BVMs and News

Good morning everyone,

In the latest news at my blog, I'm deciding whether or not I want to put up ad listings for the "Buy Bravo a Ventilator Campaign." It's not actually a ventilator I'd be buying but a BVM (Bag Valve Mask) such as the one seen here. Currently I'm leaning against no though.

In further news:

Foetus gets 'earliest blood op'

"An unborn baby has become one of the youngest recipients of a blood transfusion.
Ruby Doland had the treatment when her mother, Kelly, from Bedfordshire, was just 17 weeks pregnant because of a rare blood condition.
A needle was inserted into the umbilical cord of Ruby - now 12 weeks old - to give her blood to stop her developing anaemia and heart failure."

Medicine never ceases to amaze me as to the things that it can do.

Ambulance service is 'too slow'

"A report claims paramedics are too slow at administering clot-busting drugs to heart attack victims in the region.
The Royal College of Physicians said the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) had failed to meet targets for administering the drugs.
Ambulance bosses said staff are trained but the drug was not suitable for all."

I don't see what they're complaining about, most places in America, except for the very progressive ambulance services, don't give thrombolytics.

Violence plagues ambulance staff

"Ambulance workers suffer more violence and bullying than other NHS staff, research finds.
They are also more likely to be disatisfied with their work-life balance, and level of managerial support than other NHS workers."

Violence kind of comes with the nature of the job. It's in a highly stressful situation. As for the work-life balance, the shifts aren't the greatest because again, that's the nature of the job.

British doctors gear up for bird flu pandemic

"LONDON - Doctors offices and clinics across Britain will receive instructions next month to prepare for a feared pandemic of bird flu amid concerns the deadly disease could spread across Europe."

New Diseases- Where do they come from?

A powerpoint presentation on how "new" diseases come to exist.

Pig-borne disease found in mainland China

"32 farmers have died since June from illness; some 163 cases confirmed- BEIJING - A slaughterhouse worker contracted a pig-borne disease in southern China, a hospital official said Saturday. He was the first mainland case outside the Sichuan province, where 32 farmers have died since June from the illness.
Some 163 confirmed and suspected cases blamed on the bacteria streptococcus suis have been found in Sichuan in China’s southwest, where farmers who handled or butchered infected pigs have been sickened in dozens of villages and towns."

Second drug may be effective against bird flu

"WASHINGTON - A second influenza drug, GlaxoSmithKline’s Relenza, should be stockpiled in readiness for a feared global pandemic of avian flu, researchers said Thursday.
The drug, known generically as zanamivir, is inhaled and some doctors have worried that patients may not be able to use it correctly, but the team of Asian doctors said it will be important to have as many antivirals on hand as possible.
The H5N1 bird flu virus has killed 62 people since late 2003 and is affecting flocks from Vietnam to Kazakhstan. Although it is not yet easily transmitted from birds to people or from person to person, experts fear it will acquire this ability and cause a worldwide disaster."

So we're not totally defenseless.