Australia\u27s health 1996 : the fifth biennial report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

The fifth biennial report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. This publication provides comprehensive information and the most recent data available on health and health services in Australia. It also details key sources of health information and statistics in this country, and directions for the future. Australia\u27s Health 1996 is an important reference text and information source for all Australians with an interest in health, in addition to medical and paramedical personnel and students, health workers and those working in or studying health administration, policy, planning and management

Australian Industrial and Construction Injuries, Diseases and Fatalities; and Recommendations for Safety Practices

The construction and building industry is one of the most dangerous industries worldwide. A review of the literature indicates a direct correlation between lack of safety culture and the occurrence of accidents within this industry. As a result of this research, nine OHS management system models have been recommended which are formed from a cluster of factors and from many different disciplines to be used as an assessment tool, to prevent accidents in construction or related industries

Building the evidence base for river drowning prevention

Introduction: Rivers account for a significant proportion of the global burden of drowning. Rivers are the leading location for unintentional fatal drowning in Australia. Through a public health approach, this research provides a framework to develop a detailed understanding (epidemiology, risk factors and strategies for the prevention) of unintentional fatal river drowning in Australia. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used including: a systematic literature review; epidemiological analysis of a 10‐year total population case‐series and review of coronial recommendations; a CATI survey, community surveys, breathalysing and direct observation; and a modified Delphi process to develop prevention strategies. Results: Males (80%), adults (85%), alcohol (41%) and increasing geographical remoteness (very remote 29 times [RR= 28.8] the risk of drowning compared to major city residents) are key risk factors for river drowning. Similar numbers of males and females visit rivers, often for different activities with river visitations more likely in the afternoon, on hot days, weekends and public holidays. Adjusting for exposure, older males (75+ years) had the greatest relative risk (RR= 1.12). Blood alcohol concentrations ≥0.05% were seen among both males and females with alcohol consumption at rivers more prevalent in the afternoon and early evening. Eight percent of river drowning cases generated coronial recommendations. Prevention strategies considered more likely to be effective included: avoiding alcohol; flood‐related early warning systems; child supervision; learning to swim; lifejackets; and community‐wide rescue and resuscitation skills. Discussion: Preventing river drowning presents is a wicked problem, where usage of such locations is encouraged, often accompanied with alcohol consumption and a lack of on‐site rescue services. Enacting legislation and subsequent enforcement are challenging due to mixed use, geographical dispersal and isolation. River drowning attracts an estimated economic burden of $318.70 million dollars per annum. Further investment in the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence‐based drowning prevention interventions is warranted. Strategies such as community wide rescue and resuscitation skills, especially in remote locations, must be considered. Conclusion: This research, the first to specifically explore river drowning in the world, highlights the value of taking a public health approach. By building a broad evidence base of the causal factors increasing river drowning risk, the likelihood of prevention strategies being effective is enhanced. Research findings were used in the development of the 'Respect the River' and 'Don't Let Your Mates Drink and Drown' drowning prevention programs, in partnership with Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, which have contributed to an 18% reduction in river drowning to date

The visceral response to underbody blast

Blast is the most common cause of injury and death in contemporary warfare. Blast injuries may be categorised based upon their mechanism with underbody blast describing the effect of an explosive device detonating underneath a vehicle. Torso injuries are highly lethal within this environment and yet their mechanism in response to underbody blast is poorly understood. This work seeks to understand the pattern and mechanism of these injuries and to link them to physical underbody blast loading parameters in order to enable mitigation and prevention of serious injury and death. An analysis of the United Kingdom Joint Theatre Trauma Registry for underbody blast events demonstrates that torso injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality from such incidents. Mediastinal injury, including those trauma to the heart and thoracic great vessels is shown confer the greatest lethality within this complex environment. This work explores the need for a novel in vivo model of underbody loading in order to explore the mechanisms of severe torso injury and to define the relationship between the “dose” of underbody loading and resultant injury. The work includes the development of a new rig which causes underbody blast analogous vertical accelerations upon a seated rat model. Injuries causes by this loading to both the chest and abdomen can be best predicted by the examining the kinematic response of the torso to the loading. Axial compression of the torso, a previously undescribed injury metric is shown to be the best predictor of injury. The ability of these results to translate to a human model is explored in detail, with focus upon the biomechanical rationale; that torso organ injuries occur through both direct compression and shearing of tethering attachments. Survivability of underbody blast could be improved by applying these principles to the design and modification of seats, vehicles and posture.Open Acces

Washington University Record, January 24, 2008

https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record/2129/thumbnail.jp

Bradford Non-Lethal Weapons Research Project (BNLWRP). Research Report No. 7.

yesThe length of this Bradford Non-Lethal Weapons Research Project Report No.7 again reflects the interest related to non-lethal weapons from academics, research institutes, policy makers, the police and the military. A number of reports, particularly concerning the Taser electro-shock weapon, have been published from these sectors since our last BNLWRP Report No.6 in October 2004. Some, such as the Amnesty International (U.S. and Canada) have again raised, and stressed, the concerns about the safety of the weapon and the number of deaths associated with its use. Others, such as the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Human Effects Center of Excellence (HECOE), Human Effectiveness and Risk Characterization of the Electromuscular Incapacitation Device ¿ A Limited Analysis of the TASER. (March 2005) concluded that the Taser was relatively safe, but that further research was needed into potential bio-effects, and for continual development into a safer weapon. Reaction to these reports was mixed. Some US legislators called for limitations on the use of Tasers, more accountability, and the detailed recording of incidents in which they were used.1 Others called for a ban on their use until more testing was carried out regarding their potentially harmful effects. A number of US police forces stopped the use of Taser, slowed down the deployment and ordering of the weapons, reviewed their rules of engagement and reporting, and revisited their operational guidelines. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) published the Electro- Muscular Disruption Technology (EMDT). A Nine-Step Strategy For Effective Deployment. (April 2005) as a response to these growing concerns. Certain elements of the media, especially The Arizona Republic2 and others, took a hostile view of what they considered the scandal of the number of deaths and associated serious injuries caused by the Taser. Taser International challenged allegations that their weapon was directly responsible for these deaths and quoted reports, such as the Madison Police Department report (February 2005), the study by McDaniel, W & Stratbucker, R & Nerheim, M & Brewer, J. Cardiac Safety of Neuromuscular Incapacitating Defensive Devices (January 2005), and the U.K. DOMILL Statement (March 2005) to support their view. The controversy continues. Other than Tasers, there are still few reports of the newer non-lethal technologies actually being deployed in operations. The exception to this is the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), which is now in widespread use in Iraq. Little additional information has appeared regarding the `active denial¿ weapon we have described in previous reports

Rural-urban TBI outcomes : system design, experience and paramedic intervention

The results of this research suggest that outcomes following severe TBI are similar between rural and urban locations, and that paramedics face unique challenges when managing high-acuity low-frequency cases in rural areas