GCB Health

Archive for March, 2009

Before leaving your house to go on your safari adventure, there are a few things that you must remember to pack. Some key essentials are your passport and visas and one other thing you should definitely do is check ahead to make sure you have all necessary visas. International vaccination cards, traveler’s checks, two copies of your passport, passport photos, visas, and health record, driver’s license and any other ID.

Now I am sure the last thing you would want is to get sick on your trip, so prevent that by making sure you take all the necessary precautions. Malaria tablets are something you should bring along however, do remember they are not a preventative, just a pill that will suppress the harsh symptoms of malaria, so cover up at night and sleep under your mosquito netting.

Iodine tablets are another must, contaminated water is your worst enemy in Africa. If you choose to not buy the very affordable spring water, you will want to treat your water with iodine.

Re-hydration salts are something that taste like hell but will make your body feel like a king after an inevitable surge of Montezuma’s revenge, better known as traveler’s diarrhea.

Chap stick is simple but you will find that it is necessary. The plains are dusty and dry so without it, your lips can look like and feel like the terrain you will cross on safari. Vitamin tablets, small first aid kit, tweezers, headache or allergy medicine for squinting, sun, and bumpy jeep rides through the plains can all contribute to a pounding headache. It is best to always come prepared.

Some things that you should bring to wear include a wide brim hat or scarf for sun protection, cotton long sleeved shirts because tsetse flies, mosquitoes, and other insects can be brutal in some game parks. Also, temperatures can plummet to very extreme cold at night.

Also pack fleece for cool evenings and it is also great as an extra pillow on planes and a butt cushion on safari drives. Urban sandals, that act as shower shoes are mandatory and cheap. You would be surprised what type of foot diseases are just lurking within public showers. That is a very comprehensive checklist for packing for an African safari, always be prepared.

Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) takes place when the ventricles beat at a severely abnormal rhythm. It is a life-threatening arrhythmia and can lead to sudden death.  There is rapid contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle producing low cardiac output, leading to no circulation of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the rest of the body.

The main cause of venticular fibrillation is heart disease, as well as chemical imbalances.

Electrolyte Imbalance:

Electrolytes are important chemicals needed for the heart to function normally.  If too much or not enough electrolytes exist in the body, the heart reacts by not beating effectively, leading to arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death.

Chicken noodle soup is rich in electrolytes and great to eat when not feeling well, but caution must be used with processed soups as they tend to be high in salt content.  This is not advisable for persons who must monitor their sodium intake.  Fresh homemade heart healthy soups are best.

Electrolytes Include:

Bicarbonate

Calcium

Chloride  

Magnesium

Phosphate

Potassium

Sodium

Sulfate

All are necessary at the appropriate levels for normal heart functioning.  Electrolytes can be lost through heavy perspiration or increased urination.  Anything that causes the body to rapidly lose fluids can result in electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmia.

Symptoms:

When the heart is not pumping blood effectively, as in ventricular fibrillation, the victim will collapse and become unresponsive, due to the heart ceasing to function. There is no pulse or blood pressure.  Prior to the onset of a V-fib episode, the patient may voice complaints of chest heaviness, difficulty breathing, and profuse sweating.

How Is It Treated?

V-fib has dire consequences and is treated via emergency measures.  Cardioversion using a defibrillator shocks the heart back into rhythm, as well as the administration of anti-arrhythmic medications given intravenously. All work together to get the heart back into normal sinus rhythm (NSR). In some cases, the doctor may employ a technique called carotid massage, which releases chemicals into the body that slow down the heart rate. Carotid massage is usually reserved for younger patients because of the risk of stroke in older patients.   However, it has been used on older patients as necessary and depending on their present condition.

Prevention Is Key:

Ventricular fibrillation can lead to instant death.  After successful resuscitation, the patient may require mechanical ventilation, or ventilator, until stable and able to breathe on their own.  There is also the added risk of a second episode.  This same risk also presents itself in victims who have suffered heart attacks.  To offset this possibility, a surgical procedure can be performed to implant a defibrillator or a pacemaker in the patients left upper chest. The procedure usually takes about 1-2 hours to complete, and helps to keep the heart rate at a normal pace. Should an arrhythmia occur, the defibrillator will automatically deliver small electrical shocks to the heart to regain it’s normal sinus rhythm.  

Everyone should take a CPR course.  It is the opinion of this writer that it should be taught in schools all over the country. CPR is easy to learn and is precious knowledge, especially if there are young children in the home, or when persons with heart disease and the elderly are present.  Contact your local Red Cross for class dates and times. Classes usually last just a few days.  It is a small amount of time to spend to learn how to save a life.

Some of the common causes of ‘sudden death’ are electric shock, heart attacks, cardiac arrest, drowning, severe allergic reactions, drug overdose etc.  After someone stops breathing, he or she can survive only for 4 to 6 minutes before lack of oxygen results in permanent damage such as brain damage or even death. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) can buy that extra time by artificially circulating oxygen to the body, until professional help arrives.

CPR is a simple but effective procedure that allows almost anyone to sustain life in the first critical minutes of cardiac arrest. It provides oxygenated blood to the brain and heart, long enough to keep vital organs alive until professional rescuers arrive. AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is an electronic device that can deliver a shock of electricity to get to return to a normal heartbeat. AEDs are very accurate and easy to use. With a few hours of training, anyone can learn to operate an AED safely.

CPR training is a great skill to have at the professional level or for personal development. Online CPR certification courses prepare one for an emergency situation and give the confidence to save lives. These courses include video, clearly illustrated graphics and easy to follow text.  Online courses are great in that they are available from any computer with internet access and can be accessed 24/7. The program takes advantage of today’s technology to interactively demonstrate and provide comprehensive instructions in cognitive and theoretical CPR and AED skills.

The purpose of CPR Certification Classes is to give individuals the skills necessary to prevent, recognize and provide basic care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children, and infants until advanced medical personnel arrive. These classes follow the recommendations of the American Red Cross and American Heart Association. Adult CPR Certification courses teach individuals how to perform CPR and use AED for adult victims; adults are classified as individuals of age 12 and older. Similarly Child CPR Certification courses are for child victims of age 1-12 years, and Infant CPR Certification for children up to 1 year of age.

It is not only the invaluable ‘feel good’ factor of saving a life, but also the immense gratitude expressed by the person whose life is saved, makes every effort worthwhile. A large number of cardiac arrests occur in private residential settings, so being trained to perform CPR can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one!! In the event of an emergency are you prepared to save a life?