Health Care

Resuscitation is the name given to the set of procedures that are applied when a person is not breathing, and their heart has possibly stopped. The full set of procedures is known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CRR). Cardio relates to the heart and pulmonary to the lungs.
The person whose heart has stopped (cardiac arrest), or who is not breathing (respiratory arrest), needs immediate treatment to improve the chances of survival. As speed is a key factor in survival, the treatment needs to be started before the arrival of the emergency ambulance and, as most cardiac arrests happen in the home or in the presence of a family member, friend or colleague, CPR skills are essential for everyone to know.
The best outcomes from cardiac or respiratory arrest are achieved when all the steps in the chain of survival (see panel) are in place.
Chain of survival
• Early call for help
• Early CPR
• Early defibrillation
• Early medical care
The first two of these steps are often in the hands of the first aider.
ABC of Resuscitation
1. Above Lay the victim on his back, tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway. Look at the casualty’s chest for signs of breathing.
2. Above If the person is not breathing, pinch the nose shut and keep the chin tilted. Seal your mouth over the casualty’s and give 2 breaths.
3. Above Place interlocked hands on the casualty’s breastbone, press down, then release. Alternate 15 chest compressions with 2 rescue breaths.
An early call for help
Ambulances today carry a range of equipment and treatments vital to the survival of seriously ill casualties. Calling for an ambulance early is an essential part of the chain of survival, particularly for a casualty whose heart has stopped.
Early CPR
CPR words by putting oxygen into the through breathing into the casualty’s mouth or nose and by pushing the blood around the body by pressing on the chest and compressing the heart. The aim is to keep the person alive until emergency help arrives. Sometimes CPR alone will revive somebody whose heart has stopped but more often it is used to buy time until more advanced procedures are available.
Early Defibrillation
The most effective treatment for an adult whose heart has stopped pumping blood is defibrillation. In simple terms, this is an electric shock delivered in a very specific way to encourage the heart to begin beating effectively again. Defibrillators are carried in most ambulances but are also increasingly found in public places such as shopping malls, railway stations and airports, where local workers will have been trained in their use. Their early use is an essential factor in their effectiveness, highlighting again the need for an early call for help.
Early Medical Care
Medical treatments following cardiac and respiratory arrest are improving all the time. Early access to such treatments in the ambulance and in hospital play a major role in long-term survival rates. 

The airway is made up of the nose, mouth and windpipe (trachea). These carry air, containing oxygen, to the lungs and remove the waste product carbon dioxide from the lungs. If the airway becomes blocked, the oxygen levels in the body drop and eventually the vital organs such as the brain and heart stop working. Death will follow unless action is taken.
A number of things can block the airway: blood, food and vomit are among the main culprits. In an unconscious person, however, the biggest risk is from the tongue. When a person loses consciousness the muscles relax. If the person is lying on his back the tongue will fall to the back of the mouth, blocking off the windpipe and stopping oxygen getting into the body.
Clearing the airway is the first step of the essential ABC of first aid. The method of clearing an airway blocked by the tongue is very simple. By tilting the head back and lifting the chin, the tongue is prevented from falling to the back of the throat and the windpipe remains clear.

Open the airway
• Place one hand on the forehead and gently tilt the head back.
• Remove any obvious obstructions from the casualty’s mouth, including dislodged dentures, but leave well-fitting dentures in place.
• Place the fingertips of two fingers under the point of the casualty’s chin and lift the chin. If injury to the neck is suspected, handle the head very gently and try to avoid tilting the head too much.
For a baby, use only one finger to lift the chin and take particular care not to overtilt the head.

Check for breathing
Once the airway is open, the next priority is to check whether or not the person is breathing. Keep the airway open with one hand on the forehead and one hand lifting the chin. Put your cheek to the victim’s face and look down the chest.
• Look for the movement of the chest and stomach.
• Listen for breath sounds.
• Feel for breathing on the side of your face.
If the casualty is breathing, turn into the recovery position.

If the casualty is not breathing
• Call for emergency help.
If you have not already done so, make sure that an ambulance has been called.
• Start resuscitation.

An itchy scalp, a feeling of tightness, visible white flakes-if you’ve ever had dandruff, you’ve got plenty of company. It is a persistent skin disorder of the scalp caused by a tiny yeast fungus called pityrosporum ovale, or P. ovale. This fungus lives on our bodies and scalp all the time, usually without incident. Yet stress, perspiration, hormonal fluctuations, a diet heavy in fat and sugar, or something else entirely can lead to a surge in the amount of P. ovale on your scalp. Although dandruff is associated with dryness, people with oily scalps are not immune-in fact; slick scalps are especially attractive breeding grounds for P. ovale.    
There are numerous dandruff treatments available. Different individuals respond to different types of treatments, so you may want to experiment with the following:
1. Ketoconazole The active ingredient in many dermatological formulas and in the over-the-counter products. These products are generally used one to three times a week, as long as needed.
2. Salicylic acid the beta hydroxyl acid you may have read about in the skin-care chapters. When used to fight dandruff, it loosens the flaky scales stuck to your scalp and hair, so that these flakes can easily be washed away. Some dermatologists believe that removing a large portion of these scales makes it uncomfortable for fungus to continue breeding in large amounts.
3. Selemium sulfide and zinc pyrithione two ingredients used in dandruff shampoos such as Head and Shoulders. Both ingredients decrease the number of pityrosporon cells on the scalp.
4. Tar Found in dandruff shampoos and topical scalp lotions such as T-gel. It is thought that the ingredient is an anti-inflammatory that makes the scalp inhospitable to pityrosporon growth.
5. Topical steroids Anti-inflammatary and anti-itch ingredients that are available in shampoos and lotions prescribed by your doctor.
If your scalp is pink and you notice scales that are yellower and greasier than normal dandruff scales, you may have a severe form of dandruff known as seborrheic dermatitis and you should see a doctor immediately.

Tap water can be good for your skin depending upon the skin type and hardness or softness of water. If your skin is extremely dry, washing the face with tap water will not be helpful due to the presence of salts and calcium in water, which will dry the skin.
Remember the following points:
. Use water-softeners. Bath salts or oils are softening substances and useful for bathing the body.
. Beware of using hard water on the face. Sea water is helpful for the body. It cleanses the skin, firms the muscles, stimulates the circulation and tones up the body. After having a bath or swimming in sea water, wash yourself with fresh water.
. Rub a little almond oil in the skin after having a bath in the sea. Do not forget to protect your hair with a water-tight cap when swimming in the sea.

Skin Allergy: Allergic contact dermatitis occurs when your skin comes in contact with an allergen that your skin is sensitive or allergic to. The reaction usually appears within 48 hours after the initial exposure to the allergen. Symptoms that are commonly seen include the following: redness, swelling, blistering, itching, and weeping. The allergen can be a substance in a product that you have used for many years; it does not have to be a new product. Allergic contact dermatitis occurs more commonly in adults.

Eczema: The terms ‘Eczema’ or ‘Vicharchika’ are synonymous. They refer to distinctive reaction patterns in the skin, which can be either acute or chronic and due to a number of causes. Eczema, or dermatitis as it is sometimes called, is a group of skin conditions, which can affect all age groups. The severity of the disease can vary. In mild forms the skin is dry, hot and itchy, whilst in more severe forms the skin can become broken and raw. Although it can sometimes look unpleasant, eczema can be reduced, though the skin will always be sensitive to flare-ups and need extra care.

Leprosy: Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae; M. leprae multiplies very slowly and the incubation period of the disease is about five years. Symptoms can take as long as 20 years to appear; Leprosy is not highly infectious. It is transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contacts with untreated cases.

Psoriasis: psoriasis is one of the most stubborn skin disease. It is a chronic disease, characterized by thick, red silvery, scale patches of the skin. This disease affects both sexes equally, and is more common during the first fifteen to thirty years, although it may appear at any age. Psoriasis is not contagious.

Ringworm: Ringworm is a fungus infection of the scalp or skin. In the skin ringworm causes a reddish, ring like rash that may itch or burn. The area may be dry and scaly or it may be moist or crusted. The same fungi that infect humans can also infect animals such as dogs and cats. The infection may be acquired from pets as well as from infected children.