Check out our new list on PlayBuzz!

Test your knowledge of basic first aid by taking a look at common issues requiring first aid and how to treat them.

https://www.playbuzz.com/scottc14/basic-first-aid-principles

hypothermic cardiac arrest

Most hypothermia deaths happen at temperatures of 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is approximately 700 deaths per year.  about half of these are over 65.  Many patients who present with severe hypothermia are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Severe hypothermia is defined as a core body temp of less than 86 degrees Fahrenheit.  the victim's level of consciousness is a good indicator of how severe the hypothermia is.  In early stages, a victim can feel excited, with lots of shivering and increased metabolic rate.  later stages involve progressive slowing of body functions and decreased level of consciousness.

There are some conflicts in the literature, but general guidelines for severe hypothermia without signs of life are:  (read more here..... http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/hypothermic-cardiac-arrest)

Animal bites and rabies

ne of the main fears of people bitten by animals is the potential for rabies exposure.  In the United States, human deaths from rabies is extremely low, approximately one or two per year.  Worldwide, the problem is more severe, with approximately 50,000 human deaths yearly.

Rabies is a viral illness of mammals that is typically transmitted from..  read more here: http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/animal-bites-and-rabies

Check out our new app!

Yeah, we have an app for that!   Check out our free app on the Play store and Amazon store to access our calendar and keep up to date on CPR, First Aid, and ACLS topics!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.conduit.app_a7ef9c0646b444028984aed4608b751c.app&hl=en

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dmobile-apps&field-keywords=carpenter+cpr+solutions

Oxygen Toxicity: Too much of a good thing!

Oxygen toxicity results from breathing in high concentrations of oxygen.  Severe cases of oxygen toxicity can result in death.  Oxygen destabilizes cell membranes and causes free radicals that can do cellular damage.  

It can affect multiple body systems- Notably, oxygen toxicity can affect the (read more here! http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/oxygen-toxicity)

PEA- Pulseless Electrical Activity

Pulseless Electrical Activity, or PEA is defined as electrical activity within the heart (an organized rhythm) without corresponding muscular activity.  In other words, everything may look fine on a monitor, but there is no pulse- the muscle is not contracting, and there is no actual mechanical movement, or very little (pseudo-PEA).  Initial treatment is...(read more at http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/pea-pulseless-electrical-activity)

Asystole

Asystole, or the absence of electrical activity in the heart- is characterized by a "flat line" on a cardiac monitor, and is really considered an end point during a resuscitation.... Read more here!

Rapid Response Teams

Rapid Response Teams (RRT) in hospitals were designed to allow a number of specialized staff to respond to a patient in a hospital and provide the care necessary to prevent arrest.  Generally, an RRT can be called by any staff member or family member who feels that the patient is deteriorating.  The concept of rapid response....(read more here...)

STEMI EKG changes

Below are a couple of images depicting typical changes seen on an EKG during an acute myocardial event (commonly called a "heart attack" by the lay public).  The changes can give an indication of not only the level of injury, but the location within the heart of the injury.  Note that patients can also... read more and see the pics here at: http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/stemi-ekg-changes

Brown Recluse Bites

The brown recluse spider has a violin shaped body.  As the name implies, this spider is a good hider, and can be found in caves, wood piles, and sheds. They range through the south and Midwest, extending to...  Read more here...http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/brown-recluse-spider-bites

Check out what our students are saying!

"I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your class today. I will be back and spread the word! I really appreciated your energy and passion and for emphasizing what is important. Hammering home the basic cardiac arrest will have a lasting impression. I also liked your illustrations regarding the types of blocks and what they actually mean in the clinical setting. You do not get this type of info from a typical ACLS class.... You made us feel at ease, lowering the stress level,  which allowed the information to enter the brain!

Thanks again,
Rhoda P"

Black Widow Bites

Black widow spiders live in temperate places all over the world. In the United States, they are mostly in the South and West, including Maryland. They have a large black body with a red hourglass... Read more here: http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/black-widow-bites

Buyer beware!

Link to a new blog entry on online CPR/ ACLS scams... http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/new-online-cpracls-scam-warning-posters

Teamwork!

follow the link to read more today... http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/teamwork-effective-team-dynamics-and-closed-loop-communication

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the immune system. HIV will eventually progress to AIDS in about 10 years, depending on the person, their overall health, and medications they are taking. Since 1996, powerful medications for HIV have changed this progression, lengthening the amount of time before AIDS develops. The progression to AIDS signals a greatly debilitated immune system, making the victim susceptible to a vast number of other diseases which can lead to death. Continue reading here....

how exactly does an AED help?

Read about it here: http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/how-exactly-does-an-aed-help

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that can cause inflammation and cirrhosis, liver failure, and cancer. Up to 2 million Americans have chronic Hepatitis B. 38,000 become affected per year, and up to 3,000 Americans die. Infections have decreased dramatically since 1990, because of routine vaccination. Initial infection with Hepatitis B can be asymptomatic, with no symptoms, or acute illness that can lead to hospitalization. The acute period can.... Continue reading here..

Guidelines for Acute Ischemic Stroke

An Ischemic stroke occurs when a clot forms or lodges in one of the arteries of the brain, causing a loss of blood supply to the affected area. Ischemic strokes account for more than 85% of all strokes. The goal is to act fast- within 3 hours of onset of symptoms (or 4.5 hours for a select group of patients) to break up the clot and restore perfusion. In order to accomplish this, several things must fall into place. AHA guidelines reflect the need for a patient to undergo a whole set of procedures upon entering the ER doors in order to minimize delays. 1) Within 10 minutes of arrival, the patient should undergo a doctor's evaluation, including a stroke screen assessment.... (continue reading here:) http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/1/post/2014/04/guidelines-for-acute-ischemic-stroke.html

First Aid for Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is one of the most common medical emergencies experienced by diabetic patients. It is most commonly brought on by taking diabetes medicines

(usually insulin, but potentially also with some oral diabetes medicines) and not eating enough to cover the lower blood sugar that these medicines induce, causing the sugar to go abnormally low. Generally, diabetics will only go too low by taking......... Read more at:http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/1/post/2014/04/first-aid-for-hypoglycemia.html

Sprains, Strains and R.I.C.E. (oh my!)

Sprains and strains are simply abnormal stretching or tearing of the ligaments or tendons around a joint. Ligaments attach bones to bones, and tendons attach muscles to bones. These tissues do not receive a lot of blood flow, so healing can be delayed to the structures. The good news is that tendons and ligaments are designed to stretch and contract- so a simple sprain, where the ligament is simply stretched too far, can return to normal shape and function in a matter of days. More complex..... Read the rest here: http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/1/post/2014/03/sprains-strains-and-rice-oh-my.html

How many shocks can an AED deliver on one battery?

We were recently asked how many shocks an AED could deliver on one battery. There are a couple of variables to consider, such as- if the AED is monophasic or biphasic (referring to current and whether it is an escalating shock or a fixed energy shock), the patient's transthoracic impedance (variables of patient chest size), and patient's response to shocks. Read more at the link to original article: http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/1/post/2014/03/how-many-shocks-can-an-aed-deliver-on-one-battery.html

Nitroglycerin and chest pain

new blog entry: Nitroglycerin and chest pain..... read more here: http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/1/post/2014/03/vasodilators.html

check out what our clients are saying!

http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/1/post/2014/02/check-out-what-our-clients-are-saying1.html

Left Ventricular Assist Device

http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/1/post/2014/02/left-ventricular-assist-device.html

ACLS introduction: Topics Covered in the Course

http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/1/post/2014/01/acls-introduction-topics-covered-in-the-course.html

check us out on Pinterest!

http://www.pinterest.com/carpentercpr/