Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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On-scene improvised and interim decontamination protocols in the Initial Operational Response to chemical incidents aim for rapid intervention to minimise injury before specialist capabilities arrive. This study examines the effectiveness of UK improvised and interim protocols conducted in sequence. ⋯ This research supports current practice of starting decontamination as soon as possible after chemical exposure and highlights the importance of implementing interim decontamination following improvised decontamination.
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Underutilisation of thrombolysis is a major problem in patients with stroke in Bangladesh as patients do not arrive within the therapeutic window due to delays in their way to emergency department. This study aims to assess the time delay from patients' symptom onset to arrival in the hospital and the factors that are associated with it. ⋯ Nearly 90% of the patients were late to arrive (>4.5 hours) at hospital and referral delay comprises the majority of the prehospital delay. Therefore, fast symptom recognition and the urgency of seeking healthcare as soon as symptoms appear should be the focus of public awareness efforts.
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Patients with end-of-life care (EoLC) needs present to the emergency departments (ED) frequently and at times, it can be difficult to provide a high standard of care. Within the Irish setting, there is limited literature on the provision of EoLC in EDs and this study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the perceptions of emergency medicine (EM) clinicians regarding the provision of EoLC in EDs in Ireland. ⋯ EM clinicians agree that they are comfortable breaking bad news and discussing EoLC with patients and families, but disagree that adequate resources and infrastructure are in place to provide a high standard of EoLC in Irish EDs. Challenges exist centred on training and infrastructure and addressing these may lead to enhanced EoLC in the future.