WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin
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Due to Wisconsin's numerous lakes and rivers, tourists and residents alike frequently participate in water-related recreation. Unfortunately, drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death, especially in children and young adults. ⋯ This article reviews drowning mortality trends and statistics for Wisconsin and the United States, as well as current recommendations and legislation regarding water safety. We also discuss drowning prevention strategies such as patient education and legislative efforts surrounding swimming pool and boating safety.
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The prevalence of childhood lead poisoning has substantially decreased in Milwaukee, Wisconsin over the past decade. Nevertheless, by the mid 1990s, 30% of children were still found to have elevated blood levels. ⋯ We conclude that the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center Childhood Lead Outreach Project has successfully accessed populations of children with high rates of lead poisoning who had escaped more traditional screening venues and effectively intervened to reduce their BLLs to < 10 micrograms/dL. Moreover, CLOP produced impressive and unanticipated primary prevention benefits in the community at large. The demonstrated ability of community outreach workers to access high-risk populations and reduce exposure to lead hazards suggests the potential of this strategy for extension to other geographic areas, to the patients of private physicians and to address other prevalent, urban health problems like asthma, injuries and violence.
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Although the elderly make up about 12% of the US population, they account for nearly 33% of health care resources expended on trauma. A review of the literature in the area of geriatric trauma revealed a number of factors that influence the likelihood of injury in the elderly population. ⋯ It is important to have a high index of suspicion for injury and a low threshold for invasive monitoring and transfer to an intensive care setting. Considerations in the care of elderly trauma patients include comorbid conditions, pre-injury medications, reduced physiologic reserve, and the physical changes of aging.
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Falls are common in the geriatric and older adult population, often causing significant morbidity or mortality. The geometry of the human body in motion requires a highly functional individual to remain balanced and upright under a variety of conditions and perturbations. ⋯ Medications' therapeutic and side effects frequently contribute to falls. An aggressive approach to falls reduction, including eliminating balance-altering medication, obtaining sub-specialty and balance evaluations when warranted, and requesting home safety assessments is advocated in this review of the current concepts and literature.