Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 302 No. 17) Contents

Fade Fave: Surgical mask vs N95 respirator for preventing influenza amongst health care workers

Fade Skinny: Data about the effectiveness of the surgical mask compared with the N95 respirator for protecting health care workers is sparse. Given the likelihood that N95 respirators will be in short supply during the pandemic and unavailable in many countries, knowing the effectiveness of the surgical mask is of public health importance.

An NHS Athens Password is required to access this article online, for a paper copy contact the library

by the Professional Power Tool Guide

Most of the time, when people hire a professional to complete an improvement or demolition project on their homes, they do so because something about the job makes it too complex or dangerous to complete themselves. While many people fantasize about being the kind of people that can complete these jobs themselves, the truth is that access to the proper tools and equipment makes it impossible in many instances. And then there’s always the simple fact that most of the professionals that you hire have spent years perfecting their expertise in one area or another. If you are attempting a demolition job that will have you working around potential pollutants or other hazardous materials, you will need a 3M 6000 Series Half Mask Respirator.

Many people are unaware that completing a construction project on their home puts them at risk for inhaling harmful substances that are kicked up during demolition and installation. Any time that a project has you working in a fairly enclosed space, you should always consider donning a 3M 6000 Series Half Mask Respirator. This will ensure that you will be able to breathe through the entire task without inhaling something toxic.

For people with older homes it is a real concern that opening up a wall or ceiling might expose asbestos, which can be very hazardous in the lungs and can even cause some forms of cancer. If you are attempting an improvement project on your older home, and you suspect that you might be dealing with asbestos along the way, it becomes even more important for you to protect your health with a 3M 6000 Series Half Mask Respirator. Even when you wear these masks, however, you should realize that they are no substitute with the proper ventilation and taking breaks in the fresh air.

If you’ve thought that you would be just fine tying a bandana around your face and neck, or donning the type of dust masks that you can find in any home improvement store, you should know that there are some particulates that are simply too small to be caught by these products. Take care of your health by using the 3M 6000 Series Half Mask Respirator instead. You don’t have to invest and arm and a leg, as the 6000 Series is designed to be effective and affordable. You can also by replacement parts separately to extend the life of the mask.

FACE OF REALITY + BIMBEER + RESPIRATOR + ONE DAY RISE – koncert (9.11.2009)

9 listopada 2009, poniedziałek
godz. 20.oo
wjazd 10zł

FACE OF REALITY  – hardcore, Dzierżoniów

Face of Reality – alchemiczna mikstura hardcore/metal, znana dobrze polskiej i zagranicznej publiczności, powraca z dalekiej podróży ku sednu, by publicznie ukazać wyjątkowo eksplozywną przemianę ołowiu w złoto. Trasa koncertowa “Tortour 2009″ bez zbędnej wirtuozerii, i patrzenia się na gryfy, zerwie kurtynę ciszy i ukaże, czego spodziewać będzie się można po “Behind The Silence” – drugim albumie grupy, który ujrzy światło dzienne na początku przyszłego roku.

Face of Reality powstało w 2000 roku w Dzierżoniowie. Od początku grupa jest silnie związana ze sceną hardcore. Na przełomie 2002/03 FoR wchodzi do studia, by nagrać swój debiutancki, w pełni  profesjonalny  materiał.   W   wyniku   ciągłego   koncertowania,   charakteryzującego   się mocnym brzmieniem i spontanicznym zachowaniem muzyków na  scenie,  grupa  zyskuje  wielu zwolenników  i  staje  się  rozpoznawalna  wśród   miłośników   hardcore.  W  październiku  2005 nakładem  Shing  Records  wyszedł  debiutancki  materiał  “dead  nation   still   exists”,   którego premiera zbiegła sie z trasą METAL UNION ROAD TOUR. Idąc za ciosem, w  maju  2006  FoR odwiedza  TOYA  SOUND  STUDIOS  w  Łodzi,  gdzie  powstaje  druga  płyta.  Z  nową  siłą   i zapasem świeżej krwi FOR wraca z albumem “BEHIND THE SILENCE”.

www.myspace.com/faceofreality

www.faceofreality.org

Bimbeer – HardCore/Metalcore Lubartów

www.myspace.com/bimbeer

www.bimbeer.band.pl
RESPIRATOR (punk/Lublin)

Jest to band ożywiony po 10 latach. Początkowo z inicjatywy Betona, Dżusa i Majkela powstał
projekt “Moist Vagina”, później każdy poszedł w swoją stronę: wiadomo
“życie”. W grudniu 2008 chłopaki spotkali się i postanowili spróbować zagrać stare numery, kiedy do tego doszło nie było juz mowy o tym, żeby nie grać znów. Tak oto w połowie grudnia powstał “Respirator” dołączył jeszcze Młody – chłopaczyna co śpiewa w TB9,u nich gra na gitarze:] Do tej pory zagrali 3 koncerty i nadal prą do przodu, również z nowym materiałem! a jak określić tą muzykę? Założyciele sami nie wiedza, śmieją się ze to “moist fuck rock”.

ONE DAY RISE – (hardcore/thrash, metalcore. Lublin)
http://www.myspace.com/onedayrise

Młoda i bardzo utalentowana lubelska ekipa. Piękna kobieta wymiatająca na wokalu i czterech hardcorowych kolesi. Zespół powstał w listopadzie 2008 roku a obecny skład wykrystalizował się w czerwcu 2009. Grają muzykę z pogranicza hardcore/thrash z urozmaiconym, podwojonym wokalem. Na początku lipca wyszła ich EPka.

www.myspace.com/onedayrise

On Saturday 11, October, Papa’s heart stopped beating. Cardiac arrest, is the conclusion the doctors made.

They haven’t told us yet the cause, but the heart doesn’t give up overnight. Its roots are in years before. That particular week, his blood pressure was already high. That particular night, we got lost in traffic searching for the venue and when we did get there, Papa saw family members he hadn’t seen in 20 years.

He’s progress is slow but everyday brings something positive. Doctors take measures to wean him off the respirator. They’re very cautious h, conducting a series of different tests to see if his body can actually handle oxygen fully on its own. In de beginning, he was kept iced for a low body temperature usual for those in critical state. The ice is now removed. At the moment, he receives brain stimulant meds, has EEGs, Ultrasound, blood and oxygen tests, chest X-rays, and light physiotherapy.

Interesting article from our friends at OHS online.

http://www.1105newsletters.com/t.do?id=3510627:15327147

Surgical masks appear to be no worse than, and nearly as effective as N95 respirators in preventing influenza in health care workers, according to a study released early online by JAMA.

Nästa svensk till rakning som nu har dött i svininfluensan, A/H1N1. En man i 55-års åldern inkom till Centrallasarettet i Västerås under måndagen har idag avlidit efter att ha vårdats på intensivavdelningen. Han kom i måndags för att han kände sig dålig och hade hög feber.

Prover på mannen togs och det visade sig att han var influensasjuk och under tisdagen försämrades hans hälsa och man valde då att lägga in honom i respirator men kunde inte räddas. Man var även i kontakt med Karolinska sjukhuset i Solna  för förvarning om vård med konstgjord lunga, men valde att det inte fanns någon bra väg ut med detta då mannen redan var så pass dålig i och med sin tidigare cancersjukdom.

//navigeramera

En dödssjuk svensk var tvungen att akut flygas till Danmark för att få vård på grund av att vårdplatserna är fulla i Sverige. Mannen flögs från Gävle och ned till Århus i natt för att kunna få vård när hans lungor kollapsade. Det började med att mannen sökte vård i onsdags förra veckan då han upptäckte att han hade problem med andningen och lades in då läkarna trodde att han hade en misstänkt lunginflammation och det var så sent som i förrigår som läkarna upptäckte att det rörde sig om svininfluensa.

Mannens lungfunktion försämrades sig snabbt och kämpade hela tiden för att få luft att dra runt i kroppens system så i går beslöt man att han skulle sövas ned och läggas i en respirator, men mannens tillstånd blev bara värre. Huvudläkaren på sjukhuset bestämde sig då för att kontakta ECMO-teamet på KI, i Solna (som förövrigt är landets enda ECMO-enhet). ECMO innebär att man har möjlighet att kunna syresätta blodet via ett membran utanför kroppen. Det visade sig dock att på KI var det fullt så därför använder man sig av det europeiska samarbetet då mannen istället kunde flygas ned till Danmark för att få akut vård.

Tidigare i månanden har Sverige hjälpt en skotsk kvinna för vård med ECMO då Skottland inte kunde ta emot henne. Sverige har dock bara 2-4 ECMO-platser för behandling av personer som behöver denna hjälp. I vanliga dagar brukar detta oftast räcka men pandemin som bryter ut kan få systemet att kollapsa.

Mannen som blev sjuk i Sverige har man inte riktigt analyserat varför han blev sjuk och varför han drabbades så hårt. Han tillhörde ingen riskgrupp och var för övrigt en stark och frisk person, dock haft lite luftrörsproblem sedan tidigare. Nu hoppas hela Sveriges läkarkår att mannen klarar sig, för än har ingen svensk dött i svininfluensan.

För att läsa mer om detta kan ni besöka Aftonbladets nätupplaga om akut sjukvård utanför Sverige.

//navigeramera

Pekerja tambang bawah tanah memiliki tantangan dan resiko yang berbeda dibanding dengan mereka yang bekerja di permukaan.

Di tulisan ini dan itu sudah dibahas soal resiko keselamatan dan kesehatan para pekerja di terowongan. Akibat lingkungan kerja yang berbeda mereka pun perlu dilengkapi dengan alat-alat keselamatan yang berbeda.

Berikut adalah alat keselamatan yang melekat pada seorang pekerja tambang bawah tanah:

1. Helm

Fungsi helm pengaman sudah jelas, untuk melindungi kepala dari jatuhan batu atau benda lainnya. Helm yang digunakan di terowongan agak berbeda dengan yang dipermukaan. Helm pekerja tambang bawah tanah memiliki tepi yang lebih melebar dengan cantelan di bagian depan untuk mengaitkan lampu kepala.

2. Lampu kepala

Malam dan siang hari di terowongan tak ada bedanya: sama-sama gelap. Itu sebab, lampu kepala jadi wajib dikenakan. Lampu ini bisa bertenaga aki (elemen basah) atau batere (elemen kering) yang digantung di pinggang. Dibanding batere, aki memiliki beberapa kelemahan. Selain ukuran dan bobot aki yang lebih berat, cairan asam sulfat yang bocor dapat merusak pakaian.

3. Kacamata keselamatan

Tidak hanya pekerja tambang bawah tanah, yang bekerja di permukaan pun sebenarnya wajib mengenakan alat pelindung ini. Untuk orang berkacamata minus atau plus, disediakan lensa khusus sesuai dengan kebutuhan yang bersangkutan. Yang pasti, lensa ini tidak boleh terbuat dari kaca, karena jika terjadi benturan dan lensa pecah, serpihan kaca malah akan membahayakan penggunanya.

4. Respirator

Respirator atau masker berguna untuk melindungi jalur pernapasan para pekerja. Respirator yang digunakan adalah respirator khusus, jadi tidak sekedar kain kasa putih yang biasa digunakan untuk menangkal influenza. Respirator ini mesti memiliki filter yang dapat diganti-ganti. Penggunaan filter harus disesuaikan dengan keadaaan, apakah untuk menangkal debu atau gas berbahaya.

5. Sabuk

Sabuk ini terutama digunakan sebagai cantelan berbagai alat keselamatan lain. Setidaknya ada dua alat yang melekat setia pada sabuk, aki/batere untuk lampu kepala dan self resquer. Sabuk juga dilengkapi kait di bagian belakang yang dapat digunakan untuk cantelan alat-alat tangan (kunci inggris, palu) atau senter.

6. Self resquer

Dalam kondisi darurat akibat kebakaran atau ditemukannya gas beracun, alat inilah yang dapat jadi penyelamat para pekerja. Alat ini dirancang dapat memasok oksigen secara mandiri kepada pekerja. Tidak lama memang, tapi ini diharapkan memberikan cukup waktu bagi pekerja untuk mencari jalan keluar atau mencapai tempat pengungsian yang lebih permanen.

7. Safety vest

Safety vest adalah nama lain untuk rompi keselamatan. Rompi ini diengkapi dengan iluminator, bahan yang dapat berpendar jika terkena cahaya. Bahan berpendar ini akan memudahkan dalam mengenali posisi pekerja ketika berada di kegelapan terowongan. Ini menjadi penting untuk menghindari tertabrak ketika mereka mesti bekerja dengan alat-alat berat.

8. Sepatu boot

Dengan kondisi terowongan yang umumnya berlumpur, sepatu boot menjadi kebutuhan pokok. Sepatu pendek hanya akan menyebabkan kaki terbenam dalam lumpur. Sepatu boot ini juga mesti dilengkapi dengan sol berlapis logam dan lapisan logam untuk melindungi jari kaki.

9. Alat tambahan

Untuk pekerja yang melakukan tugas khusus, alat pelindung ini bisa bertambah. Untuk bekerja di ketinggian, pekerja memerlukan safety harness. Alat ini digunakan sebagai pelindung jatuh, agar ketika terpeleset, pekerja tetap tertahan dan tidak berdebam. Pekerja yang melakukan pengelasan, juga membutuhkan alat pelindung mata atau muka khusus.

Jadi bisa tergambar tantangan yang dihadapi pekerja di terowongan. Selain lingkungan kerja yang lebih menantang, mereka pun diharuskan menenteng berbagai alat keselamatan yang nampak  ribet dan berat.[]

Tulisan terkait:

• Tambang Bawah Tanah (Underground Mine)
• Pekerja Tambang Bawah Tanah, Profesi Penantang Bahaya (1)
• Pekerja Tambang bawah Tanah, Profesi Penantang Bahaya (2)

Spinal cord injury is one of the most devastating injuries that can occur because if its potential to leave a person totally disabled.

Every year thousands of people injure themselves jumping into pools head first because they don’t realize the depth of the water is not sufficient to withstand a close impact. The projectile force that a head can be exposed to can literally crush the cervical spine, causing permanent damage to the spinal cord.

The cervical spine begins at the base of the skull and is made up of seven vertebrae and eight pairs of cervical nerves. It protects the spinal cord, supports the skull, and allows head movement. Serious injury to this area typically paralyzes a person, and often injures vital respiratory nerves.

Location often determines the severity of a spinal cord injury. For example, an injury at the neck or cervical spine level may result in paralysis in both the arms and legs, and the use of a respirator to breathe. An injury to the lower spine, may only affect the legs other parts of the body below the injury site.

Spinal cord injuries should always be taken seriously, and if you think someone has suffered one, it’s important you don’t try to move them – keep them still until medical professionals arrive.

Signs of a serious spinal cord injury might include:

• Fading in and out of consciousness
• Extreme back pain or pressure in the neck, head or back
• Weakness, loss of coordination or paralysis in any part of the body
• Numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in the hands, fingers, feet or toes
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Difficulty with balance and walking
• Impaired breathing after injury

From a medical perspective, repairing spinal injuries has had limited success. Many times, the damaged nerves cannot be repaired, and patients are left with diminished motor function and sensation. This is why significant research is being done in the field of regenerative medicine. The use of stem cells, right now, seems to be the most promising treatment for the future, but we’re still many years away from fully integrating spinal cord nerves.

This is why prevention is key. When you’re young, you think you’re invincible. But it doesn’t matter what physical activity you choose to do, you always have to acknowledge that your body has limitations. You have to be aware of your surroundings, and whenever possible, think of using protective gear.

I found an article in the Florida Catholic about Jim Grebe, a 3rd year Theologian seminarian at St Vincent DePaul Regional Seminary, whose summer assignment was a chaplain at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola.  It reminded me of my own experience over this past summer at IPF as a volunteer chaplain 2 afternoon each week at Alegent Health Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, NE.

As a strong introvert, my assignment at a hospital was a welcomed challenge that transformed any “preparations” that I could have made into simple “presence and prayer” that I had to rest in to make it through fruitfully.  My general progression was from Post-Intensive Care (PINS), Physical Rehab, Cancer, ICU and then Behavioral Health (mostly adults).  Each unit, as well as each individual room, brought their own challenges and blessings.  Going into rooms “cold” without much knowledge of condition or spiritualities left me at the mercy of Christ dependent on Him and allow the Holy Spirit to work without having to “try so hard” under my own abilities.

In identifying the poverty in those I ministered to, I came to recognize my own poverty that brings empathy with the poverty of Christ.  As I was stepping out in faith “giving” ministry unselfishly, I identified with the “heart of Christ” — then, in reflection, the receiving became more pure and made me more receptive to pure desires with greater confidence in the Spirit.  I found that praying within my own poverty opened opportunities in intimate relationship with God both in private prayer and with those ministered to.

On strong example was my first experience with a patient in ICU on a respirator, unable to speak a response to the open-ended questions I was trained to ask.  I quickly retreated in fear to my superior Josh, who help adjust my approach and engagement.  I returned to the patient with slightly more confidence in myself while becoming growingly dependent on the Holy Spirit to fill my poverty in encountering the non-verbal Christ with my “heart of Christ” in a distinct moment of Presence in my presence.  Using simple words of encouragement to comfort, taking time to ask important yes/no questions, and listening to the feeling of a hand-squeeze for an answer was a moment of fullness of grace.  Taking the experience to prayer and spiritual direction was easily seen as a growing echo to listen less to the words of my thoughts and more to the feelings of my heart when discerning with perseverance to God’s voice to me.

Thank you to all that ministered to me in the experience … Hospital staff, Pastoral Ministry staff, IPF staff and the Archdiocese of Miami for sending me on assignment.  I was truly blessed and I prayer all that I touched were indeed “touched” as I was.

V Sloveniji bi za novo gripo lahko zbolelo od 25 do 40 odstotkov prebivalstva. Približno odstotek bi jih potreboval zdravljenje v bolnišnici, desetina od teh pa tudi intenzivno nego. To pomeni, da bi pri četrtini obolelega prebivalstva okrog 5000 ljudi v Sloveniji potrebovalo hospitalizacijo, okrog 500 pa tudi intenzivno nego. Vrh epidemije  v Sloveniji pričakujemo  med oktobrom in novembrom, če bo sreča, pa šele januarja.

Na UKC trenutno manj kot 100 respiratorjev, v primeru gripe pa bi jih potrebovali najmanj 600. Z nakupom dodatnih respiratorjev se po njenih besedah ukvarja ministrstvo za zdravje, v UKC pa medtem delajo načrte, kam razporediti bolnike z novo gripo. V glavni stavbi UKC naj bolnikov z novo gripo ne bi nameščali, da se ti ne bi preveč mešali z drugimi. Namestiti jih nameravajo na ortopedsko kliniko, ki jo bodo dodatno opremili s kisikom, če bo tam zmanjkalo prostora, pa prideta na vrsto še dermatološka klinika in Bolnišnica Petra Držaja. Pogovarjajo se tudi o možnosti, da bi za nameščanje bolnikov z novo gripo uporabili stavbo stare pediatrične klinike na Vrazovem trgu, ki bi omogočila izolacijo od drugih bolnikov.

Ker je verjetno veliko držav glede respiratorjev v podobnem položaju kot Slovenija, lahko pričakujemo, da državi ne bo uspelo nabaviti ustrezne količine. Tako bodo nekateri bolniki, ki bodo zaradi pomanjkanja ostali brez njih, enostavno umrli. Vprašanje zvez in poznanstev bo v tem primeru postalo usodnega pomena, saj bodo o tem, kdo dobi respirator in kdo ne, odločali zdravniki, ki pa so samo ljudje.

Najboljša strategija, ki nam ostane je, da zbolimo čimkasneje. To pa obenem pomeni določeno stopnjo samoizolacije in previdnost pri stikih z ljudmi in okoljem.

Bolniki morajo biti pozorni pa morajo biti na morebitno poslabšanje svojega zdravstvenega stanja:

• pri odraslih so po besedah Frelihove med znaki, pri katerih naj bolnik pokliče svojega zdravnika, težje dihanje, zadihanost že ob majhnih naporih, tiščanje v prsih, izkašljevanje krvave sluzi, redko odvajanje vode, pomodrele ustnice in zmedenost.
• pri otrocih, ki so zboleli za novo gripo, svetujejo, naj bodo poleg teh znakov pozorni še na morebitno hitrejše ali aritmično dihanje, piskanje pri vdihu, neobičajno zaspanost in pogosto bruhanje.
• pri  dojenčkih lahko na hujši potek bolezni kaže tudi vdrto mesto na glavici, kjer kosti še niso zraščene

Vir: Dnevnik

V UKC Ljubljana pospešeno pripravljajo pandemski plan za napovedano jesensko pandemijo nove gripe. Po besedah strokovne direktorice Brigite Drnovšek Olup načrtujejo, da bi glavno stavbo UKC Ljubljana “zaprli”, da se okužbe ne bi mešale, za zdravljenje obolelih pa bi namenili nekatere bolj izolirane objekte, kot je stara pediatrija.

Pandemski plan bo vseboval protokol, kako bodo posamezne zadeve potekale, katere oddelke bodo selili, katere bolnice bodo odpirali, določiti bodo morali “vstopna vrata” za obolele, iščejo tudi možnosti za zagotovitev dodatnih postelj, ministrstvo za zdravje pa so že zaprosili za nabavo blagovnih rezerv, tudi respiratorjev.

Zanimiva je informacija, da trenutno v hiši (UKC) opravljajo štetje obstoječih respiratorjev, ki kaže na dejstvo, da v Sloveniji ni računalniško vodene evidence kritičnih medicinskih pripomočkov kot so respiratorji  niti na nivoju posa,eznih bolnišnic, kaj šele na nivoju zdravstvenega sistema.

Vprašamo se lahko tudi, kako je z zaščitnimi maskami, rokavicami in drugo osebno opremo, saj  je po poročilu tujih tiskovnih agencij zaščitne maske in drugo opremo za medicinsko osebje na svetovnem nivoju takorekoč razprodano. V Švici imajo ključna podjeja velike zaloge mask, tako ima npr. samo švicarska pošta na voljo 55.000 mask za uslužbence, ki delajo na poštah. Bodo na UKC sporočili tudi koliko mask imajo? Morebiti to ve ministrstvo za zdravje?

Tudi dejstvo, da na UKC nimajo pandemskega plana, kljub temu, da je epidemija aktualna že od izbruha SARSA in pričje gripe od leta 2003, kaže na določeno lahkomiselnost.

I glanced at the bulletin board in my mom’s hospital room before I entered there.  At first I was hesitant to enter the room as I don’t want to see what my mom looks like when she was lying on her bed.  She got a heart stroke.  I was praying that time before I enter, and that time I wish that she will be in good condition.  Because I know the condition of a person who had a heart stroke.

I opened the door a little as there was this fear in me that she was not looking ok.  But I told myself that I have to fight for that feeling because I might not see her alive when I get coward to see her real condition.  So I enter the room, I saw my mom lying, I am not aware, but my tears fall that time.  I saw my mom with a machine on her mouth . . . It was a respirator.  I cried a so much when I saw her.  I knew the will be result of having respirator.  It means my mom can’t breath on her own.  I came near to her and hug her very tight.  Whispering to her ears . . . “Mom open your eyes and talk to me, I am here.”   That was the words that came into my mouth.  My sister was there looking at me and also crying.   I didn’t expect that my mom will look like that.  I just thought the she was just only lying there and sleeping.  It’s very painful for me that I almost wanted to faint. 

I sit on the chair for sometime there.  Remembering all what my mom felt when she was still in her mild stroke.  My mom never complained of any pain as she had a tough year.  She was just sitting in one corner of the bed, looking far.  My sister came to me and accompanies me outside the room as she feels that I should stop crying.  My sister is the one who was taking care of my mom while she was in the ICU section of the hospital as my sister is a doctor. She gave her all the care to my mom. 

Branded Metal Sculpture

At one point in my life, I thought it would be funny to have Marlboro sponsor me in the Boston marathon. Now I’m thinking, maybe I’ll wait until I can actually walk the same distance. In a week. The McDonalds sculpture is kind of like the 6 or 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon. It’s more about drug money supporting terrorism than deep fried RPGs. Makes sense right? I was watching ESPN when I did the last one. A bit on the nose eh?

I don’t know if anyone noticed but, this week I added a “Today’s Thing” page to the blog. I’m going to use it to post things that I come across and would like to share with you. It’s just getting started but there should be quite a collection of interesting products, art, and random things after a while. Check it out…

Thanks for checking in. I’m going to be posting regularly from here on out every weeknight. Hope y’all have a great weekend…

-DEZIGNERD

Many of our customers own cabins, 2nd homes in the rim country so here is some good information concerning cleaning when you might suspect mouse droppings. NPMA recently sent this information out to the industry and you can find more information at the link below.

What are the recommendations for lessening exposure when cleaning a rodent-infested area that may harbor the Hantavirus?

• Use PPE (personal protective equipment)-respirator, gloves and goggles.
  • Gloves should be rubber, latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves.
• Do not stir up dust by vacuuming, sweeping, or any other means.
• Thoroughly wet contaminated areas with a bleach solution or household disinfectant.
  • Hypochlorite (bleach) solution: Mix 1 and ½ cups of household bleach in 1 gallon of water.
• Once everything is wetted down, take up contaminated materials-you may want to use damp paper towels-and then mop or sponge the area with bleach solution or household disinfectant.
• Spray dead rodents with disinfectant and then double-bag them along with all cleaning materials. Bury, burn, or throw out the rodents in an appropriate waste disposal system.
  • You may want to contact your local or state health department concerning other appropriate disposal methods.
• Disinfect gloves with disinfectant or soap and water before taking them off.
• After taking off the clean gloves, thoroughly wash hands with soap and water (or use a waterless alcohol-based hand rub when soap is not available).

Can I use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean up rodent-contaminated areas?
HEPA vacuums are not recommended since they blow air around and may create aerosolized particles that may be breathed in.

How do I clean papers, books, and delicate items?
Books, papers, and other items that cannot be cleaned with a liquid disinfectant or thrown away should be left outdoors in the sunlight for several hours or in an indoor area free of rodents for approximately one week before final cleaning. After that time, the virus should no longer be infectious. Wear rubber, latex, or vinyl gloves and wipe the items with a cloth moistened with disinfectant.

Alternatively, wash clothing or stuffed animals in the washing machine using hot water and regular detergent. Laundry detergent can break down the virus’s lipid envelope, rendering it harmless. Machine dry laundry on a high setting or hang it to air-dry in the sun.

How do I clean rugs, carpets and upholstered furniture?
Disinfect carpets and upholstered furniture with a disinfectant or with a commercial-grade steam cleaner or shampoo.

What precautions should I take if I think I have been exposed to Hantavirus?
If you have been exposed to rodents or rodent infestations and have symptoms of fever, deep muscle aches, and severe shortness of breath, see your doctor immediately. Inform your doctor of possible rodent exposure so that he/she is alerted to the possibility of rodent-borne diseases, such as HPS.

Reference:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/FAQ.htm

Dr. Forrest Bird & Pamela Bird — Inventors & Aviators

Dr. Forrest Bird & Pamela Bird

There are those moments in your life that stand out as Magical Moments. Those moments that change your life, or change your attitude about life. Well this past weekend we experienced one of those Magical Moments.

We drove over to Sagle, Idaho near Sandpoint on the beautiful Lake Pend Oreille to meet and interview the famous inventor and aviator, Dr. Forrest Bird. I first met Dr. Bird during the red carpet interviews for the Legends of Aviation ceremony in Beverly Hills last January.

We were met by the very attractive and enthusiastic Pamela Riddle Bird, a nationally known author and expert on Inventions and Innovation. Pamela has a Phd of her own, too. She is the founder and CEO of Innovation Product Technologies. Pamela graciously led us into the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center where a speech was underway by the daughter and wife of the inventor of Gatorade.

The museum was awesome. Tons of fantastic airplanes and automobiles and tons of great historical displays. After we had a chance to go completely through the museum, we followed Pamela over to the Air Lodge, a unique private lodge that the Birds have created to accomodate physicians and other visitors who come from all across the world to meet and learn from Dr. Bird.

Pamela told us to settle into our rooms. I got the John Wayne room and Bill and his daughter got the Lewis and Clark room. Each room is decorated with different themes. John Wayne is a true hero to me, so I was in heaven in the Duke Room.

After settling into our rooms, we met with the Birds and some other guests for a nice dinner. I got to spend some quality time talking with Dr. Forrest Bird about his love for aviation. Forrest is one of the five first pilots of helicopters in the world and he said he is the last one left of that first group.

I met with Dr. Forrest Bird for our interview the next morning. The interview lasted from 9am to 5pm. It was a remarkable experience for me.

Dr. Forrest Bird is not only a world recognized aviator, but more importantly he is the inventor of the respirator and ventilator and other medical devices. These inventions have saved possibly a million or ten million, and possibly over 100 million lives! Think about it. The infant mortality rate for pre-me births was 70 percent. His devices reduced that rate to less than 10 percent. His devices have also had tremendous impact on the success of anethesia and the ability to ventilate while doing operations like open heart surgery, and to keep people in comas alive all across the world.

I really enjoyed my interview with Forrest. He has an unbelievable photographic type of memory. He talked about his memories of meeting Orville Wright, Henry Ford, some Presidents, and even Howard Hughes. He explained how he came up with his revolutionary ideas. He kept saying that life is “fate, chance and circumstance.” I think that will be the title of our movie on Forrest Bird.

After my interview with Forrest, I was able to interview Pamela for about an hour. She did a super job in her interview, explaining how she met Forrest and how they became a couple. They are a truly wonderful couple who love each other very much. They have many things in common including love for aviation and invention.

I just took a look at some of the interview footage and it turned out great. I can’t wait to start putting this movie together.

This trip to meet Dr. Forrest Bird and his wife really had an impression with me. It inspired me to want to do more for others. To help inspire kids to be more creative and inventive. Like the name of our company.

I attended “Flare”, a screening of nine (9) short films made by the pioneer batch of filmmakers graduating from Nanyang Technological University, School of Art, Design and Media. It was held at the Gallery Theatre of the National Museum of Singapore.

Featured short films :

Promises in December (Elgin Ho)

Kitchen Quartet (Nicole Midori Woodford)

Respirator (Michael Tay)

Mu Dan (Lincoln Chia Zhicheng)

Frail Line (Er Kia Hui)

My Underwear, My World (Danny Lim)

Neighborhood Ghost (Felice Tang)

Backyard Bowler (Amanda Tan)

Threshold (Loo Zihan)

Photos with a few friends

with Loo Zihan, director of "Threshold"

with Michael Tay, director of "Respirator"

I became interested in short films in early 2008 and I have to say that I see a lot of promising filmmakers steadily making their mark here in Singapore (and around the world).