Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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The combination of diabetes and alcohol poses a potentially serious threat for 16 million persons in the United States. With the prevalence of diabetes increasing, health care providers working in acute care settings need to be prepared to recognize alcohol-induced hypoglycemia quickly and respond with appropriate treatment. ⋯ S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2000 goal of decreasing diabetes-related deaths and complications.
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The overall prognosis for children who sustain a submersion incident is directly related to several variables including length of submersion, initial neurologic evaluation, time to first breath, initial pH, and others. Resuscitation after near-drowning is unsuccessful in terms of death and neurologic deficit in 30% of those children who are treated at our institution. ⋯ Therefore skilled attempts at resuscitation and management are mandatory. The understanding of the sequence of events that occur during the drowning process and the pathophysiologic consequence make it possible for health care personnel to provide aggressive therapeutic interventions that will enhance the likelihood of a normal recovery.
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This study was conducted at a level II Pediatric Trauma Center to assess the perceptions, safety behaviors, and learning needs of parents who brought their children to the emergency department. ⋯ Health professionals need to spend more time teaching parents about the link between child development and risks for injury, to emphasize prevention. Interventions based on study results include the hospital Safety Helmet Discharge Plan.