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Web
Sites of Interest
The buzz has already begun! ECSI patches and pins are available now at our partner's website! Visit: www.first2aid.com to view and purchase these items.
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The
Big Picture
Implementing the 2005 CPR and ECC Guidelines
In January, 2005, the American Heart Association hosted the International Consensus Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Physicians representing ACEP and AAOS participated in this conference.
The final treatment recommendations from the January conference were published by the AHA in November, 2005. These recommendations are for lay rescuers and professional rescuers, and reflect the strength of the science supporting changes in CPR, ACLS, PALS, and first aid. In areas such as CPR and AED, the guideline changes were significant, while changes in areas such as first aid primarily reaffirmed what ECSI has already been teaching.
All ECSI Educational Centers and Instructors should be aware that there is nothing dangerous about the existing materials, and there is no immediate need to teach these new Guidelines. Instructors can continue to teach courses using the existing materials until the new materials are available and instructors are appropriately updated. Since the existing instructor audiovisual aids and student manuals do not reflect the new Guidelines, teaching these new Guidelines might cause confusion for your students. This is particularly true of the changes impacting AED education. These changes require significant work on the part of the manufacturers to revise their AED
voice and screen prompts, as well as the shock sequencing.
To help you better understand the CPR and AED changes, we have prepared a simple matrix reflecting these changes for lay rescuers and professional rescuers. Click here to view and download this matrix. Our next newsletter will provide a matrix reflecting the ACLS changes.
ECSI is also currently preparing an interactive online update for all instructors to complete. This activity will help ensure that all ECSI instructors have the necessary understanding of the changes before they begin using the new material in their ECSI courses. All ECSI instructors must complete this online update by September 1, 2005.
We are currently completing the necessary updates to all course materials (student manuals, instructor resource manuals, Toolkit CDs, DVDs, and online courses). We will begin to release our revised materials in April, 2006 and this process will continue throughout the summer. Educational Centers and Instructors can take advantage of special sales prices of the existing materials now. Once the existing materials are depleted, we will only have the new materials in stock for purchase.
Changes being made to ECSI materials include the new instructor resource manuals (IRMs). These items will no longer be available as separate printed products. Instead, they will be placed on the new Instructor Toolkit CDs as .pdf files and also in MS Word format. This allows instructors to add notes to any section of the IRM and print out these pages for class. The final exams will also be part of these new electronic IRMs.
VHS video format will no longer be available. All DVDs are being updating.
We will release our babysitting course targeted at kids ages 11-14. Babysitting Lessons and Safety Training, commonly called BLAST, is a highly interactive program that empowers kids to complete training on their own if they desire, or with the assistance of adults facilitating a course. There are no separate instructor requirements to teach BLAST.
Also, just as a reminder you must teach at least one ECSI course each calendar year in order to maintain your certification. Please ensure that you register your courses online at the ECSI website: www.ECSInstitute.org. If you have any questions concerning this please contact Lani Byrd at 1-800-541-5691.
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Breaking
News
Interesting News Stories
Benton, MN - A 20-year-old student was killed when football fans rushed the field and pulled down a goal post after a homecoming victory. The stands were full, with about 1,000 fans watching the last football game at the field and a double-overtime victory.
Source: Associated Press, October 24, 2005
Springfield, OH - A swarm of yellowjackets attacked a class of fourth-graders, sending four children to a hospital with multiple stings. The attack on 20 students and three adults occurred when students were getting their picture taken near a flowerbed around the school's sign.
Source: Associated Press, September 2, 2005
Tucson, AZ - An 83-year-old woman recovered after being stung 400 times by bees. She was attacked by bees coming from the wall of a storage building outside her home. A handyman sprayed her with water from a hose until the bees turned on him. He ran and called 911. Firefighters found the woman lying face down and unconscious in the street. They sprayed the bees with foam, and then took her to the hospital.
Source: Associated Press, August 14, 2005
Waco, TX - A pastor performing a baptism was electrocuted inside his church after grabbing a microphone while partially submerged. The 33-year-old man was standing in water up to his shoulders. Doctors in the congregation performed CPR. The man was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The woman he was baptizing was not injured. About 800 people were in the audience because it was homecoming at nearby Baylor University.
Source: Associated Press, October 15, 2005
Ocean Township, NJ - An 8-year-old girl died and three other children were hurt when a 30-foot oak tree fell on them at a Boy Scout camp. The incident was the latest in a series of Scouting-related tragedies. Four adult Scout leaders were electrocuted in July in Virginia at the National Boy Scout Jamboree. Five other people have died this summer from drowning and lightning during Scout outings in Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, and California.
Source: Associated Press, August 11, 2005
Sultan, WA - A man walking home after his 55th birthday party because friends and family believed he was too drunk to drive was struck and killed by a vehicle. The man's keys were taken at the party, and he was told he should stay at his son's place. He said he was going outside to smoke but apparently began walking home instead. He was fatally struck by a car and died at the scene.
Zion National Park, UT - The number of injury-related rescues is up about a third this year. Costs range from $500 for a carryout rescue to $5,000 when a helicopter is required. Rescues range from injuries to dehydration and number 40 to 50 per year. The park gets about 2.5 million visitors annually.
Source: Associated Press, October 10, 2005
Pottstown, PA - A 14-year-old girl may lose her arm after being bitten by a poisonous copperhead snake at school. A 17-year-old male student took the snake in a shoebox to a drama club gathering. The boy was showing the reptile to other students when it bit the girl's finger.
Source: Associated Press, October 24, 2005
Beaumont, TX -The death toll from a family's use of a generator inside their apartment after Hurricane Rita has risen to six.
Source: Associated Press, October 4, 2005
Suffolk, VA - A stray pit bull taken in by a two-year-old boy's family attacked and fatally injured the child. Police said the boy was attacked in his home and suffered multiple bites to the arms, legs, and face. He died at a local hospital. Family members said they had been caring for the stray over the past month.
Source: Associated Press, October 4, 2005
Macon, GA - A woman gave birth in a Wal-Mart bathroom and left the baby in a toilet. Authorities said the full-term girl was pulled out by three store employees and put in a sink until emergency workers revived her. The 26-year-old mother was charged with aggravated assault and cruelty to a child.
Source: Associated Press, August 17, 2005
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Medical
Journal Review
Effective CPR Training Takes 20 Minutes
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be effectively taught in as little as 20 minutes. Researchers found that 20 minutes of CPR instruction and five minutes of defibrillator training was as effective as a standard four-hour course. The people who took the short course did as well or better than those who took the standard training and had similar CPR knowledge retention rates six months later. The skills evaluated were assessing unresponsiveness, calling 911, providing adequate
ventilation, proper hand placement, and adequate compression depth.
Source: Resuscitation, 2005 Oct;67(1):31-43
CPR Performance of Those Over 40 is Better Following Half-Hour Video Self-Instruction Compared to Traditional Four-Hour Classroom Training
CPR training is not well targeted to family members of individuals at highest risk of cardiac arrest. Participants in traditional CPR classes average 31 years of age, while family members of cardiac patients average 55 years. The subjects in this study trained with a 34 minute videotape and an inexpensive manikin for use in the home performed compressions and ventilations substantially better than those trained in the four-hour program.
Source: Resuscitation, 2000 Jan;43(2):101-110
CPR Training Without an Instructor
Traditional classroom-based instruction of CPR has failed to achieve desired bystander CPR. Video self-instruction is a more accessible alternative to traditional classroom instruction and it achieves better CPR skill performance.
Source: Resuscitation 2000 Jun;34(3):207-220
Roller Coaster-Related Fatalities, 1994-2004
Forty people, ranging in age from 7 to 77 years, were killed in 39 separate incidents. This is about four deaths annually in the United States. Twenty nine (73%) deaths occurred among roller coaster patrons. Eleven fatalities resulted form external causes related to injuries form falls or collisions. Eighteen people died from medical conditions that might have been caused or exacerbated by riding a roller coaster; 15 were the result of intracranial hemorrhages or cardiac problems. Eleven (285) deaths involved employees; call were caused by injuries.
Source: Injury Prevention,
2005;11:309-312
Horse-Related Injures and Deaths in Western Montana
Horses and horse-related activities are engrained in the lifestyle of Montana and the western United States. Thousands of people interact with horses daily, and injuries occur. Six hundred seventeen patients with 879 documented injuries were included in the study. The most common injury was extremity injury (36%), followed by head/neck (265), chest (20%), pelvis (10%), and abdomen (5%). Of the 617 patients included in the study, 3 (0.5%) died. A quarter of the patients involved in the study sustained injuries that resulted in hospitalization. Ninety-two percent of the study sample wore no
type of protective equipment such as a helmet or Kevlar vest.
Source: Journal of Emergency Nursing, 2005:31:426-427
Out-of-Hospital Administration of Activated Charcoal by Emergency Medical Services
Activated charcoal was administered to 555 patients in this study. Median elapsed time from poison ingestion to activated charcoal administration was 88 minutes, and median time from activated charcoal administration to hospital arrival was 20 minutes. Activated charcoal was not given to 101 patients, although considered that it could be, because of patient refusal, inability to ingest a charcoal mixture, technical problems, or recommendation by the hospital after telephone consultation. Charcoal caused no reported adverse effects. Out-of-hospital activated
charcoal given by EMS is feasible, evening severe poisonings.
Source: Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2005(45)207-212
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Featured
Article
As many of you are aware, the World Health Organization as well as many other public health agencies worldwide are growing increasingly concerned about a pandemic flu outbreak. Throughout your courses, you may encounter questions regarding this topic. A pandemic is defined as a global outbreak of a disease that is easily spread from person to person worldwide and results in serious illness and possibly death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Many of your students may inquire about a vaccine to would be used
as a prophylactic agent to prevent the spread of the disease. At this time, there is currently no vaccine available. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are currently working diligently to develop a vaccine to prevent this possible flu pandemic. The CDC in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services is working on strategies to address a possible outbreak. For more information, please refer to the CDC website specific for pandemic flu: www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic/.
- Hudson Garrett Jr., MSN, MPH, ECSI Advisory Council Chairperson
Reduce the Chance of a House Fire, Use Supplemental Heat Sources Safely
By Michael McLeieer, President & Founder of E.S.C.A.P.E., Inc. and ECSI Advisory Council Member
Every year, too many people throughout the country die in house fires. I would like to remind homeowners that they can reduce the chance of a home fire by following simple guidelines on the installation and use of supplemental heating appliances.
Most of the fires related to supplemental heating appliances are caused by improper installation, maintenance, or use of these appliances. Every appliance should have a complete set of installation instructions and should be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Here are some more specific suggestions:
- Wood Stoves should sit on a non-combustible surface or on a code-specified or listed floor protector.
- Fireplaces should have noncombustible materials around the opening and hearth. Always use a fireplace screen or approved glass doors to keep sparks from igniting materials in the room. Never burn newspapers or other trash in the fireplace because they burn too hot and can ignite a chimney fire. Also, never use pressure-treated wood in stoves or fireplaces because it contains toxic chemicals that can cause illness. If you plan to use artificial logs, only use logs made from wax and sawdust, one at a time in fireplaces and never use them in wood stoves. This is because the heat can melt the log causing it to flare up or leak burning liquid from the appliance.
- Space heaters should be placed on a firm, flat surface out of the way so that they cannot be tipped over and spill fuel or have hot surfaces come in contact with combustible flooring. Also, when purchasing a space heater, be sure to look for a unit with an automatic shut off if it tips over. Avoid using extension cords with electric space heaters and never use heaters to dry clothing or other combustibles. Electric heaters with frayed or damaged cords should be thrown away.
- Combustibles such as curtains, chairs, firewood, and even walls should be at least three feet away from the appliance.
For operation, it is critical to use only fuels specified by the manufacturer as appropriate for the appliance. Use coal only if specifically approved by the stove manufacturer. Gasoline or other flammable liquids should never be used to start a wood fire since it might explode or flare up. Never use gasoline in kerosene heaters. Even small amounts of gasoline mixed with kerosene can increase the risk of fire.
Regular maintenance is also critical for safe operation. Chimneys and vents should be inspected and cleaned annually by a professional chimney sweep. Creosote is an unavoidable product of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. Creosote builds up in connectors and chimney flues and can cause a chimney fire. Kerosene heaters should be cleaned and wicks replaced annually.
By following the manufacturer's instructions for operation and maintenance, families will greatly reduce the chance for a home fire. Most importantly never leave fireplaces or space heaters unattended and keep young children away from any appliance that has hot surfaces that can cause burns. |
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Instructor's
Corner
New Business Safety Resources for Occupational Safety
In today's times, corporate America is faced with the increasing rates of worker's compensation due to employee injuries in the workplace. There are many resources that employers can utilize to access information on employee safety as well as general occupational safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently created a special website specifically designed for businesses. The new site addresses pandemic flu, travel issues, seasonal flu, tobacco cessation,
worksite safety and health, infectious diseases, emergency preparedness, and chronic disease prevention. Occupational Health and Safety is an initiative that must be continuous and thorough in order to effectively reduce workplace related injuries. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/business.
- Hudson Garrett Jr., MSN, MPH, ECSI Advisory Council Chairperson
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What's
New from ECSI
Market Your Educational Center
A few months ago ECSI answered your requests for a pre-made marketing piece you could use to promote your centers. We created an affordable, informative brochure you can use in a direct mail campaign for your center. Potential clients can see what you have to offer and contact you more information and to schedule classes. To find out more about these useful, full color, brochures please visit: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763738778/
Article Submission
To inquire about submitting articles, tips, comments or stories in future ECSI e-newsletters please contact: Lani Byrd at [EMAIL PROTECTED]. |
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In the
Spotlight
Training in Afghanistan
The ECSI programs are not only rapidly spreading throughout the United States, but also throughout the world. David Foster with the Emergency Medical Solutions Training Center in Florida was recently deployed to Afghanistan for a 6-month stay. While there he had the opportunity to volunteer his time to train 25 medics with the Afghan National Army in Adult CPR & AED along with additional paramedic skills. Dave faced a big challenge due to the language barrier, but with the help of an interpreter was able to complete the class over a two-day period. The medics loved the class and up until this point had not received any training in CPR.
In addition, Mr. Foster was able to use the ECSI Professional CPR program to train 34 US, Dutch & British Army medics. They had previously been trained with another national organization, but commented that the ECSI programs were much easier to follow and understand. They appreciated that the class was concise and to the point.
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Conference
Calendar
Gulf Coast Safety Expo
Jan. 24-26, 2006, Baton Rouge, LA
Contact: Lani Byrd
Fire Rescue East
Jan. 27-28, 2006, Jacksonville, FL
Contact: Matt Maniscalco
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