GPSAR Digital News for September 1997


Saying of The Month

Insect Stings

RX For Your Canine Partner

Can Sleep Apnea Cause Crashes?


"Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength"

Hoffer


INSECT STINGS

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It is almost inevitable that during your search and rescue career you or someone you work with will be stung by a bee, hornet, wasp or other unwelcome visitor. The effects of stings from bees, hornets and wasps, can range from local reactions (swelling, redness and itching at the sting site), to a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock. Allergic Reactions are unpredictable. The first sting usually sensitizes the person to the venom, spurring production of allergic antibodies. The second sting by the same insect variety may bring on an allergic reaction. And, sensitivity to specific insect venom's can intensify with each sting.


Anaphylactic reactions are generalized reactions to the allergenic venom's injected by the sting. Symptoms of anaphylactic reactions include anxiety, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, diffuse skin flushing and shortness of breath. Immediate medical attention is required for toxic, or anaphylactic reactions.


If you are stung, treatment can vary according to the severity of the reaction. Applying cold compresses and cortisone cream may suffice for local reactions. Some insects may leave their stinger imbedded in the skin, requiring medical attention to remove it without releasing more venom into the circulatory system and worsening the reaction. Toxic reactions may appear similar, but are often caused by the chemicals in the insect venom. Toxic reactions tend to occur as a result of multiple stings in a short time.


A kit containing injectable adrenaline and antihistamines can be prescribed for people who have had an anaphylactic reaction to a sting. This kit can be carried at all times when outdoors or in an area where there is a risk of getting stung. Consultation with an allergist is recommended as a follow up for anyone who has suffered a systemic anaphylactic reaction from an insect bite. Immunotherapy may be recommended as a way of desensitizing patients to a specific insect venom.


Taking precautions to avoid getting stung in the first place is the main line of defense. Selecting the proper outdoor clothing is fundamental for preventing insect stings. Long-sleeved shirts and pants can offer some protection for arms and legs. You may also wish to use a Deet compound spray on your boots and pant legs and a product such as Avon Skin So Soft on your skin. In taking precautions against stings, also be aware that what is not worn can be as important as what is. Bees and other common stinging insects tend to be attracted by scent, so skip perfumes, scented deodorants, hair sprays and other fragrance containing items when responding to a mission or detail. Some insects are scavengers and are attracted to areas with large amounts of garbage. They will sting with little provocation, so avoid areas with garbage cans and areas where food or other garbage may have been strewn.


RX FOR YOUR CANINE PARTNER


Many canine handlers will tell you that they have a tendency to take care of their canine partners better than themselves. Be this the case or not, the following will assist you with your partners ills or emergency situations while on search and rescue missions.


In case of injury - You should always have a canine first-aid kit handy when on duty or training in case your partner is injured. The following are some veterinary recommendations on what to include: 1. Your vet’s telephone number, plus the number of an emergency weekend or nighttime vet. 2. Gauze rolls or pads. 3. Absorbent cotton. 4. Scissors, preferably with rounded tips. 5. Hydrogen peroxide. 6. Hydrocortisone ointment. 7. Eyewash. 8. Tweezers. 9. Rectal thermometer. 10. Syringe (without the needle) for giving oral medications or using eyewash. 11. Anti-diarrhea medicine. 12. Upset stomach medicine. 13. Antihistamine liquid. 14. A clean white sock to slip over an injured paw, to keep the wound until bleeding stops.


Testing your partner for dehydration - Gently lift the skin along your partners back. Normally, it will snap back into place. In dehydrated canines, however, the skin loses elasticity, causing it to stay up in a ridge. If this happens, it’s an emergency that must be treated immediately.


How to check your partners pulse - Feel the inside of their back thigh, where the leg joins the body. Normal pulse for canines: 70 - 150 beats per minute.


Symptoms of internal bleeding in canines - 1. Blood in the vomit. 2. Blood in the urine. 3. Pale pink or white gums. 4.


Listlessness. You can press a finger against your canines gums. If they don’t turn pink after a momentary whiteness, they could have blood loss which must be treated as an emergency. In case of bleeding - The following areas are pressure points on your canine, which along with direct pressure on the wound will stop bleeding (utilize your basic first-aid training). 1. The upper inside of the front leg. Pressing here will help control bleeding of the lower forelegs. 2. The upper inside of the rear leg. Pressing here will help control bleeding of the lower hind legs. 3. The underside of the tail. Pressing here helps control bleeding of the tail. Don’t even think of using a tourniquet. Just like with humans, a lot of limbs are lost because the blood supply is cut off for too long a period of time.


Miscellaneous - When on search and rescue mission, crowds of people always gather to see what is happening and, the canines attract attention, especially from children. Be very cautious that no one feeds your canine, especially, chocolate. Chocolate can be toxic to canines. It is a tasty toxin, which like caffeine, is dangerous to canines when eaten in large quantities. Baking chocolate is the most dangerous. So, keep chocolate out of reach of your partner at all times.


Coughing is the most common sign of heart disease in canines. If your partner has been coughing for more than 24 hours, see your vet.


CAN SLEEP APNEA CAUSE CRASHES?


Men who habitually snore or have a hidden sleep disorder known as apnea get into three times as many auto accidents as the rest of the population, according to a major study recently released.


Men and women with undiagnosed sleep apnea are seven times more likely to have multiple accidents, according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin.


Alarmingly, the risk exists whether or not the person feels drowsy, said Terry Young, author of the study and a professor at the University’s School of Preventive Medicine.


Young said previous studies have shown that about 17 million Americans (4 percent of women and 9 percent of men), have moderate to severe apnea, in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly cut off during sleep, often causing a person to wake up. Habitual snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea. However, only 10 percent to 15 percent of those with the disorder have been diagnosed, Young said.


"Sleep apnea causes two insults - one is a decrease in oxygenation and another is sleep fragmentation," she said. "That may impact on attention, vigilance and decision making."


Although the link between sleep disorders and accidents has long been suspected, the University of Wisconsin research is the first large-scale random study of the population that shows a connection, Young said.


Dr. Christian Guilleminault of the Stanford University Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Center said the research backs up a European study in which drivers were pulled over and tested. Many denied they were drowsy, then fell asleep in less than four minutes when put in a dark room. "People have no notion of sleepiness," Guilleminault said.


Young’s paper was presented at an American Thoracic Society and American Lung Association meeting in San Francisco. It will also be published soon in the journal Sleep, she said.


The researchers looked at 913 people in the Madison area chosen at random, diagnosed them for sleep disorders, then looked at state records from 1990 to 1995 for auto accidents they suffered that caused damage of $500 or more.


Last year, the American Medical Association called for action to curb sleepy drivers, calling the situation "America’s nightmare."


If you happen to have this problem, have it checked out by a medical professional and, use caution responding to search and rescue missions, especially those that are a distance away.