Archive for March, 2009

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the result of tiny sensory hair cells in the inner ears being damaged by noises that are too loud and last for too long. NIHL is related to both the decibel level of a sound and the duration one is exposed to it. Distance plays a role as well.

So, what exactly is a decibel? A decibel is the intensity, or loudness, of a sound. Decibel levels begin at zero (near total silence) and increase by a factor of 10. This means that sounds that are 10 times more intense than near silence are 10 decibels. At close range, sounds that reach 120 decibels (about the sound of an ambulance siren) are painful to our ears. To put this in perspective check out this decibel scale:

Researchers have found that a person who is exposed to noise levels at 85 decibels, or higher, for an extended period of time are at risk for hearing loss. Scientists believe that sounds at 100 decibels can cause damage after only 15 minutes.If you have to raise your voice to be heard by someone standing right by you, your ears are hurting, a buzzing or ringing sound develops in your ears, or you’re not hearing as you normally would until several hours after the noise exposure then you know the noise is too loud!

To protect yourself from noise and hearing loss there are some simple steps you can practice in everyday life:

• Wear earplugs or earmuffs
• Walk away from loud noises
• Lower the volume

If there is any question as to whether or not one is suffering from hearing loss a simple test may be performed using an audiometer. Audiometers are easy to use screeners that offer a variety of testing frequencies in order to determine possible loss of hearing.

Sources: Hyperacusis Network, Noisy Planet

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Children who are colorblind face many challenges and have special educational needs in order to be successful. Most color-deficient children can indentify pure, primary colors. However, it’s the different shades and tints that can cause them problems. Color-deficient children may consider red, orange, yellow and green all names for the same hue. Children could also believe the same about the colors violet, lavender, purple and blue.

Some of the most commonly confused color combos are pink/gray, orange/red, white/green, green/brown, blue green/gray, green/yellow, brown/maroon and beige/green. Also hard to differentiate are pastels and muted tones.

If a parent, teacher or school nurse suspects a child may have a color-deficiency be patient and insist on the child being screened for color blindness. What may appear as a child not trying or panicking when it comes to certain activities could actually mean they have a color-deficiency. It can’t be stressed enough, insist on color vision testing.

In the meantime, and going forward here are some tips on how to help a colorblind child in the classroom.

Source: School Nurse News, March 2009 Issue

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Three Class 1 Recalls: Welch Allyn AED 10 Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and MRL JumpStart AED

DateRecall Initiated: December 15, 2008

Product: Welch Allyn AED 10 Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and MRL JumpStart AED

These AEDs were manufactured from October 3, 2002 through January 25, 2007.

Use: This device is used by emergency or medical personnel, or by others who have completed CPR AED training courses. It is intended to treat adults in a heart attack (cardiac arrest). The device analyzes an unconscious patient’s heart rhythm and automatically delivers an electrical shock to the heart if needed to restore a normal heart rhythm.

Recalling Firm:
Welch Allyn Protocol, Inc.
8500 SW Creekside Place
Beaverton, OR 97008

Reason for Recall:
The device may experience:

These issues could lead to a sudden stoppage of the device, may prevent defibrillation of a patient in cardiac arrest, which could lead to death.

Public Contact: Customers who have the recalled devices should contact the company at 1-888-345-5356 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Customers may also visit the company’s recall website at www.welchallyn.com/AED10Recall for more information or to learn if their unit is subject to this recall.

FDA District: Seattle

FDA Comment: The company sent a recall notification letter to distributors and customers on February 26-27, 2009.

Class 1 recalls are the most serious type of recall and involve situations in which there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious injury or death.

For More Information please visit FDA MedWatch.

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With today’s economy it’s no secret that people are losing their jobs, homes, etc. One thing that may not have been considered is what happens to the children of the adults who have lost their jobs, homes, etc.

According to the Times Herald-Record more than 1500 students in the New York counties of Orange, Sullivan and Ulster are homeless.

The Wichita Eagle reported that school district officials in Wichita, Kansas had identified 1200 schoolchildren who meet federal guidelines for being homeless.

These statistics are beyond appalling. What has our country come to when children are homeless and living a double life as not to be embarrassed by their peers?

Is the student in your class facing deep self-esteem issues because they go home to a car or motel instead of a home? Is the student who gets to school as early as possible and stays as late as possible doing so because they don’t have a home to go to? Are these students even making it to school on a regular basis? Is that shower a student is taking in the locker room because they don’t have one to use outside of school?

Aside from self-esteem issues and hygiene obstacles what kind of nutrition are these children getting? Are they getting the recommended vaccines? How about age-appropriate medical care? Do the students depend on school nurses for any needed medical care? What if the school does not have a school nurse who is there on a daily basis or not one at all? What kind of education and healthcare are these children getting?

It’s a long overdue wakeup call. There are so many what ifs and how did it get to this point but really, what is going on? What’s going on in your community? Is there a student homeless issue in your district? Is there counseling for these students?

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Did you know March is Red Cross Month? In honor of the month long event the Red Cross launched the Change a Life Contest. It’s easy to enter, just share your story about how a Red Cross experience changed your or someone else’s life. It only takes a few moments and a few heartfelt words to enter.

Submit your story to http://american.redcross.org/changealifecontest before March 16 to be entered for a chance to win a couple of really great prizes donated by country music sensation Keith Urban and Philips Healthcare. A panel of judges will choose the two winning entries.

So, what exactly are the prizes? By simply submitting your Red Cross story you’ll be entered to win a 2-night trip for two to Washington, D.C. to join Keith Urban and his band on August 20, 2009 while they perform their Escape Together World Tour concert. If that isn’t cool enough your hotel accommodations are included and you’ll also get backstage passes at the concert, as well as tour the National American Red Cross headquarters, including the Red Cross Disaster Operations Center. That’s a pretty awesome first place prize.

If you’re a second place winner you’ll receive a 52″ Philips HD LCD television, DVD player and a library of Red Cross preparedness, health and safety DVDs compliments of Philips Healthcare. Not quite backstage with Keith Urban but just as cool and appreciated.

Submit your Red Cross experience before March 16, 2009 and be entered in the Red Cross Change a Life Contest.

Enter the Red Cross Change a Life Contest

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