Military medicine
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The purpose of this project was to create a teaching module and evaluation tool for the prehospital assessment of patients with head injuries using the Full Outline of UnResponsiveness (FOUR) Score scale. The teaching module consisted of an overview of brain injury scales, general characteristics of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the FOUR Score, demonstrations of the FOUR Score, and evaluation of the teaching module by participants. Participants determined that the FOUR Score is a viable alternative to the GCS, but took longer time to assess patients. Development of a more rapidly obtained FOUR Score, called the EMBR, is one option that may make this a viable alternative to the GCS.
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Generally, hypoxia at less than 10,000 ft (3,048 m) has no apparent effect on aircrews. Nevertheless, several hypoxic incidents have been reported in flights below 10,000 ft. A recently introduced pulse oximeter using finger probes allows accurate monitoring of oxygen saturation (SPO2) in the aeromedical environment. Using such a pulse oximeter, in-flight SPO2 levels were evaluated in aircrew in unpressurized aircraft. In addition, career in-flight hypoxic experiences were surveyed. ⋯ Careful attention should be paid to the possibility of hypoxia in aircrews operating unpressurized cabin aircraft.
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The purpose of this research was to describe predictors of participation in health-promoting behaviors among military spouses. A total of 105 female spouses of currently deployed active duty military members were surveyed to determine their perceived stress and participation in the health-promoting behaviors of exercise, diet, checkups, substance use/avoidance, social behaviors, stress management/rest, and safety/environmental behaviors. Demographic and deployment information was also collected. ⋯ As the minimum anticipated length of the deployment increased, healthy dietary behavior decreased. Likewise, as the number of deployments experienced increased, stress management and rest decreased. Stress brought on by military deployment may have detrimental effects upon participation in a health-promoting lifestyle.
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The tympanic membrane (TM) has long been viewed as an indicator of primary blast injury. A primary blast injury occurs due overpressure occurring as a result of the detonation of high explosives. ⋯ The use of the perforation of the tympanic membrane as an indicator of a primary blast injury missed a range of up to 50% of those suffering a primary blast injury to the lung. The status of the tympanic membrane following exposure to a blast does not preclude the need for further investigations for a primary blast injury and the clinician needs to evaluate the patient dependent on their particular exposure to an explosion.
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To evaluate the SAVe simplified automated ventilator in a laboratory setting to determine performance characteristics, accuracy of tidal volume delivery at various lung compliance, and battery life at sea level and at altitude. ⋯ The SAVe could potentially be used for ventilatory support of carefully selected military casualties but caregivers must be aware of the limitations.