The hepatitis C virus or HCV reproduces in the liver causing inflammation and possibly cirrhosis or liver cancer. There are six main strains of the virus. In the UK, the most common strains are known as genotype 1 and genotype 3. The disease can incubate for decades in the body and the exact number of people infected is not known. It is estimated that there are about 215,000 people with the infection in the UK. Most cases are in people who inject illegal drugs. It is estimated that up to half of injecting drug users become infected with hepatitis C.
Asthma
Asthma is a common life-threatening condition and its severity is often not recognised. Asthma is a medical condition characterised by intermittent, reversible airway obstruction. Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. When a person with asthma comes into contact with something that irritates their airways (an asthma trigger), the muscles around the walls of the airways tighten so that the airways become narrower and the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and start to swell.
Blisters
Blisters are usually caused by damage to the skin by physical damage or infection or illness. Generally, blisters can be self-treated and do not usually require medical attention. Blisters occur when the epidermis which is the upper layer of skin, tears away from the layer underneath and fluid collects in the space to create the blister.
Fainting
Fainting is a common cause of a patient losing consciousness. It is caused by a lack of blood to the brain. This can be caused by anxiety, hunger, pregnancy, stress, worry, tiredness, standing for long periods, being too hot or after receiving local anaesthetic containing adrenalin.
Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation occurs when the rate and quantity of alveolar ventilation of carbon dioxide exceed the body’s production of carbon dioxide. Hyperventilation can be voluntary or involuntary. When breathing is excessive, more carbon dioxide will be removed from the bloodstream than the body can produce. This causes the concentration of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream to fall and produces a state known as hypocapnia. The body normally attempts to compensate for this metabolically.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a dangerous disease and it can be carried by ticks. Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria that is carried in the saliva of an infected tick. When you get bitten by a tick, it stays in your skin while it sucks up your blood. This process takes 48-96 hours and then the tick can regurgitate the blood into the wound and this is how the infected saliva enters the body.
Public Health England
Public Health England was established on 1 April 2013 to bring together public health specialists from more than 70 organisations into a single public health service. Public health England is a government organisation that aim to protect and improve the nation’s health and well being and reduce health inequalities. They are responsible for making the public healthier by encouraging discussions, advising government and supporting action by local government, the NHS and other people and organisations. They also support the public so they can protect and improve their own health.
EpiPen® changes to timing instructions on the administration
The Anaphylaxis Campaign (www.anaphylaxis.org.uk ) have reported that Mylan UK has recently received an approval for a variation to the administration of EpiPen® and EpiPen® Junior adrenaline auto-injector.
Guidance on the use of adrenaline auto-injectors in schools
There has been a change in the legislation where schools may now administer their “spare” adrenaline auto-injector (AAI), obtained, without prescription, for use in emergencies, if available, but only to a pupil at risk of anaphylaxis, where both medical authorisation and written parental consent for the use of the spare AAI has been provided.
Endorsed Provider – ProTrainings are now a Skills for Care Endorsed Provider
Endorsed Provider – ProTrainings is proud to announce following a comprehensive application process, invigorating evaluation of our courses and internal procedures, and an extensive effort from ProTrainings that we have officially been approved as a recognised Care Provider through the Skills for Care endorsement scheme.
Adrenaline Auto-Injectors New Legislation for Schools
Adrenaline Auto-Injectors legislation was passed in Westminster to allow UK schools to be able to keep spare adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) for emergency use. The legislation comes into effect on 1 October 2017.
AED signs have changed from UK Resus and British Heart Foundation
AED sign design has changed to make them clearer and encourage more people to use an AED. Not only has the sign changed but the UK Resuscitation Council and the British Heart Foundation, have produced a poster to go along with the new design. The new AED sign makes the following changes to the current one: