually get physically involved in the rescue.
Now I know what you may be thinking…”Roy! Do you really think that I’ll have one of those rescue kits on by belt all the time? You may be a “Rescue Hero” type but the feasibility of me having PPE on my person when I’m at the beach, shopping, walking, vacationing, or even at a business meeting is slim to none.” Well, I have to agree! Unless you are a professional rescuer on duty, you probably won’t have your jump kit, glove pouch or a one way valve mask bag swinging from your belt loop. So how will you have the PPE you need at the time you need it? The best way I’ve found is to have a key ring rescue kit. The catch is having it be small enough to not get in the way and large enough to carry your gloves and a one way CPR shield. The reason I say a Key Ring style, is that I think that keys are the one item that most people have with them most of the time. If they don’t have them with them, then they are usually close at hand. And if we have our keys, we’ll at least have gloves and a CPR shield. So make sure you get one and then the PPE problem is out of the way. Still don’t think that PPE is needed? Well, that’s why the AHA endorses “hands only” CPR! It’s really not that compression only CPR is better than full Cardio PULMONARY resuscitation, it’s that there are so many non PPE toting people afraid that they may catch a disease if they do mouth to mouth rescue breaths that we had to design a new form of bystander CPR. Since implementing “Hands only” CPR, there has been an increase in rescuer involvement. And when people get involved and provide CPR, lives are saved!
PPE should be on every rescuer’s mind…and key chain, lay or professional and when we begin to think about PPE as the first step in rescue, lives are saved and infection is prevented more often!
Hope this helps.
