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Issue 3 - July 2011 |
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From the Editors Desk
Welcome to the third issue of The Responder, Be Safe Paramedical’s official newsletter. With our involvement in healthcare we are often faced with having to choose between various companies for our equipment needs. Obviously we are all trying to save costs; such is the nature of the economy in South Africa. Even so, one has to always ask, what am I really getting for my money? What is this company doing to make sure I am getting a safe product? These are things that we should carefully consider, especially when we get a quote on a fibre optic laryngoscope from Tip Top Plastics & Trading cc. The article focuses on why Be Safe Paramedical remains your best choice for medical equipment and some information about what’s up and coming. Be Safe Paramedical is pleased to bring you our monthly special. See the Be Safe Specials Column for details. We introduce our readers to Professional Emergency Care/ Crissiscare in our Company Profile Column. With that said, we invite you to sit back and enjoy this edition of The Responder. Yours in Healthcare |
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Be Safe Special
Vacuum Mattress Set
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Be Safe Product Showcase
Paediatric Head Immobilisation Device Emergency Care Services often have the challenge of using equipment intended for adults on paediatric patients. This is not ideal, and Be Safe Paramedical has made some good progress in making paediatric specific equipment affordable and accessible. The Paediatric Head Immobilisation device is available from Be Safe Paramedical. See here for details: http://be-safe.co.za/index.php/immobilisation
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Be Safe Paramedical IntraosseousNeedle Intraosseous vascular access was first described in the 1920’s. Since then, over 150 articles have appeared in peer-reviewed journals on paediatric intraosseous access. After several studies it was found that intraosseous access was simple, fast and safe. One of the major hindrances to its use particularly in state funded services was the cost implication. Be Safe Paramedical markets an excellent range of intraosseous needles available in 15, 16 and 18G. See here for details: http://be-safe.co.za/index.php/disposables
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Be Safe Paramedical Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) LMA’s are widely used for airway management in short surgical procedures and in certain EMS contexts. Be Safe Paramedical has an excellent and cost effective range available in sizes 1 -5. See here for details: http://be-safe.co.za/index.php/airway-care
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Health Focus Making the Difference |
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There is perhaps some merit in the saying that a medic (I use the term broadly to include all qualifications in emergency healthcare) is only as good as his/her equipment. In addition, it would be irresponsible for me not to mention that the thought process behind the care is equally important (if not more) and your equipment will be useless if your diagnoses and care plan do not match the patient’s needs. Having been involved with Be Safe Paramedical on a consultancy basis over the past couple of years, I have found it exciting to note that the company has always strived to involve the end-user in the process of bringing new equipment to the health profession. As such, products that are sub-standard simply never find their way to the patient’s side. Many products have done their rounds in real healthcare situations and have as a result being deemed suitable or simply put ‘rubbish’. I once watched Mike Kros, put a new K.E.D (Kendrick’s Extrication Device) which was been punted by an overseas company through some serious abuse in his office, as a result, it snapped in two, and so the quality assurance process came to a rather abrupt end and so did the chances of ever seeing this product in circulation. Patient: 1 - overseas company punting sub-standard equipment: 0. There are various products been promoted at the moment that I believe will make a significant impact on both in-hospital and pre-hospital healthcare. Again, I am sure you have experienced the frustration of trying to apply a pressure bandage to a bleeder; you have to apply the pad, then bandage and then place tape around the bandage to stop in from unravelling and therefore losing pressure over the wound. Most often pressure is insufficient and as a result, you place several more pressure bandages over the first. A bit of movement and it all comes undone and you have to start all over again. Here’s the solution: The CritiBand designed and marketed by Be Safe Paramedical is a superb pressure bandage with a super absorbent sewn in sterile pad. The material used to manufacture the CritiBand does not require the additional tape applied around conventional bandages as it simply wraps onto itself and maintains consistent wound pressure. Performing a life saving procedure is never easy. Performing life saving procedures under immense pressure is near impossible, unless all equipment needed to perform the procedure is all in one place and is guaranteed not to fail you, or more specifically, fail the patient. In addition to simply having all equipment at hand, what about minimising the potential for cross infection during the procedure? The pre-hospital environment is synonymous with having to make use of equipment that was designed to be used in environments where additional infection control measures exist. Have you ever witnessed an in-hospital chest drain being performed without some form of sterile area? If this procedure was performed pre-hospital, would the practitioner have access to the same level of sterility?
There are currently seven products in the range and these include packs for performing: Needle Thoracostomy, Needle Cricothyroidotomy, Surgical Airway, Urinary Catheterisation, Umbilical Vein Cannulation, Nasogastric Tube Insertion, Intraosseous Infusion and Emergency Childbirth. A lot of thought and time has gone into the development of these packs and some of the advantages of using them include:
It is true that any company can market and sell medical products. I have had my fair share of bad experiences with them. Insight into end user needs and the importance of quality play a huge role in ensuring safe and useful products finding their way to patients. It’s always exciting to be involved in a company that is progressive, a company that is constantly trying to find new ways to make healthcare safer and clinical actions less prone to failure. It’s exciting to be involved in brain storming that could ultimately result in a new piece of equipment been born that could be directly responsible for the saving of many lives. Exciting times lay ahead. We look forward to having you join us on the journey.
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Organisational Profile: PEC / Crisescare Professional Emergency Care (PEC) has been training since 1995 and offer practical relevant training following the latest international protocols. Their philosophy is that training is best done in a fun relaxed environment. PEC believes that Emergency Care is a very practical subject and can only be learnt with hands on instruction. Therefore their training courses are run in a relaxed environment where good theoretical and practical learning takes place at the pace of the students. Following the latest educational research they provide a learning environment where a learner will have maximum access to manikins to practice under supervision to ensure long term memory of life saving skills. Their instructors all hold internationally recognized resuscitation instructor qualifications with the American Heart Association as well as First Aid Instructor Qualifications. They are all registered Health Care Professionals (HPCSA), with years of practical hands on experience as active EMS providers. This practical "on the road" experience enables their instructors to draw from real life situations, making the training exciting, practical and applicable. PEC is an accredited training institution with the South African Maritime Safety Authority and Department of Labour. Crisiscare is a Training Centre dedicated to providing training to medical professionals. They believe that every health care professional should be given opportunity to be challenged to grow and update their knowledge and skills. This is done in an environment where every participant is treated with respect and encouraged to improve on their knowledge and skills, meeting outcomes following the latest international guidelines. They aim to train content based on evidence. And so they offer courses that are recognized internationally as well as drawing up training curricula that address a specific need for a specific group of health professionals. All programmes are CPD accredited.
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Healthcare Fun
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Healthcare Diary Located at 56 Victoria Road, Plumstead, Cape Town, Crisescare has provided the following details of courses scheduled for 2011. EMS Refresher Courses BAA refresher Course – 10 – 12 August 2011 AEA Refresher Course – 18 – 20 July 2011 ALS Refresher Course – 18 – 20 November 2011 Ethics in EMS Workshop – 8 August 2011 In addition to the above courses, International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) courses are scheduled on a monthly basis. Please check www.pec.co.za for course dates and costs. Their contact details are: Tel -27 (21) 705 6459
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We welcome your comments and feedback Contact the Editor
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Cape Town - Head Office Johannesburg Office |
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The CritiPack™ range of products by Be Safe Paramedical will go a long way in promoting both rapid application and improving general hygiene when performing elective and emergency procedures on patients.
