Latest news with #medicalemergency
Fox News
36 minutes ago
- Health
- Fox News
Two shark attacks reported in separate vacation hotspots as summer beach season starts
A South Carolina beachgoer is lucky to be alive after walking away with serious injuries from a suspected shark attack earlier this week. The incident reportedly occurred off the coast of the south end of Hilton Head Island on Tuesday, a Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue official confirmed to Fox News Digital. "The incident involved a patient with a leg injury consistent with lacerations typically associated with a shark bite," the department said in a statement. Local rescue crews were dispatched to beach marker 24 in Sea Pines Beach at approximately 12:07 p.m. regarding reports of a medical emergency. Firefighters and lifeguards subsequently treated the victim at the scene before transporting her to Hilton Head Island Airport, where she was then airlifted to a local facility in Savannah for further medical treatment. Local officials declined Fox News Digital's request for information regarding the victim's identity and condition, citing privacy regulations. The attack comes just days after a 9-year-old girl was bitten by a shark on Florida's Gulf Coast, according to Fox 13. Leah Lendel was enjoying a snorkeling trip with her family in Boca Grande on June 11 when a shark bit her hand, the outlet reported. The injuries left her hand "hanging by a little piece of skin," a witness reportedly said. Lendel was pulled from the water by a nearby construction crew and airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, where she underwent surgery involving artery grafts, bone reconstruction and nerve repair. "I didn't see anything," Lendel said at a news conference Thursday. "I was just snorkeling and I went up to breathe, then something hard bit me and it tried to take me away. Then I pick up my hand and it's all in blood. Then, I started screaming with my mom. And then, my dad was with me. He picked me up, then we ran to the road. Doctors were able to save Lendel's hand, a feat they partially credit to how "clean" the bite was. "The shark's teeth are so sharp that the cut through the wrist is clean and not jagged, and it doesn't ruin all the tissue," Dr. Alfred Hess said. Lendel anticipates she will return to the water once she has made a full recovery. "She's done a fantastic job, I can already tell you," Dr. Joshua Linnell said. "I just keep looking over at those fingers because we worked hard on that." Lendel's family did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
CNA
6 hours ago
- Health
- CNA
US passenger sues Singapore Airlines, claims allergic reaction to shrimp meal
SINGAPORE: A New York-based paediatrician has sued Singapore Airlines (SIA) for allegedly serving her a meal containing shrimp when she had already informed crew members of her allergy, causing her to suffer a severe allergic reaction. On Oct 8, 2024, Dr Doreen Benary said she had informed one or more crew members after boarding the flight from Frankfurt to John F Kennedy International Airport in New York that she suffers from a shrimp allergy. Despite being informed of her allergy, cabin crew still served Dr Benary, a business class passenger, a meal containing shrimp, court documents show. Dr Benary, unaware that the meal contained shrimp, ate a portion of the meal. Almost immediately after, she "detected the presence of shrimp and began to feel ill". She then claimed she questioned the flight attendant, who admitted she had made an error and apologised. Dr Benary subsequently suffered a 'severe' allergic reaction to the shrimp and fell 'violently ill', requiring the aircraft to make an emergency diversion to Paris, according to court documents. She was then transported by ambulance and underwent emergency medical treatment at two separate medical facilities. Dr Benary said via court documents she had suffered 'great pain, agony and mental anguish' because of the incident, where she was required to undergo 'painful, emergency medical treatment'. She added she suffered both economic and non-economic loss as a result of the incident, and was deprived of her 'enjoyment of life, pursuits and interests' and believes she will continue to be deprived of these in the future. Based on court documents, Dr Benary is asking SIA to pay 'full, fair and reasonable damages' in an amount to be determined at trial. In response to CNA queries, SIA said on Friday (Jun 20) it is "unable to comment on matters before the court". Symptoms associated with shrimp allergies can range from mild irritation such as rashes, hives, nausea and abdominal pain, to more severe symptoms such as tightening of the airway, difficulty in breathing, severe dizziness and loss of consciousness.
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The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Singapore Airlines flight diverted after business class passenger with severe shellfish allergy served shrimp
A transatlantic flight from Germany to New York City was forced to make an emergency landing in France when a 41-year-old pediatrician with a severe shellfish allergy claims she was served a meal containing shrimp – even after making certain to notify the cabin crew about her ailment. Manhattan resident Doreen Benary was unaware there was shrimp in the dish until it was too late, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday and obtained first by The Independent. The complaint says she soon 'fell violently ill,' and the Singapore Airlines 777-300ER diverted to Paris, where Benary was 'transported by ambulance and underwent emergency medical treatment at two separate medical facilities.' Benary's 'adverse reaction to shrimp and the consequential injuries suffered as a result thereof' were due to the carrier's negligence, not any fault of her own, according to the complaint. Of all food allergies, those related to shellfish are among the most dangerous. In severe instances, sufferers can go into anaphylactic shock, a potentially deadly reaction that shuts down the body's airways and can be fatal without immediate medical intervention. A Mayo Clinic case report described a 20-year-old woman with a shellfish allergy who suffered near-fatal anaphylaxis shortly after kissing her boyfriend, who had eaten shrimp earlier that evening. Attorney Abram Bohrer, who is representing Benary, told The Independent he was unable to discuss the lawsuit without her permission. Singapore Airlines did not respond on Wednesday to a request for comment. On October 8, 2024, Benary boarded Singapore Airlines flight SQ026 from Frankfurt to John F. Kennedy International Airport, and took her seat in the business class cabin, according to her complaint. Upon getting on the aircraft, it says Benary told the flight attendants that she 'suffered from a food allergy, specifically to shrimp.' 'Despite the aforesaid warnings, during the course of the subject flight's meal service, a member of [the] cabin crew served [Benary] a meal containing shrimp,' the complaint goes on. Benary was 'unaware that the meal she had been served… contained shrimp until she had ingested a portion' of it, the complaint states. 'Nearly immediately after ingesting a portion of said meal,' the complaint continues, Benary 'detected the presence of shrimp and began to feel ill, wherein she questioned the flight attendant who admitted that she had made an error and apologized.' That's when Benary took a turn for the worse, becoming 'violently ill, requiring the aircraft to perform an emergency diversion to Paris, France,' according to the complaint. There, it says Benary was rushed to the hospital, then a second facility, enduring 'painful emergency medical treatment' in both. One of the cabin crew's responsibilities was 'to be aware of the seriousness of[,] and respond appropriately[,] when advised of a passenger's food allergy,' Benary's complaint argues. 'Thus,' it contends, 'when a cabin crew member was placed on notice of a passenger's food allergy, said crew member had a duty of care to ensure that meals containing such allergens or their ingredients were not served to that particular passenger.' Benary's complaint does not say whether or not she was carrying an EpiPen, a self-administered auto-injector that delivers a life-saving dose of epinephrine in emergencies. However, current FAA regulations do not require airlines to carry easy-to-use EpiPens in their first-aid kits, but only vials of epinephrine, which require a trained medical professional to measure out, calculate the proper concentration, and administer by syringe, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Severe allergic reactions aboard aircraft are exceedingly rare, but they do occur. In 2019, a flight from Miami to Philadelphia was forced to make an emergency landing when a passenger with an acute nut allergy found herself unable to breathe as flight attendants handed out packets of mixed nuts as a snack. In 2022, a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Singapore diverted to Honolulu when another passenger with a nut allergy suffered a serious reaction over the Pacific. Last year, a Delta passenger with a life-threatening shellfish allergy claimed she was thrown off a flight to Boston after informing the cabin crew of her condition, saying the first-class meal included shellfish and that 'they couldn't not serve it.' Benary's complaint says the frightening midair incident caused her 'great pain, agony and mental anguish,' and that she subsequently suffered economic and non-economic losses. She is now demanding 'full, fair and reasonable damages' in an amount to be determined at trial.
Health Line
3 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
What Is Complete Heart Block?
Complete heart block means that there's a complete separation of electrical activity between the upper and lower chambers of the heart. Without prompt medical attention, it can be fatal. Your heart has a carefully coordinated electrical system that controls how it beats. When the heart's usual steady flow of electrical signals is interrupted, it can result in potentially dangerous conditions. One of these is a complete heart block, also known as third-degree atrioventricular block. Complete heart block occurs when electrical impulses that begin in the heart's upper chambers (atria) don't travel down to the lower chambers (ventricles). When this happens, the ventricles may not be able to contract properly and pump blood out to the lungs and the rest of the body. Complete heart block is the most serious type of heart block. First-degree heart block is the mildest and is characterized by a slowdown of electrical impulses from the atria to the ventricles. Second-degree heart block means the impulses occasionally don't reach the ventricles at all, causing the heart to skip a beat. Complete heart block is considered a medical emergency. Without prompt medical attention, it can be life threatening. This article will take a closer look at complete heart block and its causes, symptoms, treatment, and outlook. What causes complete heart block? Complete heart block has a variety of possible causes. In many cases, it may be caused by some type of heart disease, such as: a heart attack cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle) myocardial fibrosis (scarring of heart tissue) heart valve disease Certain medications may also cause complete heart block. Anti-arrhythmic drugs — which doctors prescribe to treat heart rhythms that are too fast, too slow, or unpredictable — can sometimes trigger a heart block. Digoxin, a drug commonly used to treat heart failure, is also associated with heart block. An imbalance of certain electrolytes, such as potassium, can trigger complete heart block. In rare cases, a baby may be born with the condition. Congenital third-degree heart block affects about 1 in 20,000 to 25,000 live births. What are the risk factors? Your risk of developing complete heart block increase with age, especially if you have heart-related issues. An estimated 5% to 10% of people over age 70 who have a history of heart disease develop complete heart block. A 2019 study suggests that people who do not manage their blood pressure or blood glucose levels may also face a greater risk of developing complete heart block. What are the symptoms? Some people with complete heart block experience no noticeable symptoms. For others, symptoms may develop gradually or come on suddenly. Medical emergency Call emergency medical services (9-1-1) in the U.S., if you experience the following symptoms of heart block, and are also associated with heart attack: lightheadedness or dizziness fatigue fainting shortness of breath chest pain or pressure How is complete heart block diagnosed? To diagnose complete heart block, your doctor must be able to assess the electrical activity in the heart. This is usually done with an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). An EKG is a noninvasive test that uses electrodes placed on the chest to record your heart's electrical activity. It can detect many types of arrhythmias, including complete heart block. In some cases, an EKG may not diagnose the condition. This is because complete heart block can be intermittent, meaning it may come and go. That's why diagnosis may also involve heart rhythm monitoring. This is done with a Holter monitor or a patch monitor. These devices continuously monitor and record your heart's rate and rhythm for 24 hours or longer. In addition to these diagnostic tests, your doctor will also: review your medical history ask about your symptoms perform a physical examination review the medications you're currently taking What is the treatment for complete heart block? When complete heart block is first diagnosed, doctors may try to restore healthy electrical activity in the heart with the drug atropine. It's given in cases of bradycardia, an atypically slow heart rhythm. The drug can sometimes work in cases where complete heart block is triggered by a heart attack or medications. If complete heart block was caused by a heart attack, a temporary pacemaker may also be used to help restore the heart's rate and rhythm until the heart muscle has recovered and has healthy blood flow. In most cases of complete heart block, however, a permanent implantable pacemaker is the only solution. A pacemaker is a small, battery-powered device that sends electrical signals through thin, flexible leads into the heart to maintain a steady rhythm. If doctors determine that complete heart block is due to a reversible cause, addressing the cause may cause the heart block to go away. For instance, if a medication triggered complete heart block, treatment will likely involve switching to a different medication. How serious is complete heart block? Complete heart block can lead to serious complications, including cardiac arrest, the abrupt halt to heart and lung function. Cardiac arrest can be fatal if not treated immediately. Because complete heart block causes the heart to work harder to pump blood, one complication is heart failure, a chronic weakening of the heart's pumping ability. Complete heart block also means a reduction in blood flow to the brain, which can cause fainting and falls. What is the outlook? The outlook for complete heart block is much more favorable when it's diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. If complete heart block is treated promptly with a pacemaker or other treatment protocols, the outlook for sustained heart health is promising. Similarly, if complete heart block can be reversed by changing or eliminating certain medications or correcting an electrolyte imbalance, the outlook is excellent. However, even with the right treatment, people with complete heart block are at greater risk of heart failure. If you've had complete heart block, it's especially important to work closely with your doctor or cardiologist to make lifestyle changes and to stay on track with any treatment plan. Bottom line Complete heart block is the most serious type of heart block. It means that there's a total block, or separation of electrical activity, between the upper chambers (atria) and lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. It's considered a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated right away. Complete heart block is often caused by heart disease or a structural issue with the heart. It may also be caused by medications or an electrolyte imbalance. In rare cases, a baby may be born with this condition.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Bobbi was denied access to an Aboriginal midwifery program in her last pregnancy – and nearly lost her life
After a life-threatening three-day labour, Bobbi Lockyer woke up alone in a single room in the intensive care unit of a Perth hospital with an IV drip in her arm. She had lost five litres of blood and had been rushed to intensive care for an emergency hysterectomy. Her new baby had been discharged while she was unconscious into the care of her now ex-partner. 'I woke up alone and thought something had happened to my baby,' she says. 'I was distraught.' With three children already, Lockyer thought she was well prepared for the joys and the challenges of a newborn. But during the birth of her fourth child, now eight years old, she experienced a medical emergency. 'While I was pushing, I literally remember telling them, 'Something isn't right, something's going wrong,'' she says. 'I birthed my baby, and then immediately started haemorrhaging and was rushed into theatre.' The Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Nyulnyul and Yawuru woman says her unease grew throughout her pregnancy. She was moved to another hospital due to zoning changes and was denied access to the Aboriginal midwifery program after being marked as 'high risk', despite repeatedly testing negative for gestational diabetes and her young age. The test is usually only required once between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. Lockyer says she believes she was tested repeatedly because she was Indigenous. 'They said to me I had to do it again and again because there was no way that I would have passed because I was Indigenous and overweight by their standards,' she says. She says it felt like doctors had 'ticked the box to say, 'You're Aboriginal, so you're high risk.' It's racist and it's traumatic.' She felt pressed to accept an induction and epidural, driven by warnings about her baby's and her own health. Her uterus tore, triggered by too much synthetic oxytocin during her medically induced long labour. 'I was rushed into surgery and woke up in ICU several hours later,' she says. They told me my uterus had torn and I'd never have children again.' The experience stood in stark contrast to the birth of her three older children, all born at Perth's King Edward Memorial hospital, Western Australia's major maternity hospital, grounded and loved through culture and family. 'Our family – our sisters, our aunties and mum, are very important part of that birthing process. When you're denied access to that – it's incredibly hard.' Lockyer is one of more than a dozen First Nations women who spoke to Guardian Australia as part of an investigation into alleged racism and discrimination in mainstream maternity services. Aboriginal mothers, midwives and clinicians claim they've witnessed or experienced racial profiling, lack of consent, inadequate care or culturally unsafe treatment – failures they say can erode trust in the healthcare system, contributing to trauma, poor outcomes and long-term fear of seeking care. Lockyer says she 'basically couldn't move' during a painful post-birth recovery and three-week hospital stay. 'I had a scar from my navel down to my vagina and that took six months to heal,' she says. Lockyer says the hospital gave her no psychological support, even after her mother requested counselling on her behalf. 'They said they don't offer anything until six weeks postpartum. I remember just laying there in the hospital crying. I'm holding my newborn. I'm supposed to be celebrating this new life, but I'm mourning the loss of my body.' She says despite a complaint to the hospital, she received no apology, no follow-up or meeting to discuss her concerns. 'We just felt extremely dismissed. Nothing came of it. Nothing.' Asked by Guardian Australia about Lockyer's allegations, the WA Department of Health said it 'can't comment on individual patients' but it was 'committed to improving culturally safe and respectful care for Aboriginal women and families'. It said it provided 'a number of culturally tailored maternity programs' to support Indigenous women through pregnancy, and worked with Aboriginal health practitioners, liaison officers and midwives 'to help women feel safe and supported'. 'The Department continues to work with Aboriginal communities and health partners to build trust and ensure care is culturally safe, trauma-informed, and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal women and families,' it says. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers are up to three times more likely to die during childbirth than other mothers who give birth in Australia. Their babies are more likely to be born preterm, stillborn or die suddenly. A birth trauma inquiry by the New South Wales parliament in 2024 heard harrowing testimony of women receiving poor care, including feeling disrespected or coerced, or experiencing unwanted or unnecessary intervention, and a lack of culturally appropriate care. Dr Marilyn Clarke has worked in obstetrics and gynaecology for more than 20 years. The Worimi woman now works at Coffs Harbour hospital on NSW's mid-north coast. 'The mainstream system is not always a culturally safe space for Aboriginal women, particularly in the maternity spaces [with] the effects of colonisation and effects of racism in the care,' Clarke says. 'I've seen it in action, it still happens. They [non-Indigenous doctors] just don't see it because they're not seeing it through the lens of an Aboriginal person.' Cultural safety training is slowly increasing awareness among junior doctors and staff but Clarke says it needs to be embedded at all levels. Sign up to Five Great Reads Each week our editors select five of the most interesting, entertaining and thoughtful reads published by Guardian Australia and our international colleagues. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Saturday morning after newsletter promotion 'There is definitely an assumption sometimes that [Aboriginal women are] bad mothers, just because of their race,' she says. 'Racial profiling happens big time.' She says Indigenous women have been flagged for review for child protection services just because they were Indigenous and were therefore considered high risk for intervention, or had experienced a lack of care stemming from unconscious biases. 'Complications might be starting to develop, like infection,' she says. 'Picking up signs and symptoms early, getting antibiotics started … It comes down to engagement with services early but also receiving good care.' A 2019 study of 344 Indigenous women living in urban, regional and remote areas of South Australia found more than half felt they had been discriminated against or received unfair treatment by hospitals or health services during pregnancy and soon after childbirth. The same study found Aboriginal mothers who experienced discrimination in perinatal care were more likely to have a baby with a low birthweight, even after adjusting for other causes. Mikayla*, a midwife from the Torres Strait, has spent the last five years in hospitals and clinics based in Cairns, Brisbane and Thursday Island supporting women through pregnancy and postpartum care. She says she witnessed multiple cases where consent was bypassed or ignored – especially for Indigenous women who spoke English as a second or third language. 'One midwife just grabbed a woman's breast without consent and shoved it into the baby's mouth. No tenderness, no care,' she says. 'I had to step in and say something.' She has also seen midwives perform vaginal examinations without asking. 'I asked one woman, 'Is it OK for them to be doing this to you?' and she said no. I told the midwife, 'Even if she doesn't speak English well, at least try to ask for consent.'' Mikayla says she knew of women who were left so traumatised by receiving episiotomies (an incision to widen the birth canal) without proper explanation that they feared having more children. 'They feel stripped of their dignity, their self-determination, their right to a decision they didn't give permission for.' A spokesperson for Queensland Health told Guardian Australia it did not tolerate racism, discrimination or unsafe care. It would not comment on specific cases but all complaints were thoroughly investigated. Queensland is funding 17 First Nations maternity models of care in state-run and Indigenous community-controlled health organisations, the spokesperson said, as well as programs for more First Nations maternity staff, culturally safe care and wrap-around services. They said consultation was under way to 'understand how First Nations people would feel safer in raising concerns about their own health or that of a loved one whilst in hospital'. Lockyer says she still felt 'ripped of those first moments' with her son and now feels anxious when accessing health services. 'That trauma is always there. I get really anxious for them, and I just hope that they're receiving the right care.' * Name has been changed In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. The Indigenous crisis hotline is 13 YARN, 13 92 76
