Simple Safety Tips for July 4th Fireworks

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

If you gather to watch fireworks this July 4th chances are you’ll hear many ooh’s and aah’s among the crowd as they watch the spectacular bursts of colors glowing in the sky.

Leave it to the pros

While fireworks are part of celebrating Independence Day, shooting off fireworks should be left to the professionals, even if they are legal in your neck of the woods.

“I think the safest and best way to enjoy the 4th is to watch a professional display,” said Dr. Rick Blum, president of ACEP.  “For those folks who can buy legal fireworks in their community, I recommend extreme caution, especially if children are present.”  “I’ve seen cases where a few minutes of well-intentioned fun has resulted in lifelong disabilities.”

Be cautious of illegal fireworks

“Fireworks can be used safely by trained adults, but illegal firecrackers or ones that are used improperly present substantial risks,” said James C. Krieg, MD orthopaedic surgeon specializing in trauma and spokesperson for the AAOS.  “If fireworks misfire or explode prematurely, the extreme amount of force can tear or destroy tissue, including bones and nerves, causing permanent damage.”

Even sparklers can be dangerous

Fireworks while glorious to watch can be extremely dangerous and even sparklers which seem innocent can be extremely dangerous.  Temperatures can reach more than 1,000 degrees.

Injuries

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that in 2007 about 9,800 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireworks. More than half the injuries were burns and most of the injuries involved the hands, eyes, and legs.

If fireworks are legal in your community, ACEP strongly suggests you do not use fireworks at your home.

Fireworks do’s and don’ts will help make it a safer experience

DO’S:

• Buy fireworks from reputable dealers
• Read warning labels and follow all instructions
• Keep a bucket of water or fire extinguisher on hand
• Light fireworks one at a time
• Dispose of all fireworks properly

DON’TS:

• Give any fireworks, including sparklers, to small children
• Older children should be supervised by an adult
• Light fireworks indoors or near other objects
• Wear loose clothing while using any fireworks
• Set off fireworks in glass or metal containers- the fragments can cause severe injury
• Try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks

I hope you have a fantastic fun and exciting 4th of July and I hope you’ll find some spectacular fireworks to watch.  Remember to leave it to the pros, but if fireworks are legal in your area and you do decide to display some, make sure you follow these simple safety precautions.

Be careful and stay safe!  Happy July 4th! 

For more info:

American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)

The National Council on Firework Safety

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Health in 30 Radio Show Live June 25th

Join me on Thursday, June 25, 2009 for a fascinating discussion with filmmaker, Andy Abrahams Wilson.  We’ll talk about the film that hits theaters on June 19th, Under Our Skin, a documentary film about Lyme disease.

A gripping tale of microbes, medicine & money UNDER OUR SKIN investigates the untold story of Lyme disease, an emerging epidemic with staggering consequences. Each year thousands go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, told that their symptoms are “all in their head.” Following the stories of patients and physicians fighting the disease, the film brings into focus a haunting picture not only of our health care system and its inability to cope with a silent and growing terror, but of a medical establishment all too willing to put profits ahead of patients.

Health in 30 airs from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST on WRCR-AM 1300. You can listen to the program live online by clicking here.

If you have questions that you’d like us to answer on the program, please send send your question via the Contact page.  Due to the volume of questions, we can’t guarantee that all will be answered.

We will also be taking live calls during the broadcast. Call 845-624-1300.

I hope you can join us.

On the new TNT series HawthoRNe, a nurse is portrayed in a positive light.

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

I’m delighted to see that the new TV series HawthoRNe avoids most of the media stereotypes of nursing, portraying a nurse character that is strong, determined, smart and assertive.

Jada Pinkett Smith, shines as she realistically depicts a nurse. While Pinkett Smith’s role as a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is bit exaggerated, that can be overlooked since her character, Christina Hawthorne, is presented as a confident, independent and strong woman.

But not all the characters are as strong. In one scene, nurse Ray Stein believes the doctor made a mistake in writing insulin orders. He questions the doctor only to be raked over the coals for questioning the order.

Instead of being persistent and assertive, he follows the doctor’s order, knowing that it is incorrect. No surprise: The patient codes and almost dies.

While some doctors who can make things difficult, it’s really important that nurses are assertive.

I remember an incident from when I was a staff nurse, the charge nurse for the evening shift. One doctor roasted one of the nurses in front of patients. As the charge nurse, I professionally and politely said to the doctor that I’d like to speak with him away from the patients.

The closest spot was the clean utility room, and there I informed that doctor that if he  needed to speak to a nurse to correct her or complain, that he should calmly ask her if he could speak with her away from the patients.

Few doctors treat nurse so badly. Most are really supportive and work well with nurses. After all, shouldn’t doctors and nurses work together for the good of the patients?

HawthoRNe premiers tomorrow, June 16th on TNT.

How to get excited for both

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

I have a really good friend who has somehow mastered living in the moment.  Ask him about the future and you won’t get much of a response.  While I enjoy the “moments” of everyday I can’t help but move my mind forward to envision the future.

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Living in the moment has its rewards, but so does thinking about the future.  The way in which you can become energized from savoring the moments, you can become exhilarated by thinking about the future.

Both living in the moment and picturing your future can rejuvenate you.  Imagine the future you want and chase it, don’t obsess about it.   Living in the moment and thinking about the future will bring you enthusiasm and excitement to your life.

Savor the Moments

Be grateful for life’s treasures.  Be thankful for life’s little gifts.   Pay attention to the present; surround yourself with people and things you love.  Build your foundation for happiness.

The Art of Now: Six Steps to Living in the Moment:

“We need to live more in the moment. Living in the moment—also called mindfulness—is a state of active, open, intentional attention on the present. When you become mindful, you realize that you are not your thoughts; you become an observer of your thoughts from moment to moment without judging them. Mindfulness involves being with your thoughts as they are, neither grasping at them nor pushing them away. Instead of letting your life go by without living it, you awaken to experience….Mindfulness reduces stress, boosts immune functioning, reduces chronic pain, lowers blood pressure, and helps patients cope with cancer. By alleviating stress, spending a few minutes a day actively focusing on living in the moment reduces the risk of heart disease.”

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment – Henry David Thoreau

Don’t Overthink

Ah, so much easier said than done, but it’s possible.  Don’t over stress about things, don’t obsess, and don’t beat yourself up.  Instead, enjoy the moments of everyday.  Don’t cloud your head with negative thoughts and unnecessary worry.  Focus on the moments no matter how simple.  It could be something so small as savoring your favorite cup of coffee or tea, noticing the smell of fresh cut grass, adoring the sunset, or chatting with your best friend.

“Focusing on the present moment also forces you to stop overthinking. “Being present-minded takes away some of that self-evaluation and getting lost in your mind—and in the mind is where we make the evaluations that beat us up,” says Stephen Schueller, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania. Instead of getting stuck in your head and worrying, you can let yourself go.”

Dream of the Future

One of my favorite quotes is by Eleanor Roosevelt.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

There are some people, like my friend, who only live in the moment; and if it works for them, that’s wonderful.  But, envisioning your dreams and chasing the future can be exhilarating and exciting and it can bring a new dimension of happiness in your life.  Focusing on the future in a positive way can get you jazzed and the excitement that you feel can make you happy.

Charting Your Course for the Future

Set realistic goals for yourself and have the time of your life trying to reach them.  Picture yourself achieving those goals.  See yourself climbing the mountain to reach those goals and loving every moment of it.

Is There a Danger in Chasing the Future?

Carl R. Sullivan, MD, Professor, Vice-Chair of the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry at West Virginia University School of Medicine and Medical Director of Substance Abuse Programs for West Virginia University Hospitals, thinks so.

He cautions people to be realistic and not to plan the outcome.

“While chasing dreams and planning for the future is noble and can even be wistful and romantic,” says Dr. Sullivan, he sees many people who have suffered profound disappointments, discouragements and even depression.

“I think it is ok to make plans and have dreams but we MUST avoid planning how it will all work out.  People make plans and plan the outcome.  That is the danger,” says Dr. Sullivan.

How to Live in the Moment and Desire the Future

Empower yourself to cherish the moments and chase the future.  Your happiness depends on it.

The Dos:

• Envision the future you want.
• Set realistic goals.
• Savor the moments.
• Surround yourself with people and things you love.

The Don’ts:

• Don’t stress yourself out.
• Don’t struggle with thoughts of the future that are not realistic.
• Don’t cloud your head with negative thoughts.
• Don’t get discouraged, if you run in to a road block, learn from it and move on.

Living in the moment and chasing the future both have its rewards, but do what’s best for you.  If you choose to envision the future and you set personal goals or your career goals; go after them with enthusiasm.

Be careful not to get caught up too much with the big picture [like Dr. Sullivan states];  just enjoy the steps to getting there.

Keep your dreams realistic and keep them close to your heart and the moments created from trying to achieve them will be spectacular.

Nurse Jackie vs. Hawthorne

Two TV nursing dramas debut next month.  Only one seems to have potential to represent the real lives of nurses.

By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

Does the old adage, “You can’t judge a book by its cover” hold true for TV series?  “You can’t judge a drama series by its trailer?”

Well, I took a look at the trailers for two new TV nursing-related dramas that debut next month, and let’s hope not.

Nurse Jackie starring Edie Falco premiers June 8th on Showtime. Hawthorne starring Jada Pinkett Smith premiers June 16th on TNT.

Where do I even start, other than to say Nurse Jackie falls seriously short of accurately portraying the lives of nurses? Hawthorne, on the other hand, may have some promise.

But nurses have been longing for a series focusing on nurses that shows them to be professionals. The public rarely gets to see nurses as smart, assertive, critical thinkers who provide emotional support for patients and their families, and who work together with physicians.

Here’s the network’s description of the debut episode of Nurse Jackie.

“Life is Full of Little Pricks”

In episode 101, the series premiere, veteran ER nurse Jackie Peyton bends the rules to create something good from a patient’s senseless death, while concealing her addiction to a pain killer she gets from her secret boyfriend, hospital pharmacist Eddie. 

The writeup fails to mention how Falco’s character gets her breasts grabbed by some male colleague.

It appears from the description of the characters that the offender is Dr. Fitch Cooper.

“Throwing a wrench in the machine is the young, seemingly perfect, Dr. Fitch “Coop” Cooper who typifies the smug, Ivy League doctors who have trolled the hospital halls for decades on their way to the golf course, leaving the nurses to deal with the repercussions of their drive-by diagnoses. He has these manic highs and lows. When he gets nervous he acts out with inappropriate sexual touching.”

I’m really not quite sure why the producers needed to stereotype the role of a doctor.

And did the producers really need to make Falco’s character a drug addict?

Now I’m well aware that prescription drug abuse is a huge problem that affects people in all professions, including some nurses and doctors. But why focus on the rare negative exception rather than the many positive examples?

Then, of course, there is the obligatory sex scene. OK, but couldn’t the writers allow Falco’s character to be in a relationship with some romance?

Again, that’s the trailer for the season premiere, so I’ll be watching and hoping things take a positive turn as the series unfolds.

Here’s TNT’s description of Hawthorne:

The tough-yet-caring Chief Nursing Officer at Richmond Trinity Hospital. She prides herself on standing up for her patients and preventing them from falling through the cracks of hospital bureaucracy. She’s a hero who acts out of good intentions, even if she occasionally violates hospital policy or protocol in the process. But being there for her patients means she isn’t always there for herself and her daughter. She is trying to move on after her husband’s death, but she hasn’t really had time to grieve because of her work duties. Her relationship with her teenage daughter can at times be strained, especially when Christina puts the hospital first. Still, she is a loving mother with a creative way of handling family issues.  

Well, that sounds more encouraging: a heroic but imperfect woman who thinks of her patients first and tries to balance her work and home life.

But there are problems: When Pinkett Smith’s character rushes to the hospital during the night and breaks through security to prevent a suicide attempt, she’s the first one there. That may seem a bit unrealistic, but it’s just the trailer of the opening scene.

We’ll see how things unfold.

When I first learned about Nurse Jackie, I felt great that there might finally be a TV drama that portrays nurses accurately.  I wanted to be part of it.  I got in contact with the associate producer, who politely told me, “We actually already have an advisor on the show.”

From the trailer, at least, it appears the advisers were not nurses. Let’s hope I’m wrong.