Hepatitis A Risk: Aldi Grocery Stores and Raley’s Family of Fine Foods Recall Frozen Berries

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Dec 06, 2019

Posted by Salvatore J. Zambri, founding member and partner. Aldi Grocery Stores and Raley’s Family of Fine Foods recently voluntarily recalled all frozen raspberries and frozen berry mixes containing raspberries made by Wawona Frozen Foods because of a potential risk of Hepatits A contamination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide an overview of Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route   or consumption of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis A is a self-limited disease that does not…

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How And Why Nurses Get Overworked, Overwhelmed, And Undersupported — And What This Means For Your Health

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Dec 02, 2019

Nursing isn’t for the faint of heart. This admirable, but challenging profession can take both a physical and mental toll on hardworking nurses, who often lack the support they so desperately need. In turn, patients suffer worse health outcomes. Hence, the urgent need for the medical profession to address the following issues in modern nursing: Excessive Hours Nurses work long hours, often remaining within medical facilities long after their twelve-hour shifts have technically ended. Grueling schedules are especially common among newly-licensed nurses, with research from the New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing suggesting that over half work voluntary…

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Unexpected Emergency Room Dangers

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Nov 27, 2019

The ER should be a place of refuge, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case in far too many hospitals, where patients are vulnerable to a whole host of surprising hazards. Infection Emergency rooms are breeding grounds for bacteria, making patients with already compromised immune systems that much more vulnerable to infection. A study of long-term care facility residents published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal revealed that five percent of those who visited emergency rooms acquired new infections. Surgical site infections (SSI) are especially common in the ER. While these infections occasionally only prompt mild irritation, some are serious…

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The Most Dangerous Places on Black Friday — And How to Stay Safe

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Nov 25, 2019

There is more to Black Friday than discounts alone. This post-Thanksgiving occasion has become a huge cultural phenomenon, capable of rousing people from their turkey-induced slumber to fight cold weather, long lines, and aggressive shoppers. Discounts and freebies abound, but dangers do as well. A morbid but enlightening website highlights the annual Black Friday death count, referencing shocking altercations that led to serious injuries and even mortalities. While such incidents remain rare, the following Black Friday dangers should not be discounted: Roads And Parking Lots Frenzied crowds receive the bulk of Black Friday attention, but the day’s real hazards may,…

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How Other Countries Handle Doctor And Hospital Negligence

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Nov 25, 2019

Medical negligence is an international reality, but it looks considerably different from one country to the next. Certain types of negligence, for example, are more prevalent in some regions than others. When such behavior leads to legal action, malpractice claims may be handled differently based on local legislation. A thorough understanding of these disparities is critical not only when traveling, but also in understanding medical malpractice at home — and how targeted changes could produce better outcomes in hospitals and in court. Medical Malpractice’s Link to Health Care Quality The World Health Organization regards the prevalence of medical malpractice litigation…

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Driving Dangers Before and During the Thanksgiving Holiday

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Nov 22, 2019

  As one of the year’s biggest travel holidays, Thanksgiving prompts its fair share of traffic headaches. It’s only natural to grumble about gridlock, but traffic is not the only driving concern worth considering. Unfortunately, a variety of road-based dangers threaten to ruin your holiday weekend. Icy Roads In many regions, Thanksgiving weekend marks the beginning of the winter driving season, complete with deceptively icy roads. Temperatures hovering around 32 degrees Fahrenheit can prove especially dangerous, as they may prompt a hazardous cycle of freezing and thawing. Combine icy conditions with rushed drivers traveling above the speed limit, and you…

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What Happens When an EMT Makes a Medical Error Or Commits Negligence?

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Nov 19, 2019

Medical negligence is typically associated with doctors, nurses, and other hospital-based professionals. Often, however, the most devastating acts of negligence occur long before patients reach the emergency room. Like any medical professional deemed responsible for patient suffering, EMTs can be held liable. Unfortunately, patients often struggle to prove negligence, as evidence surrounding EMT activity is often murky, at best. Common Types of EMT Negligence EMT negligence can take many forms. Some errors may prompt immediate damage, while others may impact later treatment efforts among doctors and nurses. Key mistakes include: Delays in arrival prompted by dispatch errors. Failure to check…

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Is Your Home Fire-Safe?

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Nov 14, 2019

When was the last time you thought about fire safety and prevention in your home? From 2012-2016, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of around 355,400 home fires per year, which caused a total annual average of 2,560 civilian deaths and 11,670 injuries. Fire safety awareness is an essential first step to avoiding such a situation yourself. October Fire Safety month may be over, but it is always a good time to make sure you have everything you need to keep yourself and your family safe. Here’s a quick and easy checklist to go over: Check that your home…

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How Power Outages and Natural Disasters Interrupt Hospital Operations

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Nov 13, 2019

Hospitals are far more vulnerable than they appear. Even a brief power outage can place patients at risk. Below, we highlight a few examples of the perils prompted by natural disasters and accidental outages: The Peril of Natural Disasters Hurricane Katrina serves as a particularly notable example of the havoc natural disasters can wreak on otherwise reliable hospitals. Many survivors recall the terrors that overtook medical professionals and patients alike as floodwaters approached Memorial Medical Center, where the power was quickly knocked out — and where temperatures soon exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Eventually, staff members were forced to evacuate patients…

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A Basic Checklist For Getting the Attention You Need in the Emergency Room

Posted By Regan Zambri Long | Posted on: Nov 10, 2019

While TV shows make emergency room scenarios seem fast-paced, real-life visits to the ER may involve a surprising amount of waiting. Between wait times and slow treatments, experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that the average patient spends a full two hours in the emergency room. During that time, many patients feel all but invisible. Doctors may be too rushed and too frenzied to respond appropriately to their concerns. This is no time to give up, however. The following tips will help you gain the attention you so desperately need at this critical time: Don’t Minimize…

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