[PROBLEMATIC ISSUES OF EQUIPPING SEA VESSELS IN TERMS OF STAFFING THE SHIP'S FIRST AID KIT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTION COVID-19].

Today, the presence of specifics in the organization of the work of sea cargo, fishing and passenger ships is indisputable, which affects the difficulties in providing qualified timely medical care in case of need. This issue is especially urgent in the context of the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus infection COVID-19. The article carried out a detailed analysis of the regulatory framework governing the formation of the list of ship's first aid kit and formulated the appropriate conclusions and recommendations. In addition, the article developed recommendations for supplementing the ship's list with drugs necessary for the treatment of COVID-19.

The Challenge of Implementing the "Stop the Bleed" Campaign in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Currently, several initiatives have emerged to empower the public to act as immediate responders in front of hemorrhaging victims. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the Stop the Bleed campaign and the association between the instructors' background and the theoretical and practical competences achieved by the participants in Latin America. METHODS: Medical students and general surgeons taught both allied health students and nonallied health students at a local university; the training had a master class followed by a practical component and a written test, as well as tourniquet placement was tested. RESULTS: 265 individuals received the training, and data were available for 243. Of these, 126 (52.07%) were women and the median age was 21 (IQR: 20-22) years. 121 (49.79%) were trained by general surgeons (group A) and 122 (50.21%) by medical students (group B). After the training, more than 98% of all participants perceived that they would most likely be capable of aiding correctly a bleeding victim by applying direct pressure and more than 90% of them felt confident in being able to apply a tourniquet. There were no statistically significant differences among both groups when comparing their post-training competence evaluations [Theoretical test score: group A = 5 (IQR: 4-5); group B = 5 (IQR: 4-5); P = 0.41] and [Practical competency of tourniquet deployment: group A = 119 (66.39%) versus group B = 120 (65.83%); P = 0.93]. CONCLUSIONS: The Stop the Bleed campaign can be effectively implemented in Latin America, and it can be taught by prequalified medical students without altering the learning objectives of the course.

Revisiting detachment techniques in human-biting ticks.

BACKGROUND: Early and complete removal of ticks using the right technique is important to reduce tick-transmitted diseases. Several chemical and mechanical detachment techniques have been described previously. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the performance of 4 tick-detachment techniques that are widely used in human beings and to determine the optimal method from these techniques. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 160 patients between April and June 2010. Patients with reported tick bite were reviewed retrospectively and divided into the following 4 groups according to the tick-detachment technique used: card detachment, lassoing, freezing, and tweezers. Performance of each technique was evaluated according to the number of fully detached, nondetached, and crushed ticks and the duration of application. RESULTS: Of the 160 tick-bite cases assessed, we found the following efficacy rates: 82.5% (33/40), technique using tweezers; 47.5% (19/40), lassoing technique; 7.5% (3/40), card detachment; and 0% (0/40), freezing technique. The efficacy rate of the technique using tweezers was significantly higher than that of the other 3 techniques (P < .05). LIMITATIONS: This was a relatively small sample size and not designed as a randomized clinical trial. CONCLUSION: Tick detachment using tweezers, performed in an appropriate manner, is the easiest and most effective technique.

Improvising a Posterior Nasal Pack with Equipment in a Basic First Aid Kit.

Posterior epistaxis is a serious condition that can be difficult to treat in a wilderness setting. The initial standard of care involves packing the affected nostril with a 7 to 9 cm nasal pack to tamponade the bleed. These packs are often unavailable outside of the emergency or operating room. This study set out to determine whether a posterior nasal pack could be constructed from the supplies present in a basic first aid kit in order to control massive nasal hemorrhage in a wilderness setting. A basic first aid kit was utilized to construct a posterior nasal pack that was inserted into an anatomical model and visibly compared with the Rapid Rhino (Posterior, 7.5 cm; Smith & Nephew, Austin, TX) nasal packing. The shape, size, and anatomical areas of compression (ie, into nasopharynx and posterior aspect of inferior turbinate) of this pack was similar to the commercially available posterior nasal pack. Placement in an anatomical model appears to provide similar compression as the commercially available posterior pack. This technique may provide short-term hemorrhage control in cases of serious posterior nasal hemorrhage where standard treatment options are not available.

Medical Pathologies and Hut Guardians' Ability to Provide First Aid in Mountain Huts: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the resources for medical condition management in mountain huts and the epidemiology of such events. METHODS: We conducted a 3-step study from April 2013 to August 2014 in French mountain huts. The first step consisted of collecting data regarding the first aid equipment available in mountain huts. The second step consisted of a qualitative evaluation of the mountain hut guardian's role in medical situations through semistructured interviews. Finally, a prospective observational study was conducted in the summer season to collect all medical events (MEs) that occurred during that period. RESULTS: Out of 164 hut guardians, 141 (86%) had a basic life support diploma. An automatic external defibrillator was available in 41 (26%) huts, and 148 huts (98%) were equipped with a first aid kit. According to semistructured interviews, hut guardians played a valuable role in first aid assistance. Regarding the observational study, 306 people requested the hut guardian's help for medical reasons in 87 of the 126 huts included. A total of 501 MEs for approximately 56,000 hikers (0.85%) were reported, with 280 MEs (56%) involving medical pathologies and 221 (44%) MEs involving trauma-related injuries. CONCLUSIONS: MEs had low prevalence, but the hut guardian played a valuable role as a first aid responder.

Orthodontic First Aid for General Dental Practitioners.

Orthodontic emergencies occasionally arise and although they can cause discomfort to the patient, they can usually be stabilized by a general dentist and then followed up by the orthodontist. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment may initially present to their general dental practitioner with an orthodontic emergency as opposed to their orthodontist. It is therefore important that general dental practitioners are aware of common orthodontic emergencies and their management.

[Comparative characteristics of domestic and foreign means of the first aid on the battlefield and in the epicenter of emergency situation].

Comparative characteristics of domestic and foreign means of the first aid on the battlefield and in the epicentre of emergency situation. The results of comparative analysis of domestic and foreign means of the first aid on the battlefield and in the epicentre of emergency situation are presented. It was found that the first aid means used in the Armed Forces are effective and allow performing specified activities, regardless of the qualifications and assisting skills. Modern innovative means of providing emergency and urgent care may be used on the stages of medical evacuation of military and military hospitals.

Jellyfish Stings: A Practical Approach.

Jellyfish have a worldwide distribution. Their stings can cause different reactions, ranging from cutaneous, localized, and self-limited to serious systemic or fatal ones, depending on the envenoming species. Several first aid treatments are used to manage such stings but few have evidence behind their use. This review of the literature describes and discusses the different related first aid and treatment recommendations, ending with a summarized practical approach. Further randomized controlled trials in this field are needed.

[Industrial first aid equipment: a historical analysis (1840-1914) ]. / Gli strumenti di pronto soccorso in azienda: un'analisi storica (1840-1914).

Even if references to the tools required to intervene after an accident can be found in the works of Bernardino Ramazzini (1633-1714) or Johann Peter Frank (1745-1821), it was only with the development of industrial manufacturing that the need to study means to prevent and intervene in cases of accident became evident. In October 1894 the III Congrés International des Accidents du Travail et des Assurances Sociales was held in Milan. The following year, the Milanese trade union movement acknowledged the necessity to address the problem of industrial accidents. In 1896 the Association for Medical Assistance in  Industrial Accidents was founded in Milan. A specific medical institute was set up, appropriate first aid tools were collected and first aid rooms in the main Milanese factories were inaugurated. Nevertheless, few data seem to be available regarding the manufacture and use of this equipment in industry. We analyzed more than fifty catalogs of European industrial products, between 1843 and 1914, to study the evolution of first aid equipment for industrial use. They reflect and attest to the evolution of medicine and surgery, although some models seem to be related to certain industrial categories (railways, electrical appliances), some were similar to ordinary first aid boxes, others were strictly related to surgery; some could only be used by physicians, and others only by workers. Identification, conservation, and reappraisal of these tools is essential for historians of occupational health because these objects were normally not preserved. The catalogues of industrial production are also precious sources, since they are rarely preserved in public libraries and deserve to be used for historical studies.

[Modern methods of prehospital bleeding management based on the experience and standards of tactical medicine]. / Wspólczesne metody tamowania krwotoku w warunkach przedszpitalnych w oparciu o doswiadczenia i standardy medycyny taktycznej.

Isolated limb hemorrhage represents 60% of avoidable deaths and remains the leading cause of death in combat zone. Ideal tourniquet must be light, durable and cheap. They should completely stop the flow of arterial blood in the limb, and their attachment should be quick and easy. Tourniquets applied in correct location save lives by stopping the bleeding. Their use in civil environment appear to be particularly relevant in the mass casualties events. Modern bandages used by the military, were designed mostly in the form of an elastic bandage, which attachment has to be easy and quick. Sequential wrapping of elastic dressing around the wound produces compressive force which aim is to stem the bleeding by pressing vessel from the outside. Dressings are made of materials which adhere well to the wound, causing the seal and leave no fragments in the injured tissue. The combination of all components enables fast and effective application of the dressing in the most demanding conditions.

Web-based general public opinion study of automated versus manual external chest compression.

BACKGROUND: Only a few cardiac-arrest victims receive external chest compression (ECC) by a bystander. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the general public might start ECC more often if they used an automated device rather than a manual massage. METHODS: Web-based public opinion survey based on two short videos, one showing manual ECC and the other automated ECC (Autopulse, Zoll, France). Advantages and disadvantages (perceived efficacy, reproducibility, hazard, apprehension and acceptability) of the two techniques were evaluated on a visual analogue scale (VAS). A VAS of 1-3 was considered to indicate preference for manual ECC, 8-10 for automated ECC and 4-7 for no clear preference. The final global score was the difference between advantage and disadvantage scores. RESULTS: Overall, 1769 persons answered the questionnaire. The median VAS score for each variable was as follows: 7 (25-75 percentiles, 5-9) for efficacy, 8 (3-10) for reproducibility, 5 (3-8) for hazard, 5 (2-8) for apprehension and 5 (2-8) for acceptability. The overall median score indicated that 1034 persons (58%) preferred use of the device, 618 (35%) preferred manual ECC and 117 (7%) had no preference. There was no significant difference in the preference according to gender, education and training in first aid. However, older persons (0) preferred the use of device. CONCLUSIONS: The better 'advantages over disadvantages' score for the automated ECC device over manual ECC indicated that the general public might envisage use of the device. This could contribute to increase the frequency of resuscitation attempts by bystanders.

First aid on field management in youth football.

INTRODUCTION: Sufficient first aid equipment is essential to treat injuries on football fields. Deficits in first aid on field are still present in youth football. METHODS: Injury pattern in youth football over one season and first aid equipment in youth football were analyzed, retrospectively. PRICE and ABC procedure served as basic principles in emergency management to assess the need for first aid equipment on field. Considering financial limits and adapted on youth football injuries, sufficient first aid equipment for youth football was configured. RESULTS: 84% of 73 participating youth football teams had their own first aid kit, but the majority of them were insufficiently equipped. Team coaches were in 60% of all youth teams responsible for using first aid equipment. The injury evaluation presented 922 injuries to 1,778 youth players over one season. Frequently presented types of injury were contusions and sprains of the lower extremity. Based on the analyzed injury data in youth football, first aid equipment with 90 € is sufficient for 100% of all occurred youth football injuries. CONCLUSION: Current first aid equipment in youth football is insufficient. Scientific-based first aid equipment with 90 € is adequate to serve all injuries. Football coaches need education in first aid management.

[The use of the new loads of expendable medical supplies by the medical service of the Armed Forces].

The new loads of expendable medical supplies adopted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and included into regulating documents are the most important elements of the authorized equipment system. Nine loads of expendable medical supplies, combined into two classification groups, are provided for the medical service. The use of these loads improves the effectiveness of medical supply for all stages of medical evacuation, medical continuity during medical and evacuation procedures and allows to deliver medical aid to patients on the basis of modern and innovative medical technologies.

Use of individual auto-injector kits 'IZAS-05' on the contemporary battlefield.

In crisis situations, such as transportation catastrophes, terrorist attacks or contamination with chemical warfare agents, it is crucial to properly organize and sensibly conduct rescue operations. Among chemical warfare agents, the most toxic ones are the derivatives of organophosphorus compounds. An individual auto-injector kit 'IZAS-05' contains auto-injectors, which are devices designed for intramuscular administration of drugs in self-aid or buddy-aid on the battlefield. This paper describes in detail the components of the 'IZAS-05' kit, as well as its mode of use and possible contraindications.

A convenient first aid kit for chemical and biological agents and for radiation exposure.

The chemical and biological warfare agents are extremely toxic in nature. They act rapidly even in very small quantities and death may occur in minutes. Hence, physical and medical protection must be provided immediately to save life or avoid serious injury. A first aid kit has thus been developed for providing immediate relief from chemical and biological warfare agents (FAKCBW) with the objective of easy detection, personal decontamination, antidote for chemical warfare agents (like nerve agents, sulphur mustard, phosgene, cyanide, radiation exposure and bacterial agents), along with basic medication aid for pain, fever and inflammation. The kit box also includes a user friendly handbook with a simple standard operating procedure. In addition, the kit is rugged to withstand normal jerks, vibration and is water-proof.

[A new type of emergency trauma fracture external fixator--the development of spraying dextran-based polyurethane external splints].

A new production method of spraying dextran-based polyurethane external splints is introduced in this paper. The main raw material components are polymethylene polyisocyanate (PAPI), mixed with surfactants, acetone, soluble starch, catalyst, and so on. The splint is used for temporary fixing after fracture, with small size, light weight, easy portability, fine air perviousness, completely transparent to the X-ray. It also needs a shorter fixed operating time. It can not only fix quickly and effectively the vertebral column and limbs, but also significantly shorten the time of pre-hospital care.

[Use of modern medical wallets at the combat level of medical service of the Armed Forces].

Modern medical wallets, accepted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as a support supply, include innovative pharma products and medical goods providing effectiveness of first paramedical and first medical aid for wounded during combat training, warfighting with conventional weapon, mass destruction weapon and in case of natural and industrial disasters.

[Use of modern first-aid kits in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation].

Taken to supply of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, individual and group first aid kits include a range of innovative pharmaceuticals and medical devices, which ensures effective implementation of measures of first aid to servicemen injured and wounded in the performance of combat training missions, the conduct of hostilities with conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction, as well as the occurrence of natural and man-made disasters (catastrophes).