Tag Archive for: First Aid

,

IS AI READY TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF PHYSICIAN?

These days, a growing number of people worldwide are consulting AI Chatbots for medical advice. The question is, can we rely on them to give us accurate advice?

A recent study conducted at Oxford University set out to establish whether or not AI systems are effective with regards to diagnosis and appropriate course of action.

The study included nearly 1,300 participants who were asked to identify potential health conditions and recommended courses of action, based on personal medical scenarios developed by doctors.

One group used AI chatbots to assist in their decision-making, while a control group  used other traditional sources of information. The researchers then evaluated how accurately participants identified the likely medical issues and the most appropriate next step, such as visiting a GP or going to the ER.

Results showed that those who relied on the chatbots made the right choice less than half of the time and that AI correctly identified the problem only about a third of the time.

Although AI platforms excel at standardized tests of medical knowledge, they fall short when it comes to accurate diagnosis because they don’t reflect the complexity of interacting with human users.

Researchers found evidence of three specific areas that posed a challenge:

  1. Users often didn’t know what information they should provide
  2. AI provided very different answers based on slight variations in the questions asked
  3. AI often provided a mix of good and bad information which made it difficult for users to identify the best course of action

Ultimately, AI’s advice was not any better than a simple Google search.

Rebecca Payne, one of the study’s authors, said it could be dangerous to rely solely on this new technology which might fail to recognize when a person needs urgent medical attention.

Senior author of the study, Associate Professor Adam Mahdi (Oxford Internet Institute) said: ‘The disconnect between benchmark scores and real-world performance should be a wake-up call for AI developers and regulators. We cannot rely on standardised tests alone to determine if these systems are safe for public use. Just as we require clinical trials for new medications, AI systems need rigorous testing with diverse, real users to understand their true capabilities in high-stakes settings like healthcare.’

Clearly, AI isn’t qualified to provide clear medical guidance…yet. On the plus side, although still in its infant stages, some doctors find that incorporating information provided by AI into their own assessments can help them spot illnesses in patients which could lead to new discoveries.

As for the rest of us who are still largely flying by the seat of our pants, it’s probably best to continue to rely on traditional doctor/patient interaction, at least for the time being.

 

 

 

 

,

BEE PREPARED

Most of us will likely be stung by a bee or yellow Jacket at some point in our lives. What should you expect if this happens to your little one?

As you might expect, there will be some pain or discomfort at the site and it is usually accompanied by local swelling, a feeling of heat and itching around the location. On occasion, the swelling might move from one hand to the forearm. This is not that uncommon. Itching may continue for several days and can be alleviated by a cool compress to the area.

How do I remove the stinger?

The stinger itself is a hollow tube through which venom enters the body. The preferred method for removal is to use something firm like a credit card to sweep the stinger off from the side. Grabbing the stinger with tweezers or your fingernail will likely eject additional venom into the person.

What does a severe reaction look like?

The following reaction(s) to a bee sting that require immediate attention include:

  • Hives, in parts or larger sections of the body
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Any swelling of the body not associated with the site…particularly in the neck, face, tongue that might affect breathing

Some reactions are not specific to the site itself. If there is some swelling elsewhere, consider using an anti-histamine such as Benadryl. The liquid version enters the body more quickly, plus many young ones cannot swallow a pill.

Continue to observe the person closely and if needed, go to a local emergency department.

What to do when the bite victim has a known, severe allergic history to bee stings

If the bite victim has a known, severe allergic history to bee stings you should expect severe symptoms within minutes. If an EpiPen is available, use it as directed, then call 9-1-1. Driving to a hospital under these circumstances has risks, including traffic accidents.

What is an EpiPen?

EpiPen is a commonly known brand name of an auto-injectable device that delivers the drug epinephrine, a life-saving medication used when someone is experiencing a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis.

Do I need an EpiPen at home, even if no one in the household has a known allergy?

Most pediatricians will not prescribe one unless there is a confirmed history of a severe reaction to any substance that could cause a life-threatening event.

SMALL CHILDREN AND PETS

Staying home during this pandemic has both good and, on occasion, not-so-good implications from an injury standpoint.

There has been a recent surge in dog and cat bites, especially where children are concerned. Let’s face it, small children and pets can be a volatile mix.

Dog bites alone account for tens of millions of injuries annually. A great number of these bites are provoked by toddlers and children. If a dog is frightened, experiences pain or is approached while eating the risk of a bite is greater. Dogs that are ill or older have a lower tolerance and may bite when younger dogs might not.

Dog bites can be minor or severe in nature. Many of them can be treated at home with basic first aid, but others may require a scary visit to the emergency department. Canines have very strong jaws and can exert up to 200 pounds of pressure per square inch while larger dogs are capable of twice that much.

The most common bites are to the hands and arms. These can be very serious due to the pain inflicted and because of the risk of infection. Dog mouths have as many as 64 types of bacteria including staph and strep microbes.

As a community we have done well by adopting dogs of every shape and size. The vast majority of these animals are welcomed into our homes and become our loving pets. All the same, you should be aware of the dog’s history and if that history includes aggression and/or unprovoked biting.

One of your best resources is your own veterinarian. Make sure that you discuss issues of safety if a dog has come from unsafe circumstances.

 

,

TYLENOL USE AFTER A FEBRILE SEIZURE

This article is a condensed version of several recent medical studies, representing their highlights and conclusions concerning Febrile Seizures (high fever) and the use of Tylenol afterward to prevent further seizure episode(s). We hope you find it relevant.

Febrile seizures are convulsions that can happen when a young child has a fever above 100.4°F (38°C). The seizures usually last for a few minutes and stop on their own, although the fever may continue for some time.

Tylenol (Acetaminophen) is a time proven safe fever reducer for infants and children.

Prior to this study it was widely believed that the administration of Tylenol was ineffective in preventing a second seizure after a first had already occurred.

This study involved infants & children from 6-60 months of age who visited the hospital after a febrile seizure. The use of Tylenol in these cases was compared with patients who received no medication after their seizure.

The dose of Tylenol given was 10mg. per kilogram (rectally) every 6 hours until 24 hours after the first seizure…if the fever remained greater than 100.4 (F).

Of the 423 patients in the study 219 received the Tylenol dose and 204 did not receive any medication for fever reduction. Results of the study showed that a recurrence of another seizure in the following 24 hours was significantly lower in the group that received Tylenol.

When administering Tylenol products at home it is important to follow accurate product dosing instructions unless your physician specifically asks you to alter the dose.

Given that there may still be some differences regarding treatment of infants or children after a febrile seizure it is important to speak with your pediatrician and/or emergency room physician should this event occur.

Your own pediatrician is always your first and best resource for diagnosis & treatment of all pediatric illnesses.

NANNIES NEED A CPR AND FIRST-AID CLASS

Why Does My Nanny Need CPR and First Aid Training?

The question posed above is a good one. The answer I usually provide anyone who asks why their caregiver needs a life-saving course is: “Do we really have control over when bad events occur at home or anywhere else?” That answer suggests that parents stop and think about this issue. Their answer is usually self-evident. Of course we don’t.
Emergencies in the home have little or no warning as to when they will occur. This is why we emphasize the importance of two main areas: Prevention and, if and when needed, action.

The program offered by Save A Little Life ™ addresses and re-focuses on these two critical areas. The responsibilities we give our nannies/care-providers are awesome. They are not only your eyes and ears when parents are away from home, they really need the exact same understanding of how we prevent and, importantly when and how we act.

Simply and accurately put, they perform the most important job you will ever hire for. The vast majority of your home based help are smart, interested and utterly committed to your infant, toddler and child’s well-being. It is the parent’s job to make sure you are leaving your little ones in prepared hands.

First Aid and little ones

The first-aid component of the course is far more likely to be required. Cuts, bumps, splinters, head bonks and the like are quite common. Our experienced instructors review the most common of these incidents so that your nanny will be able to be decisive in their action. These actions may include:

* Responding to the more minor incidents noted above.
* Be able to understand when an injury, for example, needs the parent’s attention right away.
* Should be confident in explaining a situation that has occurred and do so succinctly and in a timely way.
* The competent use of first-aid supplies provided by the parent at home or elsewhere.
* Do their best to identify injuries or accidents that may require a visit to the E.R.
* Quickly identify higher risk concerns in or near your home where quick action may be needed to safeguard your small ones.

What we do

Save A Little Life ™ specializes in Pediatric CPR and First Aid for families and caregivers. Ask us about family discounts for those who have taken our class recently and need to have a caregiver trained too. Don’t wait!

Our next two certification courses are as follows:

Westside Nannies (En Espanol)
July 15, 2017
(Ask about our Special for this class, now through June 13, 2017!)
Westside Nannies (English)
July 22, 2017
Parents are welcome too, of course!

Have a safe and prosperous summer
Richard Pass, RN ,BS
Founder and Owner of Save A Little Life, inc.

BASIC FIRST AID: A MUST FOR ALL

Having been very involved in both of my daughters’ extracurricular activities, I found that basic first aid is more than helpful, it’s a must!

In our case, my kids played soccer and softball, rode bikes, zoomed on skateboards and much more. On occasion, one or the other took a tumble from that bike or skateboard, bonked heads with another kid on the soccer field, got stung by a bee or got an accidental poke in the eye.

 Since we know that minor injuries occur with regularity for children of all ages, the question is: Are we ready with adequate first-aid supplies and do we know how to use them?

 Save A Little Life not only offers the highest quality in CPR training, but we are specialists in first-aid response and have an excellent basic first-aid class just for you.

Those who attend our first-aid course will learn the following skills:

•    How to control bleeding
•    How to manage a burn
•    How to stabilize a bad sprain or fractured bone
•    How to safely irrigate a wound or eye
•    The basics of bandaging wounds
•    Dealing with insect or animal bites
•    Response to poisonings
•    How to assist a victim of a seizure
•    How best to evaluate a head injury victim

Our First Aid course is a hands-on program where all participants work with real First Aid materials under the supervision of a trained critical care or emergency department R.N.

 Knowing how to respond to urgent care problems requires the ability to remain as calm and self-assured as possible. The goal of our program is to help you gain confidence in managing many of the minor to moderate injuries when and where they occur.

These classes are a must for all parents, family members and care providers.

Check our Calendar for upcoming classes, or contact us at (818) 344-1442.

And be sure to check out our Family First Aid Kits.

Regards,

Richard Pass, RN,BS

Director, Save A Little Life, Inc.