After a fire: Picking up the pieces (Part I)

The fire is out, the firefighters are almost done rolling up their hoses, and the reality of it begins to set in . . . your home has been damaged or destroyed by a fire. Although it seems daunting - almost overwhelming - at first, it's possible to recover . . . it just takes time and patience.  Here are some tips from the American Red Cross:

Immediately after the fire -

Have injuries treated by a medical professional

For small wounds (such as a first-degree burn) wash them with soap and warm water. Afterwards, pat the area dry and cover it with a bandage or clean, dry gauze to prevent infection. Replace the bandage or gauze if it becomes soiled, damaged, or water-logged.

Remain calm and pace yourself

Following a fire, you may find yourself in the position of taking charge of other people. Listen carefully to what they are telling you, and deal patiently with the urgent situation(s) first.

Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is safe to enter

If the fire department has placed "fire line" tape around your home, do not cut it or cross underneath it until you're told it's safe to do so by firefighters. If a building inspector has placed a color-coded sign on your home, do not enter until your receive additional information, advice, and instructions about what the sign means and whether its safe to enter your home.

If you have children, let them stay with a relative or friend while you conduct your first inspection of your home after a fire. The area might be unsafe for children and seeing the damage first-hand could be upsetting to them.

The first 24 - 72 hours after the fire -

Recovering emotionally -

Your own and your family's emotional recovery are just as important as rebuilding your home and healing any fiscal injuries that might occur. You might be suprised at how you - and others affected by the disaster - may feel after the fact. For example, you might experience fear for their own safety or the safety of a loved one, shock, disbelief, grief, anger, or guilt.  In addition, memory problems, anxiety and/or depression are also possible after experiencing a disaster.

The occurrence of a disaster is upsetting for everyone involved. This is especially true for children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and persons for whom English is not their primary language. Children may become afraid  and some elderly persons might seem disoriented after a disaster.

After a disaster - such as a fire - attempt to return to as many of your personal and family routines as possible. Focus on the positive . . . for example, although your home or apartment might have been lost, focus on the fact that no one was injured or killed. Reach out and accept help from others. Above all . . . realize that sometimes recovery takes time!

Long-term recovery -

There are products available for removing odor from fabrics. One such product is Tri-Sodium Phosphate or TSP.

Clothing -

Smoke and soot odor can sometimes be washed from clothing that can be bleached by mixing four to six tablespoons of TSP and one cup of chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Mix the ingredients well, add clothes, and then rinse with clear water. Allow them to dry thoroughly.

Walls, furniture, & floors -

Use a mild soap or detergent or mix four to six tablespoons TSP with one cup of household cleaner to a gallon of water. Be sure to rinse walls and furntire with clear, warm water after cleaning with this solution and dry them thoroughly.

Pots, pans, & flatware -

Kitchen ware should be washed with soapy water, rinsed, and then polished with a fine-powdered cleaner. Copper and brass can be polished using salt sprinkled on a piece of lemon, or salt sprinkled on a cloth saturated with vinegar.

Leather goods & clothing -

Wipe leather goods with a damp cloth, then a dry cloth. Stuff purses and shoes with newspaper to retain shape. Leave suitcases open. Leather goods should be dried away from heat and sun. Once leather goods are dry, they should be cleaned with saddle soap.

Until next time . . .

Was it a Transient Schemic Attack?

Serene Branson (KCBS)



I'm sure by now most of us have seen the disturbing video of KCBS correspondent Serene Branson who mysteriously starts to babble during a live shot from Sunday night's Grammy award ceremony. What exactly happened? Because of confidentiality laws we may never know for sure but, like others, I have my theory. Based on 25+ years as a First Responder plus a desire to learn about all things medical, my belief is that she suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack or a mini stroke.

What is a Transient Ischemic Attack?

Simply put, a Transient Ischemic Attack occurs when there is a change in the blood supply to a specific part of the brain. When this occurs, there is a brief neurologic dysfunction which, by definition, last less than 24 hours. In those rare case of an infarct* that last more than 24 hours but less than 72 hours, it is termed as a reversible ischemic neurologic deficit or RIND.

You might be asking what causes a TIA. The most common cause is an embolus (pictured at left) that occludes (blocks) an artery in the brain. In most cases this is the result of aterosclerotic plaque which becomes dislodged within one of the carotid arteries or from a thrombus (blood clot) in the heart as a result of an atrial fibrillation (a condition where the heart's two upper chambers beat chaotically and out of sync with the two lower chambers (pictured at bottom, left).

What is the prognosis for a TIA?

Patients diagnosed with a TIA are sometimes said to have received a warning of an approaching stroke. Doctors have learned that if the time period of blood supply impairment lasts more than a few minutes, the nerve cells in that area of the brain die resulting in permanent neurologic deficit. It's estimated that one-third (1/3) of the people who suffer a TIA later have recurrent TIAs and another one-third (1/3) will have a full-blown stroke.

* An infarct is an area of tissue death (necrosis) due to a local lack of oygen caused by obstruction of the tissue's blood supply

With Spring comes tornado season

Unfortunately the beauty that is Spring in Georgia brings something not so beautiful -- tornado season. Downtown Atlanta experienced that first hand on March 14, 2008 when an F-3 category* tornado hit the area head-on causing extensive damage and killing one person. From a meterological standpoint, the Atlanta tornado was unusual in that it wasn't associated with a squall line but, rather, a super cell drifting well in advance of an approaching storm front.

How can I protect myself?

As a Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer, I come out after the storm is over and help you to pick up the pieces. However, in this blog, I would like to present some safety tips that - hopefully - will keep both you and your loved ones safe should a tornado occur.

Before a storm hits -

Develop a plan for you and your family for home, work, school, and outdoors.

Know the area where you live and keep an highway nearby where you can follow the storm's track based on weather bulletins.

Have a NOAA weather radio with alarm feature - and battery-powered back up - to receive weather information, watches, and warnings. (The frequency for the local NOAA station that serves the Metro Atlanta area is 162.550 Mhz.)

If you have to be outside and severe weather is possible, keep an eye on the sky, and take shelter IMMEDIATELY if a tornado apeears imminent.

If a warning is issued or severe weather is approaching -

Seek shelter on the lowest level of your home, business, or school. If possible, seek shelter away from windows due to the danger of them being blown out.

If you are caught outside (or are in your car) find the nearest ditch or depression and lie as near flat as possible.

* F-3 Tornado (based on the Enhanced Fujita Scale) has winds of 136 - 165 MPH. It is capable of causing major damage to large building as well as overturning railroad cars and completely stripping the bark from a tree.

(Source: Wikipedia.com)

Until next time . . . stay safe!

When to call the "bus" - A guide to calling EMS

Antique ambulance from New Jersey



Before I get too far into my blog, I probably should explain what I mean by the term "bus". It is a term that is part pet-name, part sarcasm for a transporting Emergency Medical Service (EMS) unit or ambulance. EMT's - and firefighter's - dubbed the unit's "buses" because so many folks have gotten into the habit of calling them even if emergency transportation isn't really needed.

First of all, just so there won't be any confusion, I'm not saying don't call EMS . . . I'm just trying to give you an idea of what is a life threatening  emergency and what can be handled by a routine doctor's visit.

Uncontrollable bleeding -

In most cases, bleeding can be controlled by applying direct pressure to the wound for anywhere from three (3) to five (5) minutes. However, with situations such as a head injury, bleeding is often heavy and difficult to control. 911 (or your local emergency number) should be called immediately.

Chest pain / difficulty breathing -

Chest pains and/or difficulty breathing can often be the first symptom of a heart attack (also known as a Myocardial Infarction or MI) (Pictured at left). If you - or a loved one - are experiencing these symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency number) as soon as possible.




Stroke -

A stroke (pictured at left) is the rapidly developing loss of brain function(s) due to a disturbance in blood flow to the brain. If you encounter someone who is experiencing difficulty speaking, sudden-onset facial weakness, and "arm drift" (if the person attempts to raise both arms simultaneously, one tends to involuntarily drift downward), notify 911 immediately.

Now that I've explained conditions that are considered a medical emergency, I will describe some non-emergency situations that are better handled by your family doctor.

Sore throat -

A sore throat is caused by Pharyngitis - an inflammation of throat or pharnyx - and is not considered a medical emergency. To be honest, if I had a penny for everytime I've heard an EMS unit dispatched on a "person sick with a sore throat" (usually in the wee hours of the morning) I would be independently wealthy!






Earache -

An earache can be the result of disease in the ear, however, it can also be caused by impacted teeth, sinus problems, or inflammed tonsils. Like a sore throat, there is very little - if anything - EMS can do for this condition and is probably better served by a visit to your family physician.




I hope this might better help you to decide when to call 911 for EMS assistance and when it's just an annoyance that could be better handled by your family physician.

Until next time . . .

Some give all . . .

¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

                                                             - John 15:13

Those of us who serve the public (and I would hope the community in general) were saddened yesterday - January 31, 2011 - by the death of a Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Highway Emergency Response Operator. He had stopped on Interstate 85 just off Metropolitan Parkway in southwest Atlanta to assist a disabled motorist when a semi struck his HERO unit, him, and the stranded vehicle he had stopped to assist before flipping over blocking all southbound lanes of the Interstate.

I offer my prayers and condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time.

Until next time . . .