Twas the Night of Refusals

We had three calls last night. All of which we obtained a patient refusal for. Two patients had fallen and couldn't get up so we were called. Even though our on-scene time was pretty low, it took forever to fill out the paperwork. Yay! Paperwork!

The third patient was a walk-in who came to our station while we were out at dinner. They called 911 when they got there, and so we made a run back to the station code 2 (just lights). It was code 2 because the caller said it wasn't an emergency, just not "feeling right." We showed up and ran in, but there was no one there. So we called dispatch back, told them the situation, and they called the patient back to the building. We took the BP and other baseline vitals and then took her blood sugar. Everything was within normal limits (WNL). The patient then refused transport. Yay! More paperwork!

In other news I've found various other medical articles. In case you haven't noticed, emerging diseases are kind of my interest.

One 'cure all' flu jab for life

"Scientists are making a vaccine that could give lifelong protection against all types of flu in a single jab.
Currently, at risk people in the UK - the elderly and ill - need annual flu jabs, and there is no jab available yet guaranteed to beat bird flu.
Biotechnology firm Acambis, in Cambridge, the UK, says it hopes its jab will target numerous mutations that presently allow flu to evade attack.
However, the work is very early and is years off being tested in humans."

Looks like those who are afraid of needles are in luck. I'm not afraid of needles, but it would be nice not having to remember to get another vaccine every year.

Coil can cut aneurysm death risk

"Treating burst aneurysms by blocking them with platinum coils could offer patients better long-term survival than major brain surgery, researchers say.
Tests of the technique in an international study were halted early in 2002 because results were so good.
Now a longer-term follow-up confirms it does boost the chances of patients - who risk a stroke without treatment - surviving without disability."

Read the "how the coiling method work" clip at the bottom. It's quite interesting.

Statin Treatment Within First 24 Hours After Heart Attack Cut Mortality By Half

"LOS ANGELES, CA -- August 29, 2005 -- In the largest clinical study of its kind, University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers found that early treatment with a statin drug within 24 hours of having a heart attack reduced in-hospital mortality rates by over 50%.The new study, published in the Sept. 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology, demonstrates that early statin therapy may be essential for reducing mortality and other complications in heart attack victims."

That's good to know.

Comparison of three fluid solutions for resuscitation in dengue shock syndrome