Symptoms of a Heart Attack

So are you confident in your ability to recognize if you or someone you know is having a heart attack?

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)

A Myocardial Infarction, or heart attack as it is commonly known, occurs when the blood flow that brings oxygen to your heart is severely reduced or completely cut off. Being able to recognize the early signs of a heart attack can mean the difference between life and death.

For most people, their first reaction is to deny that it is even happening to them. They may say to themselves statements such as “I’m ok, it’s nothing” or “It’ll go away in a minute.” Recognize these warning signs and seek medical treatment immediately.

Some of the signs that you may be experiencing a heart attack include:

·         Chest discomfort (pain, squeezing sensation, crushing, heaviness, tightness)

·         Discomfort in other areas of the upper body (pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach)

·         Shortness of breath (with or without chest discomfort/pain)

·         Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, vomiting or lightheadedness

Heart attacks, and the symptoms, in women are different. Although they do show some of the common signs, a woman may experience a heart attack without the chest discomfort. Most women complain about an upper back pressure as if they had a rope tied around them, shortness of breath (like after running a marathon but not having moved) and actually fainting.

The symptoms may vary from person to person. Never take them for granted. If you recognize that these symptoms are happening, do not hesitate to call 911 and get medical attention as soon as possible. The first two hours are the most critical.

Remember, the sooner you start treatment, the greater the likelihood that you will survive.

PTSD in Corrections

For those of us that are in this line of work know that we have a perverted sense of humor. With the things that we have to deal with on a daily basis, how else can we cope if not with some type of humor. But do we really know how this job really affects us? Have we ever really thought about the possibility that PTSD may be an issue?

I am going to ask you to put in order from lowest to highest who is more likely to suffer from PTSD and compare your results after. No cheating and let’s see how you do.

1.       Corrections

2.       NYPD officers (post 9/11)

3.       Fire fighters (post 9/11)

4.       Civilian population

5.       Emergency Management personnel

6.       EMT

7.       Wartime Military personnel

Now if I was a betting man, I’d bet that you put down civilian population with the lowest and wartime military as the highest. You would be correct with the lowest. The civilian population currently has a PTSD rate of 3.5%. Wartime military has a PSTD of 12-20% (that’s up to 1 out of every 5 members of our military!) NYPD officers have a rate of 7.2%, firefighters are 14.3%, EMTs are 14.1%, Emergency Management personnel are 13.2%.

But for corrections in the US is 27%... Let that sink in for a minute. 27%. Want to see it from a different perspective? Let’s try this one then. One (1) out of every 3.7 people working in corrections is suffering from PTSD.

The Desert Waters Correctional Outreach (www.desertwaters.com)conducted a first of its kind (in the US) research study regarding PTSD in US Correctional Professionals (uniformed and non-uniformed).

Their results showed that the most common symptoms were anger (82%), numbness (60.4%), fear (57.9%), helplessness (51%) and indifference (50%).  How about how it affects other parts of our lives? Depression (53.8%), sleep difficulty (40.9%), digestive problems (35.3%) and obesity (36%). And folks, these numbers are representative of if you experienced the symptoms within the last 30 days.

Would it surprise you to find out that the average number of missed days from work within a year for these staff members was 15.21 days? How about 7.24 doctor’s visits within a year? Or 2.44 medical conditions that they have?

Those numbers are just staggering. Did we ever think that it would be this high? Yes, we knew that we go through some of these but most of us blow it off as just part of the job.

It is not a matter of being too proud to ask for help. Stress, relationship problems, anxiety and satisfaction with life are all affected as well as a result of what we go through.

The Employees Assistance Program is there for a reason. Many of us have heard about it but really don’t know what it is all about. If you are not sure, let me give you the cliff notes version of the cliff notes version: 24/7/365 days someone will answer the phone. Available to you and your immediate family. Have teens? Teen helpline just for them. Confidentiality concerns? The only people that will find out you called are the ones that YOU tell. The agency will never find out unless you say something. Marital problems, depression, whatever…they can help. And the best part: FREE

If you work for the State of Texas, their number is 866-862-5972. If you work in another state, find their number, program it into your phone and make sure you know it is there. You may have a friend that needs it later on.

If you want to read the research report, here you go:

http://www.correctionsfatigue.com/images/PTSD_Prev_in_Corrections_2012.pdf

Signs of a Stroke

We have all heard of strokes, and may even know someone who has suffered from one. But do you know how to recognize the sypmtoms?

Cerebral Vascular Accident (C.V.A. / Stroke)

A stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is either blocked or reduced. The two main causes for a stroke are a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or by a leaking or burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Approximately 85% of all strokes are ischemic strokes.

The most common ischemic strokes are the Thrombotic Stroke and the Embolic Stroke.

A Thrombotic stroke occurs when a clot (usually fatty deposits) develops in one of the arteries that lead to the brain thereby reducing the blood flow to the brain.

An Embolic Stroke occurs when a clot or other debris develops away from the brain (usually in the heart), breaks away and then lodges in one of the smaller brain blood vessels.

The Hemorrhagic Stroke occurs when a blood vessel either leaks or ruptures. There are many reasons why there are brain hemorrhages, but the main reasons are either uncontrolled high blood pressure or aneurisms.

Some of the signs that someone is suffering a stroke are:

• Only one side of the body is affected (numbing, tingling, immobility)
• A person may hear what is being said but is unable to respond
• Unequal pupils
• Facial Droop
• Drooling
• Slurred/Incoherent speech
• Severe headache
• Disruption of motor skills (diminished coordination, dizziness, etc)

If you encounter these symptoms:

• Position the person with the affected side down
• Protect and maintain an open airway
• Guard against vomiting
• Keep calm
• Seek medical attention immediately!

You do not have the time to question as to whether someone is suffering from a stroke or not. Any delay in medical treatment may be fatal. It is better to act and be wrong than not act and be wrong. Your safety and the safety of your family is all that matters.

Defense Against a Headlock

Have you ever had someone come up and grab you in a headlock? It’s all fun and games until someone gets an eye poked out. But do you know what to do if the person doing it is not a friend/family member that is just having fun?

Here is something that you can do that is not overly complicated.

If you find yourself in a headlock:

• Turn your head into the aggressor’s body and place your hands on both sides of their elbow.

• Push their arms up over your head as you step back

 

• If the grip is too strong and you can’t pull out, knee strike the outside of their leg creating a distraction that may loosen their grip allowing you to escape.

If you are unable to escape in this manner:

• Place your rear leg behind their leg.

• Grab onto their waist and thrust your body back rolling towards your leg and theirs. With your leg being behind theirs, it will act as a “trip” for them allowing you to get them off balance and onto the ground.

If you must strike the groin area in order to escape, you may also do so. At this point in time the only that matters is your survival. Doing nothing is not an option. You must do something. You can worry about whether it was the right thing or not later. If you do nothing, there may not be a later.

Practice, practice, practice. You will not have time to think about it later on if you find yourself in this position.