Adaptation of mental health first aid guidelines for eating disorders for Iran.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to adapt mental health first aid guidelines to support individuals with or at risk of developing eating disorders in Iran. This adaptation seeks to enhance the support available for the Iranian population dealing with these disorders. METHODS: We employed the Delphi expert consensus method, utilizing two panels: health professionals (n = 37 in the first round; n = 29 in the second) and individuals with lived experience (n = 20 in the first round; n = 18 in the second). The health professionals panel was selected from the graduates of various eating disorders associated scientific fields who had a history of providing services to or conducting research on people with eating disorders, and the lived experience panel had a history of eating disorders themselves or in their family. The panel of individuals with lived experience included those who had personal or familial histories of eating disorders. Efforts were made to ensure cultural, gender, and age diversity in the selection of panel members. Panellists rated the importance of each item for inclusion in the guidelines for Iran based on the English-language Mental Health First Aid guidelines for eating disorders. Items deemed essential by at least 80% of both panels were included in the final guideline. Additionally, panel members were invited to suggest any missing items. RESULTS: A total of 57 participants took part in the first round of the survey, and 47 participated in the second round. In the first round, 204 items across 11 categories were assessed, with 174 items endorsed by the panels. Thirteen items were re-scored in the second round, and 17 items were rejected. Participants suggested 11 new items in the first round. In the second round, 18 out of 24 items were endorsed, while six were rejected. Ultimately, 192 items were incorporated into the Iranian guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The adaptation process considered Iran's social and cultural characteristics, including the stigma associated with mental health disorders, religious beliefs and rituals such as fasting, linguistic differences between English and Farsi, distrust of strangers, the influence of friends and family, differences in food access, and low mental health literacy. We recommend piloting the adapted guidelines in high schools, universities, and non-governmental organizations to evaluate their feasibility and effectiveness in real-world settings. Furthermore, it is essential to establish mechanisms for feedback, update content based on the latest evidence, and collaborate with the media to promote educational programs and public participation.

Mental health priorities and cultural-responsiveness of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for Asian immigrant populations in Greater Boston, Massachusetts.

BACKGROUND: Asians and Asian Americans have the lowest rate of mental health service utilization (25%) in the US compared to other racial/ethnic groups (39 - 52%), despite high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The lack of culturally-responsive mental health trainings hinders access to mental health services for these populations. We assessed the mental health priorities of Asian communities in Greater Boston and evaluated cultural responsiveness of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a first-responder training teaching participants skills to recognize signs of mental health and substance use challenges, and how to appropriately respond. METHODS: This is community-based participatory research with the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), Asian Women For Health (AWFH), and the Addressing Disparities in Asian Populations through Translational Research (ADAPT) Coalition. We conducted focus groups with community-based organization staff and community members to assess mental health priorities of Asian populations in Boston, MA. We then evaluated the utility and cultural-responsiveness of the English-language MHFA for Asian populations through pre- and post-training questionnaires and focus groups with community participants. Paired t-tests were used to evaluate questionnaire responses. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interviews. RESULTS: In total, ten staff and eight community members participated in focus groups, and 24 community members completed the MHFA and pre- and post-training questionnaires. Common mental health challenges in the Asian communities reported by participants were loneliness, high stigma around mental illnesses, academic pressure, and acculturation stress. Compared to pre-training, MHFA participants demonstrated lower personal mental health stigma (p < 0.001) and higher mental health literacy (p = 0.04) post-training. Participants also noted the lack of data statistics and case studies relevant to Asian populations in the training, and desired the training be offered in languages spoken by Asian ethnic subgroups (e.g., Chinese, Vietnamese). CONCLUSION: Cultural-responsiveness of the MHFA for Asian populations could be improved with the inclusion of data and case studies that capture common mental health challenges in the Asian communities and with translation of the MHFA to non-English languages predominant in Asian communities. Increasing the cultural relevance and language accessibility of the MHFA could facilitate wider adoption of these trainings across communities and help to reduce mental health stigma and gaps in literacy and service utilization.

Prevention & management of snakebite envenomation: A qualitative study on perspectives & practices in Maharashtra & Odisha.

Background & objectives Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a major public health concern, with India bearing the highest global burden of SBE-related deaths. SBE is concentrated in rural and tribal regions of India, where the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the dwelling communities largely influence mortality and morbidity. Understanding these factors is crucial to designing effective SBE prevention and management strategies. The present study's objective was to document the perspectives of community members and practices in selected blocks of Maharashtra and Odisha States regarding SBE prevention, first aid and health-seeking behaviour. Methods Between March and April 2022, 28 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. Study sites included Shahapur block in Thane district, Aheri block in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, and Khordha block in Khordha district, Kasipur block in Rayagada district of Odisha. Separate FGDs were held for males (n=14) and females (n=14), involving about 8-16 participants above 18 yr. All discussions were audio recorded, and a grounded theory approach was employed to identify key themes from the translated transcripts. Results The findings of this study revealed a variety of perspectives and practices determining the SBE burden at the study sites. The findings included insufficient knowledge about snake species and their nature of toxicity, use of non-scientific first aid techniques, inaccessible health care and reliance on traditional healers, non-utilization of prevention methods, varied cultural beliefs and practices, and differential treatments based on gender. The findings have been collated in two simplistic frameworks; barriers to effective prevention and barriers to effective management. Interpretation & conclusions SBE burden results from a complex interplay between socioeconomic, cultural, and demographic factors, necessitating a collaborative inter-sectoral effort for adequate control. Through crucial regional inputs and the barriers to prevention and management models, this study provides critical insights and priority intervention areas to strengthen India's upcoming National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE) in all high-burden States.

Nonpneumatic anti-shock garment utilization for obstetric hemorrhage management and its predictors among obstetric care providers in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Non-pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (NASG) is a lightweight, reusable first aid compression device that squeezes blood from the lower extremities and centralizes blood circulation to vital organs of the body. Postpartum hemorrhage followed by severe preeclampsia/eclampsia is the leading primary cause of maternal death (A reduction in extreme maternal adverse outcomes and faster recovery from shock are more likely to occur with earlier NASG intervention. The median blood loss reduced by half when the NASG was used for obstetric hemorrhage management, which was associated with significantly reduced maternal mortality among the most severe cases. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the pooled prevalence of NASG utilization and its predictors in Ethiopia. METHODS: Appropriate and comprehensive searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, HINARI, and Scopus were performed. The electronic literature search was last performed on November 18/2023. All observational study designs were eligible for this SRMA. All cross sectional studies reporting the prevalence/proportion of NASG utilization for obstetric hemorrhage management among obstetric care providers and associated factors were included in this SRMA. Primary studies lacking the outcome of interest were excluded from the SRMA. The extracted Microsoft Excel spreadsheet data were imported into STATA software version 17 (STATA Corporation, Texas, USA) for analysis. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of NASG utilization among obstetric care providers in Ethiopia. The Cochrane Q-test and I2 statistics were computed to assess the heterogeneity among the studies included in the SRMA. RESULT: A total of 1623 articles were found by using our search strategies and seven studies comprising 2335 participants were ultimately included in the SRMA. The pooled prevalence of NASG utilization for obstetric hemorrhage in Ethiopia was 43.34% (95% CI: 35.25, 51.42%). The findings of this subgroup analysis by sample size showed that the pooled prevalence of NASG utilization for obstetric hemorrhage was greater in studies with sample sizes of less than the mean sample size (48.6%; 95% CI: 32.34, 64.86%). Receiving training (AOR = 3.88, 95% CI: 2.08-5.37), having good knowledge (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.28-3.16), positive attitude (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.62-2.75) and having available NASGs in the facility (AOR = 4.89, 95%CI: 2.88-8.32) were significantly associated with the use of NASGs for obstetric hemorrhage management. CONCLUSION: The level of NASG utilization for obstetric hemorrhage in Ethiopia is low. Receiving training, good knowledge, positive attitudes and availability of NASG were significantly associated with the utilization of NASG. Therefore, policy makers and other stakeholders should emphasize enhancing the knowledge and attitudes of obstetric care providers through continuous support and training. At the same time, they should work strictly in providing devices for all the health facilities.

Epistaxis first-aid: a multi-center knowledge assessment study among medical workers.

PURPOSE: To assess the knowledge and confidence level regarding the basic first-aid for treating epistaxis among medical staff, including nurses and physicians across various medical disciplines. The study focused three aspects of first aid management: location of digital pressure, head position and duration of pressure. METHODS: The study involved 597 participants, categorized into five groups according to their specialties: emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and community-based healthcare. A paper-based multiple-choice questionnaire assessed knowledge of managing epistaxis. Correct answers were determined from literature review and expert consensus. RESULTS: Most medical staff showed poor knowledge regarding the preferred site for applying digital pressure in epistaxis management. For head position, pediatricians and internal medicine physicians were most accurate (79.4% and 64.8%, respectively, p < 0.01), and nurses from the emergency department outperformed nurses from other disciplines; internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and community-based healthcare (61.1%, 41.5%, 43.5%, 60%, 45.6%, respectively, p < 0.05). While most medical staff were unfamiliar with the recommended duration for applying pressure on the nose, pediatricians and community clinic physicians were most accurate (47.1% and 46.0%, respectively, p < 0.01), while ER physicians were least accurate (14.9%, p < 0.01). Interestingly, a negative correlation was found between years of work experience and reported confidence level in managing epistaxis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate a significant lack of knowledge concerning epistaxis first-aid among medical staff, particularly physicians in emergency departments. This finding highlights the pressing need for education and training to enhance healthcare workers' knowledge in managing epistaxis.

Can video streaming improve first aid for injured patients? A prospective observational study from Norway.

BACKGROUND: Video streaming in emergency medical communication centers (EMCC) from caller to medical dispatcher has recently been introduced in some countries. Death by trauma is a leading cause of death and injuries are a frequent reason to contact EMCC. We aimed to investigate if video streaming is associated with recognition of a need for first aid during calls regarding injured patients and improve quality of bystander first aid. METHODS: A prospective observational study including patients from three health regions in Norway, from November 2021 to February 2023 (registered in clinical trials 10/25/2021, NCT05121649). Cases where video streaming had been used as a supplement during the medical emergency call were compared to cases where video streaming was not used during the call. Patients were included by ambulance personnel on the scene of accident if they met the following criteria: 1. Ambulance personnel arrived at a patient who had an injury, 2. One or more bystanders had been present before their arrival, 3. One or more of the following first aid measures had been performed by bystander or should have been performed: airway management, control of external bleeding, recovery position, and hypothermia prevention. Ambulance personnel assessed quality of first aid performed by bystander, and information concerning use of video streaming and patient need for first aid measures recognized by dispatcher was collected through EMCC audio logs and patient charts. We present descriptive data and results from a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Data was collected on 113 cases, and dispatchers used video streaming in addition to standard telephone communication in 12/113 (10%) of the cases. The odds for the dispatcher to recognize a need for first aid during a medical emergency call were more than five times higher when video streaming was used compared to no use of video streaming (OR 5.30, 95% CI 1.11-25.44). Overall quality of bystander first aid was rated as "high". The odds ratio for the patient receiving first aid of higher quality were 1.82 (p-value 0.46) when video streaming was used by dispatcher during the call. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that video streaming is not frequently used by dispatchers in calls regarding patients with injuries, but that video streaming is associated with improved recognition of patients' first aid needs. We found no statistically significant difference in first aid quality comparing the calls where video streaming as a supplement were used with the calls with audio only.

Psychological first aid practice self-efficacy of nurses in disasters.

In the present cross-sectional study, we determined the self-efficacy of nurses to apply psychological first aid (PFA) during disasters. The study sample consisted of 580 nurses working in Turkey. The data were collected online between July and November 2022 using the "Personal Information Form" and the "PFA Application Self-Efficacy Scale." The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods (number, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), generalized linear models, Bonferroni correction, and linear regression analysis. The mean PFA scale scores of male nurses, nurses working in intensive care units, working as service nurses, nurses who have previously received PFA training and applied PFA in disaster situations were higher. Moreover, 91.3% of nurses did not receive PFA training and 90.3% did not receive PFA service earlier, 31.0% did not apply for PFA, 18.3% did not know about PFA. The mean score of the PFA practice self-efficacy scale of nurses was 131.61 ± 19.41. There exists an urgent requirement to develop nurses' PFA application self-efficacy. It is recommended that nurses should be provided repeated PFA training and applied studies focusing on PFA interventions.

Knowledge, attitude, and sources of information towards burn first aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran.

Optimal management of burns begins with first aid from the first hours of injury. Adequate knowledge of how to perform first aid for burns can reduce the consequences of injury. Therefore, this study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude, and sources of information assessment towards burn First aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude, and sources of information towards burn first aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran in 2023. In this survey, a convenience sampling method was adopted. The variables consisted of four items on socio-demographic information, 15 items on knowledge, ten items on attitude, and one item on sources of information related to burn First aid. A total of 371 individuals responded to the survey. The mean age of participants was 31.90 ± 8.49 years old. The mean score of the total knowledge of the participants in the research was 6.04 ± 3.05. There was a statistically significant relationship between the variables of age, sex, marital status, place of residence, level of education, and history of receiving first aid training with the participants' knowledge level. The average score of the total attitude of the participants was 44.08 ± 3.88. Out of 371 participants, 214 people (57.7%) had an average attitude, and 157 people (42.3%) had a good attitude towards burn first aid. There was a statistically significant relationship between place of residence, level of education, and history of receiving first aid training with the participants' attitudes in the research. In addition, the level of knowledge had a statistically significant relationship with the participants' attitude level in the research (p-value <0.001). The majority of participants have limited knowledge of burn first aid. This lack of knowledge could lead to severe consequences. Therefore, healthcare organizations should review and promote consistent guidelines for burn first aid to tackle and minimize the effect of this grave injury.

Psychological First Aid.

In this communication, we discuss the concept of psychological first aid, as relevant to diabetes management. Psychological first aid, in the diabetes care context, is defined as "the empathic support, counselling and education to improve coping skills, and optimize selfcare of persons living with diabetes, so that psychological well-being can be optimized." Various models can help provide structured psychological first aid. We feel that each and every health care provider should be able to provide effective first aid, including psychological first aid.

Approaches to Medical Emergencies on Commercial Flights.

In-flight medical incidents are becoming increasingly critical as passengers with diverse health profiles increase in the skies. In this paper, we reviewed how airlines, aviation authorities, and healthcare professionals respond to such emergencies. The analysis was focused on the strategies developed by the top ten airlines in the world by examining training in basic first aid, collaboration with ground-based medical support, and use of onboard medical equipment. Appropriate training of crew members, availability of adequate medical resources on board airplanes, and improved capabilities of dialogue between a flying plane and medical doctors on the ground will contribute to a positive outcome of the majority of medical issues on board airlines. In this respect, the adoption of advanced telemedicine solutions and the improvement of real-time teleconsultations between aircraft and ground-based professionals can represent the future of aviation medicine, offering more safety and peace of mind to passengers in case of medical problems during a flight.

[Inadequate first medical aid on board a sea vessel as a risk factor for crew members' health].

Currently, one of the most important health and social problems in the world is the constant increase in injuries and deaths at work. Statistics show that timely provision of first aid to victims has a positive effect on further medical support and a reduction in the number of deaths. First aid for crew members of sea vessels is a set of simple medical actions performed by seafarers directly on board the ship, as soon as possible after an injury or illness. As a rule, it is associated with emergency resuscitation of the victim. The lack of necessary skills and training among current ship crew members to carry out first aid operations shows an objective need to develop recommendatory measures to revise the current training system.

Development of mental health first-aid guidelines for suicide risk: a Delphi expert consensus study in Argentina and Chile.

BACKGROUND: Suicide continues to pose a significant global public health challenge and ranks as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Given the prevalence of suicide risk in the community, there is a significant likelihood of encountering individuals who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts or plans, creating an opening for non-health professionals to offer support. This study aims to culturally adapt the original Australian Mental Health First Aid Guidelines for suicide risk to the Chilean and Argentine context. METHODS: A two-round Delphi expert consensus study was conducted involving two panels, one comprising individuals with personal experience in suicide thoughts/attempts or caregiving for those with such experiences (n = 18), and the other consisting of professionals specialized in suicide assessment and support for individuals at risk (n = 25). They rated a total of 179 items mainly derived from guidelines developed by Australian experts and translated into Spanish (168), and new items included by the research team (11). The panel members were requested to assess each item utilizing a five-point Likert scale. During the second round, items that received moderate approval in the initial round were re-evaluated, and new items suggested by the local experts in the first round were also subjected to evaluation in the next round. Inclusion in the final guidelines required an 80% endorsement as "essential" or "important" from both panels. RESULTS: Consensus of approval was reached for 189 statements. Among these, 139 statements were derived from the English-language guidelines, while 50 locally generated statements were accepted during the second round. A significant difference from the original guideline was identified concerning the local experts' reluctance to discuss actions collaboratively with adolescents. Furthermore, the local experts proposed the inclusion of an entirely new section addressing suicide risk in older individuals, particularly focusing on suicide methods and warning signs. CONCLUSIONS: A Delphi expert consensus study was conducted to culturally adapt mental health first aid guidelines for assessing suicide risk in Chile and Argentina. This study involved professionals and individuals with lived experience. While many items were endorsed, some related to inquiring about suicide risk and autonomy, particularly for adolescents, were not. An additional section for older individuals was introduced. Future research should explore the implementation and impact of these adapted guidelines in training courses. This is vital for enhancing mental health support and implementing effective suicide prevention strategies in Chile and Argentina.

Development of mental health first aid guidelines for problem drinking: a Delphi expert consensus study in Argentina and Chile.

BACKGROUND: Among all psychoactive substances, alcohol consumption presents the most significant public health problem and is a leading risk factor for overall disease burden in Latin America. However, most people who meet criteria for a substance use disorder do not receive treatment in primary or secondary care sources. Community members can play a role in helping people to seek help as they are likely to encounter people experiencing problem drinking and recognize the signs. However, many do not have adequate mental health first aid knowledge or skills to provide help. We aimed to culturally adapt the existing English-language mental health first aid guidelines for helping someone with problem drinking for Argentina and Chile. METHODS: The Delphi consensus method was used to determine the importance of helping actions translated from the English-language guidelines and to add new actions suggested by expert panellists. The importance of each statement was rated by two expert panels. Panel one included people with lived experience (either their own or as a support person, n = 23) recruited in Argentina and panel two included health professionals (n = 31) recruited in Argentina and Chile. RESULTS: Overall, 165 helping actions were endorsed by panellists across two consecutive survey rounds. Endorsed items included 132 of the 182 items translated into Spanish from the English-language guidelines and 33 of the 61 new items generated from panellists' comments in the first survey round. CONCLUSIONS: While there were some similarities in recommended helping actions between English-speaking countries, and Argentina and Chile, key differences were seen in attitudes to low-risk drinking. While there was a relatively high level of agreement between health professionals and people with lived experience, some divergence of opinion was seen, particularly in the area of commitment to recovery as a condition for help. Future research should explore the implementation of the guidelines.

Cultural adaptation of the mental health first aid guidelines for Brazilians with problem drinking: a Delphi expert consensus study.

BACKGROUND: Harmful use of alcohol is highly prevalent around the world and results in a large disease burden. Most people who meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder do not receive treatment. Those in a person's social network can be useful in recognizing a problem and encouraging the person to seek treatment. However, many people lack the knowledge and skills to do this effectively. This study reports on the cultural adaptation for Brazil of the 2009 English-language mental health first aid guidelines for helping someone with problem drinking. METHODS: A Delphi expert consensus study with two expert panels, one comprising health professionals with experience in the treatment of problem drinking and the other comprising people with lived experience was conducted. Participants rated the importance of actions to be taken to help a person with problem drinking. RESULTS: Over two rounds, 60 participants (30 professionals and 30 people with lived experience) rated 197 items. A total of 166 items were included in the final guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: While there were many similarities with the English-language guidelines for high-income countries, the guidelines also incorporate actions of importance for Brazil, including compulsory treatment and different approaches to dealing with people with problem drinking. Further research is necessary to assess their impact.

Suicide first aid guidelines for Indonesia: a Delphi consensus study.

BACKGROUND: The concept that "suicide is preventable" is fairly recent in Indonesia. Suicide prevention training is also new for community leaders and laypeople. On the other side, in a collectivistic society like Indonesia, community leaders, neighbours, and friends are essential parts of someone's life. Therefore, guidelines to assist first aiders in preventing suicide is urgently needed. AIM: This study aimed to develop guidelines to recognise key warning signs and provide first aid support to Indonesians at potential immediate risk for suicide. METHODS: The guidelines was developed through three steps: (i) systematic literature review; (ii) focus group discussions and interviews; and (iii) expert consensus using the Delphi approach. These steps were taken to ensure that the final guidelines reflected the cultural beliefs and norms of the Indonesian context. RESULTS: Three rounds of Delphi resulted in 460 accepted items out of 539 items generated from the literature search and group and individual interviews. Some key differences with other countries where similar studies were carried out were highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasised the need for gatekeeper training as the ideal way of educating community members on the guidelines.

2020 International Consensus on First Aid Science With Treatment Recommendations.

This is the summary publication of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation's 2020 International Consensus on First Aid Science With Treatment Recommendations. It addresses the most recent published evidence reviewed by the First Aid Task Force science experts. This summary addresses the topics of first aid methods of glucose administration for hypoglycemia; techniques for cooling of exertional hyperthermia and heatstroke; recognition of acute stroke; the use of supplementary oxygen in acute stroke; early or first aid use of aspirin for chest pain; control of life-threatening bleeding through the use of tourniquets, hemostatic dressings, direct pressure, or pressure devices; the use of a compression wrap for closed extremity joint injuries; and temporary storage of an avulsed tooth. Additional summaries of scoping reviews are presented for the use of a recovery position, recognition of a concussion, and 6 other first aid topics. The First Aid Task Force has assessed, discussed, and debated the certainty of evidence on the basis of Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria and present their consensus treatment recommendations with evidence-to-decision highlights and identified priority knowledge gaps for future research.

Education, Implementation, and Teams: 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations.

For this 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations, the Education, Implementation, and Teams Task Force applied the population, intervention, comparator, outcome, study design, time frame format and performed 15 systematic reviews, applying the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation guidance. Furthermore, 4 scoping reviews and 7 evidence updates assessed any new evidence to determine if a change in any existing treatment recommendation was required. The topics covered included training for the treatment of opioid overdose; basic life support, including automated external defibrillator training; measuring implementation and performance in communities, and cardiac arrest centers; advanced life support training, including team and leadership training and rapid response teams; measuring cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance, feedback devices, and debriefing; and the use of social media to improve cardiopulmonary resuscitation application.

A Survey of Hospitalized Trauma Patients in Hemorrhage Control Education: Are Trauma Victims Willing to Stop the Bleed?

BACKGROUND: The Stop the Bleed (STB) campaign was developed in part to educate the lay public about hemorrhage control techniques aimed at reducing preventable trauma deaths. Studies have shown this training increases bystanders' confidence and willingness to provide aid. One high-risk group might be better solicited to take the course: individuals who have been a victim of previous trauma, as high rates of recidivism after trauma are well-established. Given this group's risk for recurrent injury, we evaluated their attitudes toward STB concepts. METHODS: We surveyed trauma patients admitted to 3 urban trauma centers in Baltimore from January 8, 2020 to March 14, 2020. The survey was terminated prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trauma patients hospitalized on any inpatient unit were invited to complete the survey via an electronic tablet. The survey asked about demographics, prior exposure to life-threatening hemorrhage and first aid training, and willingness to help a person with major bleeding. The Johns Hopkins IRB approved waiver of consent for this study. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients completed the survey. The majority of respondents had been hospitalized before (92.9%) and had witnessed severe bleeding (60.7%). The majority had never taken a first aid course (60.7%) nor heard of STB (83.9%). Most respondents would be willing to help someone with severe bleeding form a car crash (98.2%) or gunshot wound (94.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients admitted for trauma had not heard about Stop the Bleed, but stated willingness to respond to someone injured with major bleeding. Focusing STB education on individuals at high-risk for trauma recidivism may be particularly effective in spreading the message and skills of STB.

Psychological first aid (PFA) and disasters.

A disaster is commonly thought of as an occurrence that results in property damage and physical injuries that exceed the response capabilities of local resources. History teaches that disasters also result in a surge in demand for psychological support amongst survivors and disaster responders. This surge quickly exceeds local response capacities and has the potential to exceed even the mental health resources that may be imported from neighbouring jurisdictions and disaster relief agencies. Efficient and effective acute mental health intervention is, therefore, needed. However, the effectiveness of traditional multi-session counselling during and shortly after disasters has been questioned. Instead, the utilization of efficient and effective crisis-focussed psychological interventions has been suggested as acute phase alternatives. This paper asserts psychological first aid (PFA) may be considered a specific crisis-focussed disaster mental health intervention for use during and after disasters. PFA is designed for use in assessing and mitigating acute distress, while serving as a platform for psychological triage complementing more traditional psychological and psychiatric interventions. PFA may be employed by mental health clinicians as well as 'peer responders'.

The Safety and Feasibility of a Family First Aid Approach for the Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage in Home Births: A Pre-post Intervention Study in Rural Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a Family First Aid approach whereby women and their families are provided misoprostol in advance to manage postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in home births. METHODS: A 12-month prospective, pre-post intervention study was conducted from February 2017 to February 2018. Women in their second and third trimesters were enrolled at home visits. Participants and their families received educational materials and were counseled on how to diagnose excessive bleeding and the importance of seeking care at a facility if PPH occurs. In the intervention phase, participants were also given misoprostol and counselled on how to administer the four 200 mcg tablets for first aid in case of PPH. Participants were followed-up postpartum to collect data on use of misoprostol for Family First Aid at home deliveries (primary outcome) and record maternal and perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 4008 participants enrolled, 97% were successfully followed-up postpartum. Half of the participants in each phase delivered at home. Among home deliveries, the odds of reporting PPH almost doubled among in the intervention phase (OR 1.98; CI 1.43, 2.76). Among those reporting PPH, women in the intervention phase were significantly more likely to have received PPH treatment (OR 10.49; CI 3.37, 32.71) and 90% administered the dose correctly. No maternal deaths, invasive procedures or surgery were reported in either phase after home deliveries. CONCLUSIONS: The Family First Aid approach is a safe and feasible model of care that provides timely PPH treatment to women delivering at home in rural communities.