12 Major Facts and Statistics About CPR Classes

Today's fast paced yet sedentary lifestyle has seen a meteoric rise in obesity and stress related problems. These problems have given way to a various heart conditions. The recent increase in the number of heart attacks in the younger group has busted the myth that heart problems only come with old age. Owing to this and other sudden incidents many employers are providing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) classes to their employees. This is aimed at educating employees about CPR administration and also training them for crisis situations. Listed below are some statistics and facts about CPR classes.

• Proper administration of CPR immediately following a heart attack can greatly increase the victim's survival chances.

• Approximately 80% of all cardiac arrests occur at home. Therefore, if you have undergone CPR classes you can make a huge difference in saving the life of your loved one.

• CPR maintains continued flow of blood to the brain and heart. If CPR has been given immediately after an episode it increases the efficacy of a defibrillator.

• It is not necessary that all cardiac arrests result in death. If more individual attend CPR classes more lives can be saved.

• About 95% victims of sudden cardiac arrest die before they can be brought to the hospital.

• If a heart attack victim is not given CPR or electric shock through a defibrillator, brain death can result after about four months of the cardiac arrest.

• Out of 865,000 deaths due to cardiovascular disease each year, around 446,000 are due to coronary heart disease.

• Abnormal cardiac rhythm or ventricular fibrillation is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrests. Electrocution and drowning can also cause cardiac arrests.

• If manual resuscitation is not provided within minutes of the heart attack the victim's survival chances are bleak. By the time he is brought to the hospital attempts at resuscitation are almost always unsuccessful.

• The hospitals in America treat around 294,852 sudden cardiac arrests that occur outside the hospital every year.

• In the event of a sudden cardiac arrest, the patient becomes unconscious and does not respond to persistent shaking. His breathing stops and even after two rescue breaths he shows no movement.

• Every year the United States sees approximately 138,000 deaths due to coronary heart disease within one hour of the first episode.

If the company you work in does not provide you with CPR classes you should still go ahead to enroll yourself. Your knowledge of basic CPR techniques at work or at home can enable you to save someone's life. CPR classes also teach you how to remain calm during accidents and make good decisions in emergency situations. Check with the schools, colleges and hospitals in your locality to see if they offer CPR classes. It is also becoming common these days to learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation online. It is important that you enroll in a registered CPR class and get a certification once you complete the course.

Reports show that many deaths occur due to lack of people who are trained in CPR. If you want to be save a life rather than being a bystander during an emergency situation, then make a decision and learn CPR. There are lives that need to be saved.

4 Groups of People That Require Bloodborne Pathogen Training

Bloodborne pathogens enter your body through the blood stream resulting in various illnesses and diseases. Basically, microorganisms like viruses and bacteria that cause diseases in people and are carried through the blood are known bloodborne pathogens. Bloodborne pathogens cause various fatal diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C. Healthcare workers who deal with blood on a daily basis are at a high risk of being infected with such dangerous diseases. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for all individuals who are involved in work spheres that deal with blood and other body fluids to be trained about protecting themselves from bloodborne pathogens.

4 specific groups of people that constantly deal with potentially infected blood and body fluids like vaginal fluid and semen are mentioned below.

• People from the healthcare sector who handle blood and other body fluids daily: Doctors, laboratory technicians, nurses, blood bank technicians have a higher chance of being infected if they do not take the necessary precautions while handling potentially infected blood and other body fluids. All these workers need to be extra careful as it may become a life and death situation. The highest level of training must be provided to them by their healthcare organization for the sake of the patient as well as the worker.

• People who work with sharp instruments: Sharp instruments like needles, knives, blades, etc. may result in serious injury. If your work sphere requires you to work with such sharp objects you need to be careful while handling them. Proper training should be provided to ensure safety. Young students who work in Biology and Chemistry research laboratories need to be trained as they may be inexperienced. All these precautions are necessary in order to keep you safe and free of disease.

• Support staff at hospitals: Assistants and support staff working alongside laboratory and blood bank technicians, nurses and doctors should also be trained as they are indirectly involved in handling blood and other body fluids. Though they are not directly dealing with body fluids, still they are at a high risk. Accidental splash of blood on someone's face can cause spread of the bloodborne pathogens and harm his life.

• People who are involved in waste disposal: Janitors and sweepers are also exposed to bloodborne pathogens in their work places. Toilets and washrooms that are not cleaned are very dangerous as they may have trace amounts of blood and other body fluids. Sweepers and cleaners need to be trained to take necessary precautions to protect themselves from being infected. In hospitals, people who handle the medical waste should be very careful as they usually deal with sharp objects like needles and broken glass, etc.

Diseases caused by bloodborne pathogens are highly dangerous and most of them are fatal. As always, prevention is better than cure. In order to prevent mishaps occurring in work places, people who are exposed to these pathogens on a daily basis need to be adequately trained to protect themselves. Training is essential for even those who deal with even the slightest amount of blood.

Arthroscopy to Treat Joint Problems

It is typically performed as an outpatient procedure. It may be performed under general, regional, spinal or local anaesthesia.
Arthroscopy may be used for diagnosis and/or treatment of the knee, shoulder, wrist, ankle and elbow joints. Arthroscopic procedures are most commonly performed on the knee and shoulder joints.
Procedure
A small incision is made on the skin over the joint which is to be examined and an arthroscope is inserted into the incision. The arthroscope is connected to a video camera which is connected to a television monitor. The image projected on the screen helps to guide the arthroscope and the surgical instruments.
For joint examination, a specialized instrument called examination hook is used to see if the tissues and the supporting structures are intact or torn.
If surgical treatment is needed, the orthopaedic surgeon will insert tiny surgical instruments like motorized shavers, scissors or lasers through another small incision.
When is it needed?
Arthroscopy may be needed to determine the nature of the joint damage and the extent of damage when other diagnostic testing like CT scan or MRI is not able to establish the diagnosis.
To make a diagnosis tissue biopsy may also be performed during arthroscopy.
Arthroscopy may be needed to diagnose and detect inflammation, tears, torn tendons, dislocations, loose bone or loose cartilage fragments.
Treating specialty
Orthopaedic specialists perform treatments in all areas of orthopaedics, including sports injuries, hand, foot and spine procedures, as well as arthroscopies and minimally invasive surgeries.
If you are looking for expert Orthopaedic surgeons in New York City area, the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals offers treatments for all muscle, bone, and joint ailments.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital has top Orthopaedic surgeons in New York City specializing in the use of minimally invasive surgical procedures.
What can you expect?
Arthroscopy causes less tissue damage and less pain and discomfort than traditional surgical techniques.
There is less blood loss as compared to traditional surgical techniques and also shorter hospital stay.
The recovery will be quicker, there will be less scarring and there is lower risk of complications.
The treated person may return to work within a day or two if the job is not physically demanding.
Playing vigorous sports can be resumed only after a few weeks depending on the progress which will vary from person to person.
Physiotherapy should be started after the procedure and should be continued till the time the patient fully recovers.
How well does it work?
There may be swelling around the treated joint which subsides in a week to fifteen days. Pain killers and anti inflammatory drugs will be helpful. Cold compression over the treated joint will help to reduce the swelling and inflammation.
There may be bleeding and infection at the surgical site. There may be joint stiffness. There may also be damage to the nerves around the joint.