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Emergency Kit (emergency + kit)
Selected AbstractsAssessing Emergency Preparedness of Families Caring for Young Children With Diabetes and Other Chronic IllnessesJOURNAL FOR SPECIALISTS IN PEDIATRIC NURSING, Issue 4 2006Lynda G. Stallwood PURPOSE.,To help children with chronic illnesses and their caregivers assess emergency preparedness. CONCLUSIONS.,Little work has been done to ascertain patient adherence levels to these recommendations. Additionally, little is known about the seeking patterns of healthcare providers and/or changes in interventions based on certain elements of emergency preparedness, such as the presence of medical alert identification and an emergency kit. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.,,Healthcare providers must discover their patients' level of emergency preparedness and facilitate the acquisition and implementation of elements of emergency preparedness that meet their patients' needs. [source] Anaphylactic Reactions on the Beach: A Cause for Concern?JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2009Alexander D. Karatzanis MD Background The commonest causes of anaphylaxis include hymenoptera bites, high-risk food, exercise, and jellyfish bites and may often be encountered on the beach. Therefore, millions of visitors at popular touristic locations are exposed to increased risk of anaphylactic reactions every year. At least 35 cases of acute allergic reactions requiring medical attention took place on the beaches of Crete, Greece during the previous summer. Objective To evaluate the level of training of lifeguards working on the beaches of the island of Crete, Greece, with regard to emergency management of anaphylaxis as well as to assess the sufficiency of medical equipment that lifeguards possess to treat an anaphylactic reaction. Methods A questionnaire was prepared by the authors and administered to 50 lifeguards working on various beaches of Crete. Queries included the definition of anaphylaxis, proper medical treatment, and the existence or not and composition of an emergency kit with regard to the management of acute allergic reactions. Results Our series consisted of 50 lifeguards, 39 (78%) male and 11 female (22%). Although 41 (80%) lifeguards were aware of an acceptable definition of anaphylaxis, no one knew that epinephrine is the first-choice treatment, and 32 (60%) lifeguards replied that steroids should be used for emergency treatment. Additionally, no one possessed an emergency kit that would qualify for management of acute allergic reactions. Conclusions The beach should be considered as a high-risk place for the appearance of anaphylactic reactions. Lifeguards who would be the first trained personnel to encounter this condition should be sufficiently trained and equipped for emergency treatment. Our department is currently introducing a training program to local authorities for the proper training and equipping of lifeguards in the island of Crete. [source] Parental knowledge and use of epinephrine auto-injector for children with food allergyPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2006G. Pouessel Epinephrine should be prescribed for patients at risk of anaphylaxis. Our purpose was to determine the use of AnapenŽ prescribed for food-allergic children, to assess parental knowledge regarding Anapen, and to evaluate the arrangements for emergency kits and personalized care projects in everyday life. A prospective study was performed with a questionnaire sent to families with a food-allergic child previously prescribed Anapen. One hundred and fifty two families were contacted and finally 111 children included (median age 6.5 yrs). Main food allergens were peanuts (n = 89), egg (n = 39) and cow's milk (n = 10). The use of Anapen had been demonstrated to 90% of parents (by prescribing physician, 69%; pharmacist, 25%; general practitioner, 5%; nurse 1%), with a training device (76%) and/or written instructions (49%). When asked to list symptoms requiring injection, 48% of parents cited more than one response: breathing difficulties only (23%), or with angio-edema (41%), collapse or faintness (38%), anaphylactic shock (48%). Of 107 children attending school, 54% had a personalized care project, 72% an Anapen device, and 60% a complete emergency kit (epinephrine, inhaled , -agonist, corticosteroid, anti-H1 drug). , -Agonists were forgotten at school by 34 children (13 asthmatics). Anapen was used in one child for angio-edema and dyspnea after inadvertent ingestion of egg at home. In our population, epinephrine auto-injectors and emergency kits were insufficiently available at schools and in daily life. The use of auto-injectors was not adequately demonstrated. The prescription of epinephrine for food-allergic children at risk of anaphylaxis requires accurate diagnosis, educational programs, information, and follow up. [source] | ||||||||||