Safe
An Emergency Response Guide
Contents 11 7
4 BE READY TO RESPOND: THE IMPORTANCE OF 1ST RESPONSE, CPR & CALLING 9-1-1
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5 MEDICAL I.D.
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SPOTTING SYMPTOMS OF SHOCK
SHAVANO FAMILY: SAN ANTONIO PRACTICE PROVIDES PERSONALIZED HEALTH SERVICES
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PROJECT QUEST: SAN ANTONIO NON-PROFIT OFFERS HEALTHCARE TRAINING
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HEART ATTACK & ALONE
14 DON’T BECOME ANOTHER STATISTIC
During the day, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones while driving.
STREET NAMED AFTER FIREFIGHTER
12 'WOMAN OF COURAGE'
13 GETTING TO YOUR CAR SAFELY
15 WILDLIFE CROSSING
16
FIRST AID FOR CHOKING
STAFF
Safe
Published by
TODAY’S CATHOLIC
Executive Publisher SUZANNE FOX
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Design SUZANNE FOX This publication contains general information about emergency medical conditions and treatments. The information is not advice, and should not be treated as such. The information in this publication is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. The Publisher makes no representations or warranties in relation to the medical information in this publication. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Publisher does not warrant that the medical information in this publication is complete, true, accurate, up-to-date, or non-misleading. You must not rely on the information in this publication as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information in this publication. V4
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4 | Safety
beREADY toRESPOND:
THE IMPORTANCE OF 1ST RESPONSE, CPR & CALLING 9-1-1
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ou never know when or where an emergency will strike. That’s why it’s important to be prepared for anything that comes your way. If you’ve ever been in an emergency situation, such as witnessing a heart attack, you may have panicked while a good Samaritan sprang into action. You don’t need to be in the medical field to help other people or yourself during a catastrophe. Taking quick, simple action can be enough to save a life. The best way to prepare yourself for successful emergency response is to take CPR and first aid courses. These classes teach you how to recognize emergencies and give you the tools you need to respond quickly and confidently. Much like riding a bike, your response during a crisis will become muscle memory with a bit of practice.
The American Red Cross has been the go-to for CPR, first aid, lifeguard and other emergency response training. Go to their site, redcross.org, to find an Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/ AED course near you. These courses will teach you to assess the situation by using environmental clues and how to respond accordingly. So you already know how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, but do you know how to implement this technique on an infant or a pregnant woman? Do you know when to begin CPR or when it is okay to move a seizure victim? These topics are covered in CPR and first aid courses. Be prepared to get physical, and wear appropriate clothing. Let your instructor know if you have any physical limitations. Use acronyms to remember important steps and take notes. While online-certifications are
also offered, it is better to perform CPR in front of an instructor who can correct mistakes right then and there. You may also want to put a few numbers on speed dial, such as 9-1-1, Poison Control (800) 222-1222, the hospital closest to your home and work, your general practitioner, the fire department, EMS, your local veterinarian (if you have pets) and so on. It’s just one less thing to worry about during a crisis. The police, fire department and EMS also have non-emergency numbers. Planning ahead is the best way to tackle emergency situations. Even the act of calling 9-1-1 takes some forethought. There are 4 W’s to remember before you pick up the phone: where, what, when and who. The dispatcher needs to know where you are. Cell phones aren’t always traceable and landlines are
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The best way to prepare yourself for successful emergency response is to take CPR and first aid courses.
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on their way to being a thing of the past. Therefore, it’s important to give your location to the dispatcher right away, in case the line becomes disconnected or you lose the ability to speak. Next, you will need to tell the operator what is wrong so that they can send a unit to your location or transfer you to a paramedic, the fire department or a non-emergency line. Be ready to tell the dispatcher when the incident occurred and if it is still happening. Assess the situation and figure out who needs help. Try to collect as much data as you can. Your dispatcher will likely ask a myriad of questions during the call that may seem excessive or like a waste of valuable time. Remain as calm as you can, and understand that the dispatcher is trying to assess the situation in order to come up with solutions that help you or the victim during the emergency. Try not to ramble, mumble, scream or repeat yourself. Answer questions with as much relevant detail as you can. If there’s anything you can do to help a victim during an emergency, the dispatcher will provide guidance. Follow their instructions exactly rather than questioning them every step of the way. They are professionals, and this isn’t their first rodeo. If you spend too much time crossexamining your operator, you will waste precious time that could be used to save someone’s life.
Medical I.D. Have you ever gone onto WebMD. com to look up your symptoms only to find an endless list of possible ailments? When an emergency happens, it’s up to medical professionals to form a diagnosis out of these clues in order to treat you effectively. Paramedics and physicians alike are able to treat you more accurately in a shorter period of time with the aid of a medical ID. “According to a published study, half of all medical errors occur because of mistakes made upon admission or discharge from the hospital…More than 95 percent of respondents look for a medical ID during emergencies,” says American Medical ID. EMTs are trained to look around the wrist and neck for medical IDs so bracelet or necklace IDs are ideal. You should make sure the ID is comfortable, fits your lifestyle and is a pleasing style. There’s no point in getting one if you don’t wear it at all times. If you’re unsure of what information to put on your ID, call or schedule a visit with your doctor before ordering one. The Health app allows you to store your medical information on your iPhone and can be accessed by anyone during an emergency. It’s a good backup, but there’s no guarantee paramedics and physicians will check your phone before treating you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association and many other national healthcare organizations recommend wearing a medical ID. Visit americanmedical-id. com or speak with your physician to learn more.
6 | Safety
SPOTTING SYMPTOMS She wore a yellow dress to a funeral? How shocking! You probably use this word hyperbolically all the time, but do you actually know what shock is? Shock isn’t just an emotional state – it’s also a medical condition. Here are four serious types of shock and symptoms to lookout for: 1. HYPOVOLEMIC Cause: inadequate circulation caused by hemorrhaging or extreme vomiting and diarrhea Symptoms: clammy skin; rapid, shallow breathing and pulse 2. CARDIOGENIC Cause: heart unable to pump enough blood to the rest of the body
of Shock
Symptoms: confusion, can’t concentrate, becoming unconscious, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, can’t urinate, sweating, clammy skin, lightheaded, cold hands and feet, rapid/shallow breath 3. OBSTRUCTIVE Cause: a physical obstruction preventing the heart from filling Symptoms: confusion, lack of concentration, chest pain, clammy skin, lightheaded, cool hands and feet, sweating, short/quick breaths, weak pulse (similar to cardiogenic shock) 4. DISTRIBUTIVE This covers 3 different types of shock: septic, anaphylactic and neurogenic
Cause: infections resulting in sepsis (septic), allergic reaction (anaphylactic), injury or trauma to the spinal cord (neurogenic) Symptoms: low blood pressure and body temperature, chills, fatigue, fever, abnormal breathing (septic); hives, swelling, rashes, fainting, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat (anaphylactic); hypothermia, bradycardia, hypotension (neurogenic) Because the symptoms for most of these are so similar, it can be hard to decipher which type you’re dealing with. However, there are some basic first aid steps you can take to help.
❶ Call an ambulance then check the victim’s pulse/ breathing. ➋ If neither are detected, begin CPR. Continue until paramedics arrive. ➌ If breathing or has pulse, check respiration every 5 minutes. ➍ Unless victim has a physical injury, such as neck or back, place them flat on back. Elevate feet at least 12 inches to increase blood flow to the heart. ➎ Monitor drooling and vomiting. Turn the victim’s head to the side if this occurs to avoid choking and asphyxiation. Constricting clothing should be loosened as well. ➏ Do not let the victim eat or drink anything. Keep the victim flat on their back until EMS arrives. Cover the victim with a blanket if hypothermic.
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10 | Safety
Heart Attack & Alone
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n the movies, there is always someone nearby to call an ambulance and provide first aid during a heart attack. But do you know what to do if you have a heart attack when you’re alone? It’s important to recognize that real-life first aid and serious medical symptoms rarely present themselves the way they do in movies. Heart attacks aren’t always so obvious. Symptoms can appear similar to heartburn, indigestion and/or panic attacks, which is why it is possible to have a heart attack without even realizing it. This is one reason why many people wait to seek treatment. But heart attacks detected and treated within the first few hours significantly reduce damage to the heart and increase the rate of survival. If you’re alone and suspect you are having a heart attack:
• Call 9-1-1 immediately. • Do not attempt to drive to the hospital. If you’re already driving, pull over. • Try not to move around. • If appropriate, take aspirin without water. Chew for faster results. • Lie down on your back and elevate your feet 12 inches off the ground. • Calm down as much as you can. Try deep breaths and meditation. • Lower your body temperature with a cool cloth under the armpits. • Don’t attempt cough CPR. • Avoid food and drinks. • Call a friend or family member while you wait for EMS to arrive.
It’s always best to get checked out if you feel any type of discomfort in your chest. Other symptoms include: rapid breathing, feeling faint or ill, unexplained pain in the left shoulder or upper body (back, neck, stomach or jaw), nausea, dizziness, vomiting, weakness, extreme anxiety and irregular or rapid heartbeats. Note that common expectations and depictions of heart attack symptoms don’t always match reality. Women are more likely to have atypical symptoms that may exclude chest pain. Scarily enough, half of those who have a heart attack have what is known as a “silent heart attack,” where there are no symptoms, but blocked blood flow to the heart causes damage and scars the heart nonetheless.
San Francisco names street after first Black firefighter, a Catholic convert
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Heart attacks detected and treated within the first few hours significantly reduce damage to the heart and increase the rate of survival.
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If you don’t know what you’re doing, cough CPR will have the opposite effect and prevent oxygen from entering the bloodstream. This technique is used occasionally right before a victim goes into full cardiac arrest and should only be done in the presence of a qualified physician, period. Aspirin is a blood thinner and can slow the formation of blood clots – the most common cause of heart attacks. While aspirin can help, you need to be cautious before ingesting this, as it can worsen some conditions or interact poorly with other types of medication. Tell EMS right away if you’ve already taken aspirin. Also, let EMS know if you have a preexisting heart condition or have experienced a heart attack in the past.
CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO • San Francisco’s first Black firefighter, a Catholic convert whose faith helped him endure years of racial abuse within the department, had a city street named after him last year. “He was a man who kept his strong faith," his daughter Blondell Chism told Catholic San Francisco last July 24. "No matter what happened, all was good and he was blessed.” Gage converted to Catholicism to marry his Catholic wife, also named Blondell. While the Department of Public Works readied the new street sign, San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston commissioned a mural of Gage to accompany it. Gage was hired by the San Francisco Fire Department in 1955 at age 28 and was the sole Black firefighter for the next 12 years. He retired in 1983 and died in 2017 at age 90. His hire was a progressive move for the times and not embraced by all members of the department, said Sherman Tillman, president of the Black Firefighters Association. “When you think about the discrimination he saw toward himself you’d think a person would be disillusioned and hateful toward the people who did those things,” said Tillman, a longtime parishioner of Star of the Sea Parish on Geary Blvd. “He wasn’t.” Tillman called Gage a “man of God who tried to see the best in people despite their flaws.” It was at his funeral that Tillman decided to petition the city to recognize his character and place in history — a mission that took three years to bring to fruition. Tillman said racial diversity in the SFFD is still aspirational almost 70 years after Gage became the city's first Black firefighter.
12 | Safety
Religious sister who treated COVID patients honored as
‘Woman of Courage’ (CNA) • A religious sister and registered nurse who served those sick with COVID-19 in Italy has been honored recently by the U.S. State Department with the “Women of Courage” Award. Sister Alicia Vacas Moro is a Comboni Missionary Sister originally from Spain who has served the poor and the sick as a nurse in Egypt, the West Bank, and amid the coronavirus pandemic. Vacas was awarded the International Women of Courage Award by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in a virtual ceremony on March 8 along with 13 other women. The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See in Rome hosted a virtual watch party of the “Women of Courage” awards on International Women’s Day. Vacas currently serves as the regional coordinator for the Comboni Sisters in the Middle East, overseeing the work of 40 sisters aiding human trafficking victims, refugees, and asylum seekers in the region,
but in 2020 she flew to Italy to help serve her fellow sisters after an outbreak of COVID-19 at their convent in northern Italy. The 41-year-old religious sister shared her experience during the pandemic at a virtual symposium hosted by the U.S. and British embassies to the Holy See in June 2020. “It has been a very powerful experience to live from inside the suffering of the people in Bergamo,” she said, adding that it has been an experience of Christ’s Passion. “As a Comboni sister, I think it has been only a privilege … sharing with people’s lives, with people’s sufferings,” she said, calling it a “gift from God for the whole congregation.” Sister Alicia Vacas was one among 14 honorees at the International Women of Courage ceremony, including Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova, imprisoned Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Yu, and Iranian chess arbiter Shohreh Bayat. Seven Afghan women were also posthumously recognized after they were assassinated in 2020 while serving their communities. The International Women of Courage award ceremony is now in its 15th year. It focuses on recognizing “women around the globe who have demonstrated exception courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice,” according to the U.S. Department of State. Connell said that Sister Alicia is one of the many “inspiring women religious who work tirelessly to advance human dignity and freedom.” The U.S. State Department official noted that women religious often serve in areas where governments have failed and where humanitarian organizations struggle to operate at enormous risk to themselves. “Women religious are among the most effective and vital partners we have on the frontlines in fragile communities around the world. They are often the last beacons of hope for millions of people who otherwise would have no voice,” he said.
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GETTING TO YOUR CAR SAFELY
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ost of us walk to our cars each day without incident, but it only takes a few, unguarded seconds for someone to change our lives forever. Hopefully, you never have to find out if a wouldbe attacker is only after your money. While you can’t control everything that happens to you, there are plenty of preventative steps you can take to protect yourself. Here are some helpful, preventative safety tips for walking to and from your vehicle: Pay attention. You can’t see anyone approaching if you’re staring at your phone. Look behind you every now and then. Use window reflections to see around you as well. Plan ahead. Look up parking options before you make a move. Use the buddy system. Walking with someone else is a pretty big deterrent for most robbers.
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Avoid parking in places that make you an easy target. Dark, isolated dead ends are to be avoided at all costs, especially if you’re alone. Pay for parking if you have to or take an Uber. Be confident. Assailants target people who look vulnerable. Stand up straight, keep your head up and look people in the eye. Walk visibly. Don’t cut between parked cars and don’t walk close to vehicles. Create distance with strangers. Put politeness to the side. If someone approaches you, keep at least an arm’s length between you and the stranger. If there are red flags and there is time before they reach you, run away. You don’t owe anyone a conversation. Listen to your gut. Don’t ignore the alarms going off in your head. Most of the time, your instincts are right, and if they’re not? Better safe than sorry. Make some noise. If someone is pursuing you, it’s too late for confident
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posture. If close to your car, hit the panic button. Draw attention to yourself by shouting or screaming as loud as possible. Give them what they want. If your pursuer is only after material things, hand them over. Your wallet, cell phone and Michael Kors bag are replaceable. However, if the attacker tries to get you into a vehicle, fight them. Death is probably better than what they have planned for you. Don’t carry a lot of cash and definitely don’t wave it around. Flashing your cash at a restaurant, bar, mall and so on instantly makes you a target. It’s easy to cancel your cards after you’ve been robbed, but you’ll never see that cash again. If it makes you feel better, get a weapon. Keychain tasers and mace are popular, lightweight options. The very sound of a taser often sends an attacker running. If you’re uncomfortable with carrying a weapon, keep a sharp key between your knuckles on your walk or consider striking an attacker with your bag.
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14 | Safety
DON’T BECOME ANOTHER STATISTIC
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ou’re driving along minding your own business when someone swerves into your lane, nearly hitting you. When you recover, you look over and see that the driver is shamelessly staring at their phone without any knowledge of what just occurred. Unfortunately, this is all too common nowadays. It isn’t unusual to glance at the drivers around you and witness them looking down at directions, music choices, texts, Facebook, eBooks or TV shows. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says, “In 2015 alone, 3,477 people were killed, and 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. During the day, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones while driving. That creates enormous potential for deaths and injuries on U.S.
roads. Teens were the largest age group reported as distracted at the time of fatal crashes.” So what can you do to prevent distracted driving fatalities? If you’re the parent of a teen, there are plenty of driving apps you can put on your child’s phone that prevent them from texting or accessing other parts of their phone while driving. You can also lead by example. Do not use your phone while driving, especially in front of your child. Ask them to
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At 55 MPH, send sending or reading a text is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.
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navigate, make calls or send texts on your behalf if it’s imperative. As cliché as it is, being a defensive driver can save your life. When stopped at a light or in traffic, look into your rearview at anyone approaching from behind. Notice whether they are slowing appropriately, looking down or if their face is lit up by a cell phone. Turn your music down or off to listen for sudden braking. If you are the first car at a stoplight, glance in every direction before moving on green. Distracted drivers plow through red lights all of the time. When you see a driver swerving, braking suddenly or repeatedly going outside of their lane, slow down to create distance and assess whether or not the driver presents danger to others. If so, call the police. Make sure you have the plate number as well as the make and model of the vehicle.
Wildlife
Crossing
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elieve it or not, deer are one of the deadliest animals in North America. You can thank overpopulation and human encroachment for the estimated 1.25 million deer-related crashes each year. Roughly 29,000 people are injured annually in deer collisions, and 130 to 200 of these injuries result in death. “A collision with some form of wildlife occurs, on average, every 39 minutes. One out of every 17 car collisions involve wandering wildlife,” says the DMV. So what should you do when Bambi bolts in front of your car without warning? Ultimately, the number one way to avoid hitting a deer is to take preventative measures.
PREVENTION TIPS: Pay attention! Distracted driving will cause you to miss wildlife crossing signs and the deer itself. Reduce speed when wildlife signs appear. Use your high-beam lights at night in woody areas when appropriate. Reduce speed at dusk and dawn when deer are most active. October through mid-January is mating season and has the highest deer-collision rates. Scan the shoulder of the road for eye reflection or signs of animals. Deer travel in groups. If you see one, be prepared for more. Deer are attracted to road salt. Drive extra cautiously after roads are de-iced.
IF IT CAN’T BE AVOIDED: Do not swerve. Swerving confuses the deer’s sense of direction and increases your chances of a head-on collision or crashing into a tree. Brake slowly, rather than suddenly, to avoid losing control of the vehicle. Flash your lights and honk the horn while slowing. Do not rely on deer whistles. At the moment of impact, let off the brakes. Pull onto the shoulder of the road and turn on emergency flashers. Do not approach the injured animal. Remain in your vehicle to avoid being hit by another motorist. Notify the police.
To reduce your chances of injury during a deer-vehicle collision, remain calm, slow your vehicle as much as you can and let off of the brake during impact. Since braking through impact causes the hood to dip, this action can actually propel the animal through the windshield. For more on wildlife collisions, visit dmv.org.
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16 | Safety
FIRST AID FOR CHOKING
How can you tell when someone is choking? Signs include: inability to talk, noisy breathing, weak cough, loss of consciousness also blue lips, skin or finger nails. If you see someone in distress, the Red Cross recommends you: ❶ Send someone to call 9-1-1. ➋ Lean the victim forward and deliver 5 back blows with the heel of your hand between the person’s shoulder blades. ➌ Perform 5 quick abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver). ➍ Repeat steps 2-3 until the object has been dislodged. If you’re only comfortable performing the Heimlich maneuver, that is also acceptable. Steps as followed: ❶ Stand behind the victim before placing your arms around their waist. ➋ Place the thumbside of your fist against the middle of the choker’s abdomen just above the navel. ➌ Grab your fist with the other hand. Squeeze tight in a quick, upward motion as if lifting them. ➍ Repeat in sets of 5 until the blockage is gone. Pregnant women: ❶ Same steps as the Heimlich, but the hand placement should be at the base of the breastbone. This may also apply to obese individuals. For infants under the age of one: ❶ Sit if you can. Hold the child face down on your forearm. ➋ Thump in the middle of the back with heel of your hand. ➌ On your forearm, hold the infant face up. Keep the head lower than the torso. Place two fingers at the breastbone. Give 5 quick compressions. ➍ Repeat. ➎ If this doesn’t work, call 9-1-1 and begin CPR. Unconscious: ❶ Lie the person on the ground face up. ➋ Look for a visible blockage in the throat. Using your finger, carefully remove the blockage. ➌ If you cannot remove the blockage, begin CPR.