Lifeguard training, swimming, CPR and first aid links

These are links, quotations from articles for teachers or students on lifeguard training, swimming, CPR, first aid and risk management. They are primarily for current lifeguard candidates in my classes or graduates who are now lifeguard instructors. They started as a weblog. A traditional blog would be in in chronological order, but this one is in reverse, with the newest sites, info at the bottom of the page.

The page is now quite long, so if you are looking for something in particular, I suggest you try using the EDIT-Find on This Page function on your computer to search for a key word like life, safe, swim, AED, CPR, scan, spa or the name of a person.

Index to Red Cross classes resources has quizzes, projects and how-to-do-it info.

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Surf Lifesaving Australia is including AEDs, O2 and oropharyngeal airways in their training. Their rescue statistics for 2000-1: of 11,813 rescues, 2985 were done by inflatable rescue boat, 2943 by rescue board, 2075 by rescue tube and 2049 with no equipment. Read more at: http://www.slsa.asn.au/web/slsa/slsaweb.nsf/MainPage/Life+Saving

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The Red Cross is trying out an online Standard First Aid course. Read about it at http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/resources/forinsts.html#online

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Any instructor should make it a habit to check once in awhile at the Red Cross National website Instructors' Corner at: http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/resources/forinsts.html#top

You will find a first aid/CPR/AED Program Instructor's Manual critical revision sheet at: http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/resources/faerrata.html

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If you have heard of a "cough cpr" e-mail that tells people they can save their own lives when they feel a heart attack coming on by coughing hard:

Please go to urbanlegends.about.com If you can get past all the pop-up advertisements, in the upper left hand corner type "cpr" in the search box, then click on cough cpr and read it. It seems that the original author retracted it.

For a second opinion go to americanheart.org and put "cough cpr" in their search box. You'll get their word to Heart Assn. instructors.

The two are worth comparing.

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I've been e-mailing and talking with a graduate who is working on a new emergency action plan for her facility. For her and anyone else interested, there's some good advice on dealing with news media, and a crisis management time-table at:

http://aquaweb.org/proresources/manualandforms/crisismanagementplan.pdf

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The American Swimming Coaches Association has an article: Including swimmers with a disability: a guide for coaches that applies to swim instructors as well at

http://www.swimmingcoach.org/articles/press_room/ada10122001.asp

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A short article on filling out accident report forms can be found at:

http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2001/nov_dec/0111_rm.html

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Two articles at the New England Journal of Medicine website:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/342/21/1546

is the New England Journal of Medicine article on which is best: cpr alone or cpr with mouth to mouth

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/343/17/1206?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits= 10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=cpr&searchid=1032535765242_11943 &stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec= PUBDATE_SORTDATE+desc+Score+desc&journalcode=nejm

is the results of casino AED use

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The Centers for Disease Control report 'Lifeguard Effectiveness: A report of the Working Group:'

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/lifeguard/lifeguard.htm

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From Aquatics International: "pool" rage:

http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2002/may/0205_rm.html

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From Aquatics International: "The Vigilant Lifeguard," written by one of the authors of the "Five Minute Scanning Strategy" that we discuss near the end of the lifeguard class:

http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2002/may/0205_invertedu.html

http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2002/june/0206_scan.html is an article on scanning by the same author

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Body piercings and lifeguards: http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2002/july_aug/0207_rm.html

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Hazards associated with pool covers:

http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2002/october/0210_rm.html

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Update on pool accessibility guidelines

http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2001/nov_dec/0111_access2.html

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Waterslides safety

http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2001/october/0110_slidechange.html

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Links to info about indoor pool air quality

http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2001/september/0109_airquality.html

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A drowning in a pool so cloudy you couldn't see the drain, much less the bottom

http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2002/july_aug/0207_losangeles.html

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The Seattle Red Cross website quoted from the following article on women's heart attack symptoms. Go to:

http://www.heart-help.net/women.html

and scroll down to heart attack women's symptoms

I've been having this shoulder pain when I swim...

Then quit using those hand paddles for lots of laps, they're really only for a little stroke style repair! (and see the doctor). Plus you can read an article in THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE:

Recovering From Shoulder Pain: Tips for Swimmers

http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1996/02_96/loosli.htm

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From THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE:

AED Trips a Canine Alarm

Last fall, the automated external defibrillator (AED) used by the Atlanta Braves created quite a stir when the team traveled to play the New York Mets. John D. Cantwell, MD, an Atlanta cardiologist and a team physician for the Braves, recounts how the team and all its equipment had to pass a security clearance because of controversy surrounding Braves pitcher John Rocker. (Rocker's inflammatory comments had been widely quoted.) "Everything cleared, then our equipment started beeping, and the bomb-sniffing dogs went ballistic," Cantwell says. "It was the AED signaling that its battery was low." The moral: When traveling, make sure AEDs are fully powered, especially around bomb-sniffing dogs

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Fitness Management on-line magazine has lots of great articles. http://www.fitnessmanagement.com/FM/tmpl/genPage.asp?p=/information/articles/index.asp

check the Law Notes (column) Liability

and Legal/Political Issues

Someone Was Just Injured! Can I Be Sued?

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USA Swimming has a detailed nutrition article at:

http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=433&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en

Feed Their Brains! A simple guide to teaching nutrition to swimmers.

1. Fueling Your Stroke � The Concept of Buying and Burning Gas

2. Eating Colorful Foods

3. How Much is Enough?

4. Timing is Everything!

5. Choosing the Best Cereals

6. What IS a Serving?

7. FLUIDS - Water vs Sports Drink

8. Analyzing Your Diet

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The World Congress on Drowning was held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, June 26-28, 2002. Here is a link to a report:

Reducing Drowning Through Timely and Effective Rescue Chief B. Chris Brewster, President International Life Saving Federation � Americas Region

Task Force Report

"Among the myriad topics that might have been covered by the Rescue Task Force, we selected nine. While they are not fully comprehensive of all needs with regard to rescue, they do touch upon areas of importance, wherein a further sharing of existing knowledge, combined with identification of areas needing further research, will help prevent drowning. Nine experts were selected to write concise papers on each of the selected topics."

Topic 1 - Risk Assessment of Beaches

Topic 2 - Training Personnel for Flood Rescue

Topic 3 � Training Standards for In-Water Rescue

Topic 4 - Surveillance Techniques for Drowning Prevention (This article is by Tom Griffiths, Ed.D., Penn State University, whose work on scanning we discuss in the Head Lifeguard class sessions.)

Topic 5 - Advantages and Limitations of Personal Watercraft in Aquatic Rescue

Topic 6 - Current Trends in Sea Rescue

Topic 7 - Open Water Search Techniques

Topic 8 - Spinal Injury Extrication from the Aquatic Environment

Topic 9 - Fund Raising for Aquatic Lifesaving Organizations

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If you go to the NOLO Press website

http://www.nolo.com/

and go to - Legal Research Center State Laws

and search under California for the word lifeguard it gives you two pages:

the CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 116025-116068

and the CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 1797.160-1797.197 which includes AED info.

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Handling Submerged Vehicle Incidents (advice for dispatchers)

http://www.dispatchmonthly.com/miami/powerphone.html

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Don't Swim With Shocks - CPSC, American Red Cross Warn of Electrocutions in Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs and Spas

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03125.html

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Looking for info about the anatomy of the spine and spinal injuries?

Go to http://www.spinalinjury.net/

and click on Spinal Cord 101 in the left hand column

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Spinal Cord Injury Information

http://www.sci-info-pages.com

Is a free resource for those with a spinal cord injury, or other disabling injury or disease of the spine. It provides health information and resources related to spinal cord injuries and has related links with site descriptions.

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An Example Template for a Sports Medicine Emergency Plan from the NCAA is at:

http://www.ncaa.org/

click on site index and Emergency plan (medical)

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The Dangers of Underwater Swimming are Real

Mexican Player, Omar Ortega, Drowns at Practice By Bruce Wigo

http://www.swimmingcoach.org/articles/9903/9903-1.htm

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Hypothermia, An Essential Guide

Information provided by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Boating Programs, is at:

http://www.boatwashington.org/hypothermia.htm

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American Canoe Assn has guidelines for events, which could help you formulate an emergency action plan, at: http://www.acanet.org/pdf/safetyguideline.pdf

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The daily UV index map of the United States is at: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindexcontour.html

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The July, 2003 issue of Circulation states that AEDs are safe to use for children ages 1 to 8. Child-sized cables and pads should be used whenever possible.

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The American Canoe Assn. has a beginner's guide at: http://www.acanet.org/pdf/beginnersguide-spread.pdf

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The Manual of Naval Preventative Medicine chapter on Swimming Pools and Bathing Places, revised June 2002, to the standards of the National Swimming Pool and Spa institute, is at:

http://www.vnh.org/PreventiveMedicine/Chapter4/NAVMEDP-5010-4.pdf

It says, in part:

The minimum depth under a 1 meter diving board must be 9 feet, under a 3 meter 12 feet. Minimum depth under a water slide is 5 feet.

Indoor pools must provide a minimum 16 feet of headroom above the highest diving board.

At pools, one lifeguard is required for up to 50 bathers and an additional guard for each designated diving area. At waterfronts, there must be one guard for every 200 linear feet of designated beach area and they should be posted at a tower at least 6 feet high.

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Two articles on a June 2003 study:

"Reverse CPR" Performed on Back Could Better Restore Blood Flow

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press/2003/June/030623.htm

CPR May Work in Prone Position Small study finds better blood flow

http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/513885.html

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An article on the distance to try drafting during a swim is at:

http://www.activeusa.com/story.cfm?story_id=10142&sidebar=14&category=swimming

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An article by Tom Griffiths

http://www.aquaticsafetygroup.com/documents/Every30Minutes.pdf

"While aquatics managers have many and varied responsibilities, none are more important than making sure lifeguards are on duty, properly dressed, positioned correctly and vigilantly scanning the water."

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Tattoo policies

http://www.aquaticsafetygroup.com/documents/stinkoverink.pdf

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When you call 911 from a land line telephone, such as in your house, you get dispatch for the city the phone (your house) is located in. When you call 911 from a cell phone you get the Highway Patrol at a central location. Sometimes, especially if you are not calling about something on the freeway/highway, it would be faster to get dispatch for the specific city the problem is happening in. This requires knowing the direct dial seven digit phone number for each dispatch.

Direct dial emergency phone numbers for most cities in Santa Clara County, California, can be found at the Santa Clara County ARES/RACES (Amateur Radio Emergency Services/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services) website.

http://www.scc-ares-races.org/dd-emer-nos.html

When you are planning a camping trip, try to get the direct dial number for the park/Sheriff or agency in charge before you go.

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http://www.daaa.org/swimcoach.htm

has important info for coaching dwarfs in swimming

http://www.daaa.org/swimlearn.htm

Is a learn to swim page with specific recommendations for dwarfs and good advice for any swimmer.

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You can get emails with weather warnings for any or all places in the state from the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, State of California, (you choose which types of warnings and which areas) by filling out a form at:

http://www.incident.com/edismail.html

A 1983, (but still relevant), article on choosing lifeguards, is:

Developing Quality Lifeguard Services

Why it is important to select the best qualified candidates for lifeguard positions. 1983

http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/ip830520.html

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It wasn't just an urban rumor. An article from the Consumer Product Safety Commission: hair entanglement, entrapment and disembowelment associated with spas:

http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/FOIA/FOIA97/OS/BP9713.PDF

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a risk management reference guide for schools for safe swim, canoe, kayak, etc. programs, with a sample emergency action plan, is at:

http://www.mast.mb.ca/student_safety/Swim%20Safe.PDF

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In the waterfront lifeguard class we talk about gloving up to clean up the sand at a beach each morning. We talk about the occasional need to look for used needles when you rake the sand. Yet another hazard is from the National Park Service Morning report of Monday, December 29, 2003:

Dry Tortugas National Park (FL)

Employee Injury from Bang Stick Discharge

While on patrol along the beach at Garden Key on the afternoon of December 18th, ranger Tim Morrison discovered a stainless steel object approximately four inches long lying in the sand. Initial examination indicated that the object was possibly the nozzle to an air compressor hose. Morrison placed the object in his pants pocket and continued working the rest of his shift. Later that evening, he removed the object from his pocket to re-examine it. After looking it over, he set it down on a table, at which point it detonated. The discharge of what was later determined to be a .357 caliber round severely injured his right index finger and caused powder burns to his face. The Coast Guard was notified and airlifted Morrison to Key West Hospital at about 3:30 a.m. After several hours of surgery, doctors where able to clean and close the wound. A day later, Morrison was released by the hospital. Investigation revealed that the object was the end of a device used by scuba divers called a "bang stick." In this case, it was made of stainless steel. The bang stick broke down into two parts by unscrewing it. Inside one part was a firing pin and spring; inside the other was the an empty casing to a .357 magnum round. The bullet embedded in the ceiling of Morrison�s quarters at Fort Jefferson. It only takes approximately two pounds of pressure to set one off and is usually used in conjunction with a long rod or stick. The device, when not attached to a stick, looks very benign. Morrison hopes this information prevents such an unfortunate incident from happening to anyone else. [Submitted by Willie Lopez, Site Supervisor]

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A good brief lesson on

How to survive the cold in water

http://www.hypothermia.org/inwater.htm

and on land

http://www.hypothermia.org/onland.htm

with links to STATE OF ALASKA COLD INJURIES AND COLD WATER NEAR DROWNING GUIDELINES and JAMA material

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Take the Water Safety test at:

http://www.galvestonbeachpatrol.com/

click on the left of the page on for teachers, then on lesson plans, then on water safety test

Yes, the answers are at the end, but you will learn more from doing the test first. I missed one question that I should not have.

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A study quoted in the January 2004 New England Journal of Medicine found that a hormone called vasopressin works much better than epinephrine for victims of asystole when given after attempts at defibrillation. Using vasopressin instead improved the chances of reaching a hospital alive by 40%, and it has less risks. An Associated Press article said that of the more than 60,000 people who die of cardiac arrest in North America and Europe each year, 70% will have ventricular fibrillation and about 30% will have asystole.

___________________________________ From an email I received:

Online EMT Training Course http://www.ems.delmar.com

"Thomson Delmar Learning has published their first online EMT training course, titled EMT-Basic. With advanced testing and assessment features, this course provides EMT-Basic professionals an Internet-based learning system to assess and enhance their current skills and offers refresher training required for re-certification. It covers 24 hours of training, which EMTs can use for state-approved hours for online training toward re-certification and continuing education credit. A course demo may be viewed online. The course is available for adoption by corporate and collegiate training providers."

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People First Language puts the person before the disability. Read more at:

http://www.kidstogether.org/pep-1st.htm

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Fremont and San Francisco are two of nine cities field testing the Auto-Pulse external heart massage machine approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In January, 2004, Fremont firefighters credited the machine with helping to save the life of a 47 year old woman whose heart stopped during a home fire.

"The AutoPulse Resuscitation System deploys in seconds to provide automated chest compressions at a consistent rate and depth during CPR. With the AutoPulse system, the rescuer simply aligns the patient on the AutoPulse Platform and presses start; the AutoPulse system does the rest, automatically."

http://www.revivant.com/pages/prod_info.html

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National Aquatic Coalition position papers

Adequate Supervision and Maintenance of SemiPublic Pools Will Substantially Reduce Serious Injuries in Said Pools

Minimum Lifeguard Competency

http://www.naqc.org/papers.asp

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Children aren't waterproof!

http://www.nspi.org/consumer_info/456.cfm

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Plan your dive, steer up!

http://www.nspi.org/consumer_info/503.cfm

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At the National Pool and Spa Instititute you can order a package of information.

I recommend you choose all three: pool, spa, and safety info.

http://www.techbarn.com:8080/cgi-bin/WebObjects/NSPI.woa

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American Red Cross Lifeguarding Program: Frequently Asked Questions, is at:

http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/aquatics/lgfaqs.html

Here are some excerpts:

"Q1. Can the CPR for the Professional Rescuer be taught as a stand-alone course using the Lifeguarding Program materials?

A1. No. While the stand-alone course is scheduled for a summer 2001 release, much of the CPR-related information and skills are included in several sections of the participant's manual, video and the Lifeguard Training course. It would be difficult for instructors to pull the relevant information from each section. If a Lifeguarding r.01 instructor is teaching the stand-alone course, he or she should use the current CPR for the Professional Rescuer program materials and teach within those guidelines. Another option is to use the Emergency Response materials to teach CPR for the Professional Rescuer.

Q5. Does the prerequisite test require a specific type of surface dive to retrieve the brick from 7-10 feet of water?

A5. No. Lifeguard candidates may use the head-first or feet first surface dive to submerge to retrieve the brick.

Q6. Can the lifeguard candidate use goggles for the prerequisite test (brick retrieval), during the course (submerged victim rescue) or when completing the final skills scenarios?

A6. Due to safety reasons, candidates should not be permitted to use goggles during any skill practice session. Swim goggles may cause injuries to participants during skill practice sessions and do not allow you to relieve pressure when diving or swimming to a depth. Lifeguard candidates are permitted to use goggles during the 500-yard prerequisite swim.

Q1. If an instructor notices that a lifeguard candidate successfully completes a skill during the skill practice sessions of the course, does the lifeguard candidate have to participate in the final skills scenarios?

A1. Yes. All lifeguard candidates will be expected to complete each of the final skill scenarios, even if they successfully demonstrate the skill during the skill practice sessions. The final scenario(s) provide the instructor the opportunity to evaluate the candidate performing the skill in a realistic setting and gives the candidate the opportunity to perform using all of the decision-making skills learned in the course.

Q2. The suggested allotted time for the final skill scenarios seems tight. What suggestions do you have to complete the scenarios within the suggested timeframes?

A2. The suggested time frames are based on ten candidates per course. Refer to the Lifeguarding Instructor's Manual for information on conducting the final skill scenarios.

Q3. Can the final head, neck and back injury scenario be tested immediately following that lesson, or does it have to be conducted in the final session?

A3. As an instructor, you have flexibility in how you organize and conduct the course provided you meet the stated objectives. Refer to the course outlines for information on customizing the course."

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The Red Cross text and instructor's manual, Bloodborne Pathogens Training: Preventing Disease Transmission, mentioned some online sources.

An adult recommended vaccinations schedule is at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/adult-schedule.htm#print

The latest on bloodborne pathogens is at: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html

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"Researchers at the University of Iowa and University of Michigan recently analyzed the value of installing defibrillators in various public locations. They determined that an AED is a good investment if its location was expected to be the site of at least one cardiac arrest every 7 years... Purchasing AEDs for sports-related sites--sports venues, golf courses, and health clubs--appears to be a good investment, the study found. Sites such as hotels, large retail stores, and primary care centers were found to have lower risks."

Read more at THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE, (scroll down through the first article to Field Notes, When Are AEDs Cost-Effective?)

http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2003/1003/news1003.htm

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State of California Title 22 regulations require that lifeguards, fire and police personnel get 15 hours of First Aid and 6 hours of CPR/AED training. This goes beyond the material required in standard Red Cross lifeguard training. Read the info at:

http://www.emsa.ca.gov/legislation/psregs2000.pdf

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Swimmer discovers dangers of water blackout

http://www.lifesaving.com/news/news_articles/N_04-20-17.html

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UH swimmer dies in pool http://www.lifesaving.com/news/news_articles/N_030503.html

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Staying safe in the surf

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/49/39850.htm?lastselectedguid={;5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

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riding out rip currents

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/66/79815.htm?lastselectedguid={;5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

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rip current No 1 beach danger

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/66/79889.htm?lastselectedguid={;5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

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polluted waters closing more beaches

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/49/40022.htm?lastselectedguid={;5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

Natural Resources Defense Council

Water Quality at U.S. Beaches How to find out whether state and local authorities test for beach pollution, and what they do if they find it.

http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/gttw.asp

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has a beachgoer's guide at:

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/goer2.html

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Study Finds AEDs Effective in Treating Sudden Cardiac Arrest Caused by Blunt Trauma in Children

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/40/3315_549.htm?lastselectedguid={;5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

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Know your beach flags http://my.webmd.com/content/article/66/79897.htm?lastselectedguid={;5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

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WebMD health has quizzes at:

http://my.webmd.com/medical_information/health-e-tools/quizzes/default.htm

take the heart attack quiz

http://my.webmd.com/content/pages/16/98506

take the heart disease quiz

http://my.webmd.com/content/pages/16/98508

take the high blood pressure quiz

http://my.webmd.com/content/pages/16/98512

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a slideshow of skin cancers to look for is at http://my.webmd.com/medical_information/health-e-tools/default.htm#

scroll down to

see our list of all health tools,

click on it, then scroll down to

skin cancer slide show

and click on it

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calculate your exercise target heart rate http://my.webmd.com/medical_information/health-e-tools/calculator/heartrate

There are pictures and descriptions of stretches at:

http://my.webmd.com/medical_information/health-e-tools/slideshow/default.htm#

(scroll down a little and click on basic stretch)

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ILSF Statements on Positioning a Patient on a sloping Beach

http://www.ilsf.org/medical/policy_09.htm

ILSF Statements on In Water Resuscitation

http://www.ilsf.org/medical/policy_07.htm

ILSF STATEMENTS ON COLD WATER IMMERSION

http://www.ilsf.org/medical/policy_11.htm

STATEMENTS ON WHO NEEDS FURTHER MEDICAL HELP AFTER RESCUE FROM THE WATER

http://www.ilsf.org/medical/policy_05.htm

STATEMENTS ON THE USE OF ABDOMINAL THRUSTS IN NEAR DROWNING

http://www.ilsf.org/medical/policy_01.htm

Statements on critical CPR Skills for Lifesavers from the ILSF, says, in part:

"c. Lifesavers should be instructed that "compression-only" CPR is not appropriate in drowning cases because, as explained in the Guidelines 2000, "The first and most important treatment of the near-drowning victim is provision of immediate mouth-to-mouth ventilation. Prompt initiation of rescue breathing has a positive association with survival." (American Heart Association, 2000c) Moreover, "The probability that a rescuer (lay or professional) will become infected with HBV or HIV as a result of performing CPR is minimal." (American Heart Association, 2000d)"

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lifesaving competition events are listed at:

http://php.dsnsports.com/lifesaving/content.php?name=sports&file=sports_events

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The skin cancer foundation has what sunscreen can and cannot do at:

http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sunscreen.pdf

a self exam at:

http://www.skincancer.org/self_exam/spot_skin_cancer.php

and pictures of what to look for at:

http://www.skincancer.org/self_exam/look_for.php

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A summer of 2003 study of drowning in France found, (of 781 rescues followed by hospitalization or fatality),

44% in the ocean (56% of victims older than 45 years of age)

25% in swimming pools (61% in private pools)

15% in lakes (25% between the ages of 25 and 44)

12% in rivers (28% between the age of 25 and 44).

Of the 781 drownings, 41% were fatal.

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California State Parks has Lifeguard/Ranger oral interview tips at their website

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=21271

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THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE - VOL 32 - NO. 5 - MAY 2004

Athletic skin injuries

http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2004/0504/basler.htm

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STOP THAT CRAMP! 4 causes -- and solutions -- for muscle cramps during exercise

http://www.usms.org/news/newsitem.php?n=29

SWIMMING WITH THE DOLPHINS: A DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN THE POOL United States Masters Swimming Offers 5 Tips to Shave Seconds Off Open-Water Swim Times

http://www.usms.org/news/newsitem.php?n=25

POOL DRILLS IMPROVE OPEN-WATER SKILL, EFFICIENCY, SPEED United States Masters Swimming Offers Six Tips to Maximize Summer Pool Workouts

http://www.usms.org/news/newsitem.php?n=12

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AEDs aren't just for adults. Over 300 children die yearly from preventable sudden cardiac arrest while playing sports.

http://www.emsmagazine.com/industrynews/august2004.html

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The claims game

"When managing your claims paperwork, the 80/20 rule applies: 80 percent of all the incident data you gather will never be used; only 20 percent of the incidents that occur will turn into claims. The trouble is no one knows which 20 percent will be needed, so you must investigate and retain data on all incidents."

http://www.recmanagement.com/features.php?fid=200410FE04

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Red Cross emergency quiz http://www.redcross.org/email/safetynet/v1n6/quiz.asp

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Access Cardiosystems, Inc. issued a Worldwide Recall of its AEDs in November 2004 due to the "ON/OFF" button and the shock delivery ciruit failing to function as well as the AED possibly turning on suddenly.

http://www.emsmagazine.com/industrynews/november2004.html

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Patients with traumatic brain injuries who are intubated in the feild fare worse than those intubated after arrival at the hospital. Their neurologial and funchtional outcome was nearly twice as bad.

http://www.emsmagazine.com/industrynews/december2004.html

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"Pseudoephedrine Can Trigger Heart Attacks in the Young & Healthy

A common over-the-counter decongestant known as pseudoephedrine can cause a heart attack even in a healthy young person, according to a case report, titled Acute Myocardial Infarction Following Over-the-Counter Use of Pseudoephedrine, published in an online publication of Annals of Emergency Medicine. This is the fifth reported case showing evidence that pseudoephedrine can trigger heart attacks, according to the report.

The authors describe a 32-year-old male who sought treatment in a hospital ED after experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath and profuse perspiration for about 30 minutes. The man reported that before experiencing these symptoms, he had taken the recommended dose (two tablets) of an over-the-counter cold remedy containing pseudoephedrine. He was diagnosed and treated in the emergency department for a heart attack as a result of ingesting pseudoephedrine. Prior to seeking emergency care, the man was in good health, except for a cold, and had no family history of heart disease or sudden death. Pseudoephedrine, commonly used as a decongestant, is similar to ephedrine, a substance found in over-the-counter weight loss supplements, which were recently banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because of the increased risk of sudden death, heart attack and stroke."

this is from

http://www.emsmagazine.com/industrynews/december2004.html

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an article on lifeguard blind spots

http://www.aquaticsintl.com/2004/nov/0411_rm.html

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Automatic External Defibrillators [AEDS]: Their Deployment & Use Within the Lifeguard, Aquatics Safety & Recreation Sector [Mar 26 2005]--

Gerald Dworkin says, in part:

"Although the performance of CPR on a cardiac arrest patient prolongs the time that defibrillation can be effective, CPR should not be considered as a "life saving" procedure, but rather as a "life sustaining" procedure in that it typically will not restore a heartbeat to a cardiac arrest victim."

"The average response time from dispatch to scene arrival across the U.S. is approximately 10 minutes. Once the EMS personnel arrive on the scene, it may even take several additional minutes before they are able to make contact with the patient.

Roger White, a Mayo Clinic researcher and medical director for the early defibrillation program in Rochester, Minnesota measured to the second how much time passes between a 9-1-1 call and the instant a shock is delivered to a cardiac arrest patient. His data showed that victims shocked within six minutes almost always lived, while those shocked after six minutes almost always die.

Currently 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital due to the length of time it takes for emergency personnel to arrive on the scene. Dr. Joseph Ornato of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond states, "the bottom line is we believe defibrillators in public facilities will double survival, if there are trained teams to use them." "

read it all at: http://www.bigmedicine.ca/gdworkin.htm

Lifeguard training graduate and locally employed EMT Eric Marxmiller replied to the article:

"It fails to point out the % of people who where asystole and are un-shockable which would probably be around the upper 80% to 90% of the patients treated by this ems.

It also points out that 95% of sudden cardiac arrest pt die before reaching the hospital DUE TO arrival time of ems, that is wrong! People die regardless of how much or little time ems takes to arrive. They do not report how many died in the field, in transport, or at the hospital. There is manipulation of data here. What we can say without all the data is that AEDS do "HELP" and can sometimes "prolong life" but not necessarily "quality" of life."

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A manual detailing a model program for maintaining fire and EMS emergency responder well-being. This publication discusses fire service stress and how to apply sound stress management principles to minimize the costly consequences of excess stress.

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa-100.pdf

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http://www.fitnessmanagement.com/FM/tmpl/genPage.asp?p=/information/articles/library/legal/AEDs0603.html

AEDS in the Fitness Industry: A Chance to Save a Life If your facility has debated the need for an AED, stop debating. Case studies prove their effectiveness, and there's no longer any fear of liability.

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aed legislation by state

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3024006

Good Samaritan Laws by State

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3024007

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This info could apply to a pool as well as the nursing homes it was written for:

Updated Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 7:24:09 PM by Mary Donahue - donahuemary@fhda.edu
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