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The heart seldom feels what the mouth expresses
The 2008 American Heart Association recommendation for hands only or continuous chest compression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for untrained lay people has been widely welcomed. Evidence indicates that mouth to mouth positive pressure ventilation should be eliminated in the early phases for all lay person bystanders responding to primary cardiac arrest. Early bystander initiated resuscitative efforts are critical to survival and bystanders appear to be more willing to initiate chest compressions alone. Furthermore, continuous chest compression CPR is easier to learn and remember by the lay person responder. This report provides compelling evidence for continuous chest compression CPR. Should it be any different for the trained responder? (Heart 2009;95:1978–82).
Doctors don't understand alcohol
Sophia was surprised to learn the results of a recent survey highlighting the poor overall knowledge and awareness about units of alcohol among hospital doctors. Four hundred and forty five doctors (mostly physicians) were surveyed: 45% of hospital doctors had some knowledge (general practitioners scored better at 69%) and 14% apparently had no knowledge at all about alcohol units. The worst offenders …