Cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR )

Introduction

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, commonly known as CPR is a first aid technique that can be used if someone is not breathing (properly) or if heart stop working. It is an emergency manual procedure to preserve brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person who is in Cardiac arrest or Respiratory arrest.

Chain of Survival

The term Chain of Survival provides a useful metaphor for the elements of the ECC systems concept.

The 5 links in the adult Chain of Survival are:

• Immediate recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system.

• Early Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with an emphasis on chest compression.

• Rapid defibrillation

• Effective advanced life support

• Integrated post-cardiac arrest care

A strong Chain of Survival can improve chances of survival and recovery for victims of heart attack, stroke and other emergencies.

 As per American Heart Association ( AHA )

Back Care for Sitting Workers

Sitting has become a way of life for many Peoples.  We also sit as in cars, buses, trains or planes when we travel, we sit to eat meals, we sit and watch TV, we sit in classrooms, and for many of us, we sit most of the day at work, especially receptionists , Sonologists , call center agents and EMDs , often in front of a computer all day. Studies of sedentary workers show that low back problems are associated with poor chair design and inappropriate sitting posture.

Back Care for Nurses

Construction workers, warehouse personnel, delivery goods drivers, nurses, shopkeepers and farm workers, if you had to choose, which of these occupations suffers the highest incidence of back injury? You might think that construction workers or delivery goods drivers might be the riskiest occupations for back injuries, because the work involves a lot of bending and lifting, but you'd be wrong! Many people are surprised to learn the Nursing is the riskiest occupation for back injuries! In fact, nursing has the second highest incidence of all types of non-fatal work-related injuries.

What are the risk factors for Back Injury?

There are two main risk factors for back injury among nurses: lifting and transferring patients, and bed- making. During a typical shift, on average a hospital staff nurse will lift 20 patients into bed, and transfer 5-10 patients from bed to a chair. Patients typically weight in excess of 100lbs, which puts this load well above the weight that would be considered 'safe' for industrial workers for this frequency of lifting. As with many hospitality workers, bed- making also increases the risks of back injury because of the bending and stretching involved in putting sheets onto a bed.

Ways to Reduce Injury Risks

There are several ways that hospitals, care facilities and nursing professionals can reduce injury risks. These include:

Using lifting assistance devices - a variety of devices is available to help lift and move patients from bed to seat, such as:

• Gait belt - this is a specialized belt that fits snugly around the patient's waist and has hand straps for the nurse or caregiver to grasp while assisting during transfers or walking.
• Walkers - lightweight metal frame devices with rails that can be gripped by the patient to help to support their body weight during transfer and rising from sitting.
• Rails - wooden or metal rails that are fixed to walls or equipment, such as beds, to allow the patient to help to support their body weight during transfer.
• 'Hoyer' lifts - a hydraulic lift that consists of a metal frame and a heavy canvas swing. It is capable of lifting and suspending a patient for transfer.
• Sliding boards - a smooth board with tapered ends made of either wood or plastic that is used to help someone get from one sitting surface to another.
• Draw/lift sheets - a regular flat sheet placed under a person in bed can be used to move them. If the sheet is strong enough it can also be used to lift and transfer the patient.

Using appropriate equipment - there is a choice of powered equipment available to reduce patient handling activities, such as powered beds to change a patient's posture, height adjustable chairs, and powered wheelchairs.

• Use appropriate beds - the height of the bed determines how much bending and reaching a nurse has to do. Nurses are different heights, so a simple-to-operate, height-adjustable bed is important to allow bed height to be appropriately adjusted to the nurse.
• Use back belts - the general use of back belts in the distribution industry has been questioned. However, in a study of 47 employees over a 6-month period, the use of back belts significantly reduced injury risks. The test group with back belts worked 22,243 hours and had no injuries, whereas the control group worked 23,109 hours and lost 80 hours due to back injuries.
• Implement regular equipment maintenance procedures - equipment must be kept in good working order.
• Ergonomic design of workplaces - use architectural and design features, such as rails or ramps, to minimize awkward movements.
• Providing better ergonomics training - train nurses and and health aides in good work postures and ways of minimizing twisting, bending and/or lifting items from the floor. Also train them in safe lifting practices, and in the correct use of appropriate equipment. Provide ways of refreshing and reinforcing the training.
• Provide adequate staffing - injury risks can be reduced by increasing the number of people available to assist with lifting patients.
• Systematic record-keeping - implement processes that facilitate more detailed statistics on manual handling activities and outcomes so that this can help to identify injury trends before more serious incidents occur.

Emergency Medical Dispatcher ( EMD )

An Emergency medical dispatcher is a professional tele-communicator, who gather information related to medical emergencies, giving assistance and instructions by voice, prior to the arrival (PAI's) of Emergency Medical Services, dispatching and support of EMS resources responding to an emergency call. 
The term Emergency Medical Dispatcher is also a certification level and a professional designation, certified through the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International ( APCO ) or International Academy of Emergency Dispatch.

Nursing Homes & Home Health Care Services

A nursing home is a place for people who do not need to be in a hospital but can't be cared for at home. Most nursing homes have nursing aides and skilled nurses on hand 24 hours a day. Some nursing homes are set up like a hospital.

Physiotherapist

Help people who've been affected by injury, illness or disability. Some of the tactics they use include: movement and exercise – taking into account a person's current level of health and their specific necessities.