Interesting things found while looking for something else:Dead snakes can still bite: Data collected at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix show that fatal injuries do not prevent rattlesnakes from biting humans. Of the 34 patients admitted to the Phoenix center for rattlesnake bites in a recent 11-month period, five were bitten by snakes that had been fatally injured and were presumed dead. One patient was bitten on the index finger after picking up a snake he had bludgeoned in the head and assumed was dead. Another was bitten after picking up a snake he had shot, then decapitated. (Source: "New England Journal of Medicine," June 17, 1999.)
Ottawa knee rules validated: The Ottawa knee rules can help physicians and others decide whether patients who have acute blunt knee trauma should undergo X-rays. The Ottawa knee rules indicate that a fracture should be suspected and X-rays be obtained if any of the following applies: age over 55, tenderness on the fibular head or patella, inability to flex the knee to 90 degrees and inability to bear weight for four steps immediately after the injury. (Source: "American Journal of Radiology," April, 1999.)
Fatalities and catastrophic injuries in high school and college sports 1982-1997: Catastrophic injuries and deaths occur in high school and college football and many other sports. This article gives a summary of data that forms the basis for recommendations to promote the safety of young athletes. Examples of fatality data: high school football, 150 deaths; college football, 29 deaths; high school soccer, 20 deaths; college soccer, 2 deaths. During this time period 212 high school and college sports fatalities occurred. (Source: "The Physician and Sportsmedicine ," August, 1999.)
Laceration management: In 1996, almost 11 million lacerations were treated in emergency departments throughout the United States. Most lacerations heal without complications. Mismanagement may result in wound infections, prolonged healing times and unsightly scars. The authors of an article in "Annals of Emergency Medicine," stress the importance of pressurized irrigation and discuss wound closure. Information is given on sutures, staples, adhesive tapes and tissue adhesives. (Source: "Annals of Emergency Medicine," September 1999.)
Actual vs. perceived EMS response time: Patients' perceptions of ambulance response times are inaccurate. They tend to overestimate response time while underestimating scene time and time to medical care. (Source: "Prehospital Emergency Care," January/March 1999.)
Blood loss estimation by out-of-hospital emergency care providers: Emergency care providers are not accurate at estimating blood loss volumes. The range of their estimates is considerable. Following a formal teaching session these personnel showed improvement. Similar training could be incorporated into EMT training. (Source: "Prehospital Emergency Care," July/September 1999.)
Traumatic brain injury in high school athletes: High School students participating in sports risk a sports-related injury. This study examined the frequency patterns for mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), also known as concussion, in 10 high school sports. The researchers found that MTBI varied among sports and none of the 10 sports was without occurrences of MTBI. This study highlights the importance of collisions as a factor for MTBI. The annual estimate of MTBIs among the 10 sports is 62,826 cases, with football accounting for nearly 63 percent of the injuries. A football team can expect an average of two MTBI cases per year. (Source: "Journal of the American Association," Sept. 8, 1999.)
Alton Thygerson, professor of health sciences at Brigham Young University, is the National Safety Council's first aid and CPR author and technical consultant. For more information, the National Safety council First Aid Handbook by Thygerson is available in local bookstores.