Lightning StrikesInjury patterns caused by bolts of lightning.By Marven Ewen, MDMedical DirectorYour general risk of being struck by lightning is about 1/700,000 per year. About 10% of strikes result in death. Of course, that risk can go way up or down depending on a person’s behavior. The specific lightning we are concerned with is generated by…

The Deer Hunter When mixing whiskey and hiking leads to the ER.By Marven Ewen, MDMedical DirectorIn the EMS field, it is not uncommon to have to care for intoxicated patients. Alcohol is often a factor in trauma. We sort of kept an informal record of the highest alcohol level we had seen in a patient.…

Hashimoto’s Disease This autoimmune disorder is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.By Jenny Ewen, BA, NREMTEditor-In-Chief Overview Hashimoto’s disease (also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) is classified as an autoimmune disorder since it’s caused by the immune system attacking the thyroid to the point where it becomes damaged. The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland…

ADHA Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity that even continues into adulthood.By Jenny Ewen, BA, NREMTEditor-In-ChiefOverview Most children (and even some adults) occasionally have difficulty focusing. Those who have ADHD continually have problems with concentration, and growing into adulthood doesn’t mean leaving those symptoms behind – the symptoms continue and can even become more severe.  Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)…

It’s RSV Time Again This contagious virus spreads through the air and through surface contact.By Marven Ewen, MDMedical Director Overview It’s that time of year again: winter. With it comes seasonal medical conditions such as viral bronchiolitis. This is a condition common in young infants, usually under the age of one, where the very small…

Fibromyalgia A perplexing condition that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep issues, and mood problems.By Jenny Ewen, BA, NREMTEditor-In-Chief Overview Fibromyalgia causes pain all over the body, and those with fibromyalgia could actually be more sensitive to pain (known as abnormal pain perception processing) than those without the condition. About four million US adults suffer from…

It was a reasonably quiet night in the Emergency Department. Busy enough to make the time pass but not so busy that I wished I was somewhere else. I was able to respond to the distraught young man when he arrived. At first, I wasn’t sure what the problem was. He was barely able to…

In 18th century Germany, an officer named Baron von Munchausen became well-known for exaggerating the stories of his life – from this grew the mental illness known as Munchausen Syndrome (also known as Factitious Disorder Imposed on Self). Those who suffer from this act as though they suffer from a physical, emotional, or mental disorder…

Sometimes things are not as they seem. One afternoon an elderly patient walked into the ER with a complaint of difficulty breathing. He said he had a gradual onset of shortness of breath over the past couple days. It seemed to be worse with activity or when sitting. He denied any pain associated. He also…

The first time I was involved in a major trauma case, I was an undergraduate intern on my first night on the surgical service. I was paged to the ED for a victim of a motor vehicle accident. I arrived to the stabilization room with the rest of the team. My role would be assisting…