(Press-News.org) SAN FRANCISCO – A pediatric medical response to a major disaster should focus on three consecutive missions: protection of life and limb, continuing care, and finally, humanitarian aid, according to research presented Sunday, Oct. 3, at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco.
In January, within 24 hours of the worst earthquake in more than 200 years, the United States Naval Ship (USNS) Comfort was deployed to Haiti. With a staff of more than 800 physicians, nurses and ancillary staff, the ship was transformed into a full-fledged floating hospital treating over 931 critically injured patients, of whom 35 percent were children.
The operation was the largest and most rapid triage and treatment effort since the inception of hospital ships. As a result, the six-week experience "provided the framework from which future disaster responses can be based," said lead study author Shawn Safford, MD.
Children "represented a group that posed a significant challenge," during the disaster, said Dr. Safford. Most pediatric patients required orthopedic care including extremity injuries (72 percent) and pelvic fractures (4 percent). On average, patients returned to the operating room up to eight times for wound care (debridement) and wash outs. Amputations reflected 6.5 percent of cases, with 40 percent arriving with limbs already amputated. Eight babies were born on the ship, including two premature infants. Pediatric admissions surged during the first five days, with an average of 21.3 per day, and then decreased to 5.2 per day.
As a result of the data compiled during the Operation Unified Response – the largest collection of information, to date, on the pediatric surgical care of children in an earthquake disaster – researchers recommend a three-phase response to disaster medicine that has not been previously described. The first phase focuses on triaging patients who require life- and limb-saving care. The second phase involves caring for patients who were able to survive the first days without medical care. At this juncture, plastic and general surgeons can aid in the management of complex wounds and attempting limb salvage. Finally, phase three represents the transition from a disaster response to a humanitarian response, whereby all medical specialties and personnel can help to develop current and future health care for the population.
INFORMATION:
Operation Unified Response: 3 phases of disaster care in Haiti
2010-10-03
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Loss of nutrients following gastric bypass surgery in adolescent girls
2010-10-03
SAN FRANCISCO – An increasing number of obese adolescents, particularly females, are undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Yet a case study presented Sunday, Oct. 3, at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco, highlights the possible link between gastric bypass surgery in adolescent girls and an increased risk for neural tube defects, which can lead to varying degrees of disability such as paralysis and mental retardation due to damage to the nervous system, in their future children.
Neural tube defects in the brain and ...
Pediatric field hospital in Haiti provides lessons in disaster planning and response
2010-10-03
SAN FRANCISCO – When a devastating earthquake hit Haiti earlier this year, physicians and health care workers were immediately deployed to the capital, Port-au-Prince. A study on the creation and evolution of a pediatric field hospital – from a disaster service facility to a full-fledged children's hospital – during the weeks and months following the disaster, was presented on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco.
"Disaster Response in a Pediatric Field Hospital: Lessons Learned in Haiti," ...
Are pre-teen babysitters able to deal with emergencies?
2010-10-03
SAN FRANCISCO – Nearly all (98 percent) of 11- to 13-year-old babysitters know who to contact in the event of an intruder or if a child is sick or injured (96 percent) or poisoned (85 percent), according to research presented Sunday, Oct. 3, at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco. However, 40 percent of younger babysitters reported that they had left children unattended while babysitting, and 20 percent opened the door to strangers.
In the study, "Babysitter Safety Training: Are Children Aged 11-13 Years Prepared ...
Unemployment linked with child maltreatment
2010-10-03
SAN FRANCISCO – The stresses of poverty have long been associated with child abuse and neglect. In a study presented Sunday, Oct. 3, at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco, researchers directly linked an increased unemployment rate to child maltreatment one year later.
Researchers reviewed state-level unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and compared them with child maltreatment data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), during the years 1990 to 2008. Each 1 percent ...
1 in 8 parents forgoes pediatrician-recommended care
2010-10-03
SAN FRANCISCO – One in eight parents reported that his or her child had not received pediatrician-recommended care – medication, laboratory testing and/or appointments with specialists – during the previous 12 months due to concerns over cost and payment, according to a study, presented Sunday, Oct. 3, at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco.
For the study, "Parents Perspectives on their Children's Health Insurance: The Plight of the Underinsured," 1,978 southwest Ohio parents were queried regarding the impact of ...
Children as young as 12 months can reach a countertop
2010-10-03
SAN FRANCISCO – Most toddlers can reach as high as a kitchen countertop, putting them at risk for severe burns from hot liquids, according to research presented Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco.
In the study, "How Far Toddlers Can Reach onto a Standard Kitchen Countertop," investigators and parents urged children, ages 12 to 23 months, to reach for a toy phone atop a standard, 36-inch countertop at a pediatric clinic. The children were of various weights and heights; some wore shoes, ...
Breast cancer diagnostic delay depends more on race than insurance
2010-10-03
MIAMI — Race and ethnicity appeared to affect diagnostic delay more than insurance status for women with breast abnormalities, as revealed by data presented at the Third American Association for Cancer Research Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, being held Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2010.
Heather J. Hoffman, Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, and colleagues at the George Washington Cancer Institute, conducted a retrospective cohort study of 983 women examined ...
Altruistic Leadership Presents...Take-A-Lesson with Maggie Anderson, CEO of The Empowerment Experiment, a business game changer!
2010-10-03
Wednesday November 10 Noon EST—Maggie Anderson will share with the listening audience of Altruistic Leadership her career journey, successes, trials, triumphs, and tripping points of an entrepreneur and high profile activist.
During this 45-minute segment, we will discuss the importance of owning your future, supporting your community and the tremendous calling of the nationally recognized The Empowerment Experiment Movement, which was triggered by the Anderson family's historic social experiment living off Black business for all of 2009.
Callers are welcome to join ...
Soundproofing Windows is a Reality of Modern Living
2010-10-03
Our environment seems to be getting louder by the day. It's no surprise soundproofing windows has hit an all time high.
For over three decades inside mounted Climatizer soundproofing windows have been recognized as the undisputed leader in soundproofing and noise suppression efficiency. To the delight of their clients this is done without the need or necessity of replacing their exciting windows.
Climatizer Corp., located on the web at http://www.climatizerwindows.com, has a very unique niche in the window business, offering a window engineered to control noise problems ...
AmeriPride Tax Group Sponsors Soldiers to the Summit
2010-10-03
AmeriPride Tax Group, a leading provider of tax planning, preparation and help, showed its support for America's soldiers, veterans and disabled citizens with a significant contribution to the Soldiers to the Summit.
"This organization stands behind the service men and women who risk their lives to protect our freedom," said Victoria J. Burns, AmeriPride Tax Group managing CPA. "It is an honor and a privilege to give back to the community with a donation to this incredible organization."
Soldiers to the Summit brings eleven combat veterans who suffered injuries in ...