The National Registry of CPR collects data from in-hospital resuscitation events in more than 500 participating hospitals in the United States. In the latest publication, "Survival From In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest During Nights and Weekends"  the authors evaluated survival rates over a 7 year period for adults in-hospital cardiac arrest based on arrest time of day and day of week.

As expected the results showed that survival rates were worse during nights and weekends. The biggest areas of concern being operating room/postanesthesia care unit and the interventional catheterization laboratory. The differential did not hold true for the emergency or trauma units.

The authors believe that there are many factors that contribute to the decline at night and on the weekends.

 Some factors are:

 - Physicians perform psychomotor tasks less proficiently at night,

-  experienced workers often times do not get scheduled on night shifts, 

-  and fewer visitors means that the likelihood of detecting deterioration in an unmonitored patient is much less.

These are just a few reasons that are mentioned. The NRCPR believes that these stats can be fixed with additional training, such as mock codes and cardiac resuscitation simulation. Also, with the addition of schedule changes taken into account alternating weekends and nights to boost proficiency.

You can follow this link to see the whole article.

Heat stroke kills over 4,000 people annually, and thousands more suffer heat-related illnesses and injuries every year. Heat illness occurs when the body retains more heat than it loses. Core temperature rises as a result. Workers are at greater risk of heat illness when they are dehydrated, not used to working in a hot environment, in poor health, older, or have had heat illness before.

Heat related illness usually have a starting point of dehydration and if ignored or accelerated can lead to heat exhaustion and eventually heat stroke. If you keep your body hydrated, you can generally keep yourself safe all summer long.

If you are someone who works in the elements or just enjoys the outdoors than DRINK FLUIDS!

Let me ask you this question, Have you ever been or are you thirsty right now?

If the answer to this questions is YES than you are or have been dehydrated. At the point that you are thirsty it is to late, it is going to be much harder to re-hydrate yourself. Preventative maitnence is the best way to go.

You have to put oil in the motor of your vehicle to keep it running smoothly and keep the internal parts lubed up. Water does the same thing for your body, you need to keep it lube up and running smooth by puttting fluids in it.

You can learn more about heat illnesses and other summer issues when you take a First Aid class. Learn how to take care of yourself and your family.

Happy Summer Everyone!

Effective August 1, 2008 at least one individual employed by the institution (including part time, volunteer or graduate assistant coaches, but not including student employees who are not members of the athletics training staff) certified in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) use and familiar with the institution's emergency plan activation policies shall be present at each athletically related activity involving student-athletes.

Prior to this new legislation only the Athletic Trainer was required to be certified for practices and competitive events. Under the new guidelines more people must be trained. Now the requirement is for a greater range of activities.

An individual certified in first aid, CPR and AED must be present at any athletically related activity that is physical in nature and required by the institution (e.g., practice, competition, strength and conditioning training, weightlifting sessions).

This will also effect the non contact sports as well. An individual certified in first aid, CPR and AED must be present in practice situations like cross country runners practicing on a road course, rowers on the water or golfers on the golf course?

An individual must be present on site at each required athletically related activity to ensure adequate health and safety monitoring is being provided. Planned access to a qualified individual, such as a certified individual three to five minutes away from the court or field would not satisfy the intent. If a team splits its members into more than one group in order to conduct separate practice and conditioning activities in separate facilities, an individual employed by the institution and certified in first aid, CPR and AED must be present at each group's activities. The proposal's intent is to have certified individuals present at each athletically related activity site to ensure adequate presence for all student-athletes. It is not permissible for one person to split time between two different group‟s activities. The certified individual must be present the entire time the physical athletically related activity is conducted. For example, any practice should not start until the certified individual is present.

I commend the NCAA for doing this. They are creating a safer enviroment for all student athletes under all circumstances.  Kudos to the NCAA!