Living Longer in the US

According to our most recent statistics, for a child born in the US in 2007, the average lifespan will be nearly 78 years old. While our average lifespan does continue to increase in slow increments, the US still lags behind 30 other countries for average lifespan. However, we are near the front of the pack for per capita expenditures for healthcare.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090819/ap_on_he_me/us_med_life_expectancy

Swine Flu May Be Harder to Stop Than a Greased Pig

Swine flu, or H1N1, is rapidly spreading worldwide. Like the pandemic 1918 flu, the cases of H1N1 flu that we saw early in 2009 were merely the precursor to what has the potential to become a major health crisis. Several years ago, avian flu (H5N1) threatend to create a pandemic in humans; however, human to human transmission of that virus never occurred. Already, H1N1 has demonstrated its incredibly efficient ability to spread rapidly among humans.

While 60% of deaths from H1N1 are predicted to be in those individuals with debilitating and/or chronic conditions, 40% of deaths will occur in healthy people -- with the young and middle age adults most likely to be affected! College populations will be among those most at risk -- so. . . .wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hYCBp4bPYUGtZwMUlvNaMJxSlOng

911 Makes House Calls?

If you have followed the healthcare reform debate, you have no doubt heard that many without adequate insurance often use emergency room treatment as a form of primary care -- going to the ER to receive treatment that would more appropriately be rendered in a clinic or office. What you may not have heard about is the rising volume of non-emergent 911 calls. As the linked story highlights, the cost of these calls is very high as EMTs are required to respond to every health-related 911 call. This service if funded through taxes and other fees paid by the American public.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/24/news/economy/healthcare_911_abuse/index.htm

Taking the "Yuck" out of CPR

Continuing healthcare research is demonstrating that chest compressions only (no mouth to mouth) may be just as effective, if not more effective than traditional CPR. As you'll see in the attached article, thousands of victims of a sudden cardiac event do not receive timely treatment because bystanders are uncomfortable or unfamilar with CPR procedures. Would knowing that you only need to perform chest compressions make you more likely to assist someone in an emergency? Remember, activating 911 and getting an AED on the scene is still the number one priority. Do you know where the AEDs are located on campus or in your neighborhood?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20090824/hl_hsn/itsbacktobasicstosavealife

Healthcare or Health Crisis

Health care reform has quickly become one of the most talked about political initiatives. Health care reform will affect every American -- how much do you know about the plans being discussed and debated? How will the proposed legislation affect you? As you watch the news, read web updates and listen to other discuss health care reform, how do you know what is the reality and what is hyperbole meant to distract, mislead or "spin?" I believe we must listen with an open-mind but further, we must do our own research and analysis. Various fact checker sites are available. The link below is the American Nurses Association's (ANA) commentary on the proposed legislation; while not entirely unbiased (ANA has long been a supporter of health care reform), it does provide a description of some of the major points of contention in the plan, along with a fact-based discussion of those points. I encourage you to use this document as a stepping stone to learning more about US health care reform!

http://www.rnaction.org/site/DocServer/HCR_Myth_Fact.pdf?docID=461