Shaking Baby Syndrome Essay -- essays research papers

Shaken Baby Syndrome Imagine yourself as a sweet, innocent, precious little baby. You are totally dependant upon adults to give you what you need and most importantly love. Your only means of communication is crying so you cry when you need to be fed, when you need your diaper changed, when you aren’t feeling so well, or when you just want some attention. You are crying and someone comes over to you. They pick you up, but instead of holding you and comforting you, talking affectionately to you, they shake you violently and vigorously. You are a baby, imagine the fear and pain that the shaking causes you. This is a form of child abuse and what is even harder to believe is that it actually happens. The correct term is Shaken Baby Syndrome and it is a form of abuse that is happening far and wide.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What exactly is Shaking Baby Syndrome? Shaken Baby Syndrome is a serious brain injury that occurs when adults, frustrated and angry with children, shake then violently, and Shaken Baby Syndrome mostly occurs when a child receives numerous rapid shakes. It can also occur when a baby is slammed against a hard object; head impact is not necessary but does frequently occur. Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs frequently in infants younger than six months old, yet can occur up to the age of 5. (Showers, 1997.) In reality, shaking a baby if only for a few seconds can injure the baby for life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Often frustrated parents or other persons responsible for a child’s care feel that shaking a baby is a harmless way to make a child stop crying. The number one reason why a baby is shaken is because of inconsolable crying. (National Exchange Club Foundation, 1998) An infant may spend two to three hours a day crying. (The Epilepsy Association of Central Florida) A caregiver momentarily gives in to the frustration of responding to a crying baby by shaking. Caregivers may be inadequately prepared for children.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why is shaking a baby so dangerous? A baby’s head and neck are especially vulnerable to injury because the head is so large and the neck muscles are still weak. A baby’s neck is to weak to support their heavy head so when the baby is shaken the heads swings back and forth. In addition, the baby’s brain and blood vessels are very fragile and easily damaged by whiplash mo... ...n a coma, being in a vegetative state, and the worst, death. One in every four babies shaken dies. The rest have to deal with the injuries and symptoms that will affect the rest of their innocent lives. Twenty five to thirty percent of babies shaken die (National Shaken Baby Syndrome). Immediate medical attention can help reduce the impact of shaking, but many children are left with permanent damage from the shaking. The treatment of survivors falls into 3 major categories. Those categories are medical, behavioral, and educational. In addition to medical care, children may need speech and language therapy, vision therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and special education services. (Showers, 1997) Many incidents of Shaken Baby Syndrome are not reported out of fear. It is important to seek immediate and early medical attention. Serious complications and even death can be avoided. Exactly how much force is needed to cause injuries? No firm answer exists as to the exact number of shakes necessary or how long a person might typically shake a child. In most cases the period of shaking is 5-10 seconds. (National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome) To cause brain damage, severe

Pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes Essay

Gestational diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that is first recognized during pregnancy. The condition occurs in approximately 4% of all pregnancies. What Causes Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy Almost all women have some degree of impaired glucose intolerance as a result of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. That means that their blood sugar may be higher than normal, but not high enough to have diabetes. During the later part of pregnancy (the third trimester), these hormonal changes place pregnant woman at risk for gestational diabetes. During pregnancy, increased levels of certain hormones made in the placenta (the organ that connects the baby by the umbilical cord to the uterus) help shift nutrients from the mother to the developing fetus. Other hormones are produced by the placenta to help prevent the mother from developing low blood sugar. They work by resisting the actions of insulin. Over the course of the pregnancy, these hormones lead to progressive impaired glucose intolerance (higher blood sugar levels). To try to decrease blood sugar levels, the body makes more insulin to get glucose into cells to be used for energy. Usually the mother’s pancreas is able to produce more insulin (about three times the normal amount) to overcome the effect of the pregnancy hormones on blood sugar levels. If, however, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to overcome the effect of the increased hormones during pregnancy, blood sugar levels will rise, resulting in gestational diabetes. Complications of Gestational Diabetes Diabetes can affect the developing fetus throughout the pregnancy. In early pregnancy, a mother’s diabetes can result in birth defects and an increased rate of miscarriage. Many of the birth defects that occur affect major organs such as the brain and heart. During the second and third trimester, a mother’s diabetes can lead to over-nutrition and excess growth of the baby. Having a large baby increases risks during labor and delivery. For example, large babies often require caesarean deliveries and if he or she is delivered vaginally, they are at increased risk for trauma to their shoulder. In addition, when fetal over-nutrition occurs and hyperinsulinemia  results, the baby’s blood sugar can drop very low after birth, since it won’t be receiving the high blood sugar from the mother. However, with proper treatment, you can deliver a healthy baby despite having diabetes. Risks for Gestational Diabetes: The following factors increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy Being overweight prior to becoming pregnant (if you are 20% or more over your ideal body weight) Being a member of a high risk ethnic group (Hispanic, Black, Native American, or Asian) Having sugar in your urine Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose (blood sugar levels are high, but not high enough to be diabetes) Family history of diabetes (if your parents or siblings have diabetes Previously giving birth to a baby over 9 pounds Previously giving birth to a stillborn baby Having gestational diabetes with a previous pregnancy Having too much amniotic fluid (a condition called polyhydramnios) Many women who develop gestational diabetes have no known risk factors. Gestational Diabetes Diagnosed: High risk women should be screened for gestational diabetes as early as possible during their pregnancies. All other women will be screened between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. To screen for gestational diabetes, you will take a test called the oral glucose tolerance test. This test involves quickly drinking a sweetened liquid, which contains 50g of sugar. The body absorbs this sugar rapidly, causing blood sugar levels to rise within 30-60 minutes. A blood sample will be taken from a vein in your arm 1 hour after drinking the solution. The blood test measures how the sugar solution was metabolized (processed by the body). A blood sugar level greater than or equal to 140mg/dL is recognized as abnormal. If your results are abnormal based on the oral glucose tolerance test, another test will be given after fasting for several hours. In women at high risk of developing gestational diabetes, a normal screening test result is followed up with another screening test at 24-28 weeks f or confirmation of the diagnosis. Gestational diabetes is managed by: Monitoring blood sugar levels four times per day before breakfast and 2 hours after meals. Monitoring blood sugar before all meals may also become necessary. Monitoring urine for ketones, an acid that indicates your diabetes is not under control. Following specific dietary guidelines as instructed by your doctor. You’ll be asked to distribute your calories evenly throughout the day. Exercising after obtaining your health care provider’s permission. Monitoring weight gain. Taking insulin, if necessary. Insulin is currently the only diabetes medication used during pregnancy. Controlling high blood pressure. Monitor Sugar Levels Testing your blood sugar at certain times of the day will help determine if your exercise and eating patterns are keeping your blood sugar levels in control, or if you need extra insulin to protect your developing baby. Your health care provider will ask you to maintain a daily food record and ask you to record your home sugar levels. Testing your blood sugar involves pricking your finger with a lancet device (a small, sharp needle), putting a drop of blood on a test strip, using a blood sugar meter to display your results, recording the results in a log book, and then disposing the lancet and strips properly (in a â€Å"sharps† container or a hard plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle). Bring your blood sugar readings with you to your medical appointments so your health care provider can evaluate how well your blood sugar levels are controlled and determine if changes need to be made to your treatment plan. Your health care provider will show you how to use a glucose meter. He or she can also tell you where to get a meter. You may be able to borrow it from your hospital, as many hospitals have loaner meter programs for women with gestational diabetes. The goal of monitoring is to keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. The ranges include Time of TestTarget Blood Sugar Reading Before breakfastplasma below 105; whole blood below 95 2 Hours After Mealsplasma below 130; whole blood below 120 Insulin treatment is started if above levels are not maintained. Insulin for  Gestational Diabetes Based on your blood sugar monitoring results, your health care provider will tell you if you need to take insulin in the form of injections during pregnancy. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar. If insulin is prescribed for you, you may be taught how to perform the insulin injection procedure. As your pregnancy progresses, the placenta will make more pregnancy hormones and larger doses of insulin may be needed to control your blood sugar. Your health care provider will adjust your insulin dosage based on your blood sugar log. When using insulin, a â€Å"low blood glucose reaction,† or hypoglycemia can occur if you do not eat enough food, skip a meal, do not eat at the right time of day, or if you exercise more than usual. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include Confusion, Dizziness, Feeling shaky, Headaches, Sudden hunger, Sweating, Weakness Hypoglycemia is a serious problem that needs to be treated right away. If you think you are having a low blood sugar reaction, check your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is less than 60 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), eat a sugar-containing food, such as 1/2 cup of orange or apple juice; 1 cup of skim milk; 4-6 pieces of hard candy (not sugar-free); 1/2 cup regular soft drink; or 1 tablespoon of honey, brown sugar, or corn syrup. Fifteen minutes after eating one of the foods listed above, check your blood sugar. If it is still less than 60 mg/dL, eat another one of the food choices above. If it is more than 45 minutes until your next meal, eat a bread and protein source to prevent another reaction. Record all low blood sugar reactions in your log book, including the date, time of day the reaction occurred and how you treated it. Diet Change with Gestational Diabetes If you have gestational diabetes, follow these eating tips: Eat three small meals and two or three snacks at regular times every day. Do not skip meals or snacks. Carbohydrates should be 40%-45% of the total calories with breakfast and a bedtime snack containing 15-30 grams of carbohydrates. If you have morning sickness, eat 1-2 servings of crackers, cereal, or pretzels before getting out of bed. Eat small, frequent meals  throughout the day and avoid fatty, fried, and greasy foods. If you take insulin and have morning sickness, make sure you know how to treat low blood sugar. Choose foods high in fiber such as whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables. All pregnant women should eat 20-35 grams of fiber a day. Fats should be less than 40% of calories with less than 10% consumed being from saturated fats. Drink at least 8 cups (or 64 ounces) of liquids per day. Make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals in your daily diet. Ask your health care provider about taking a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement to meet the nutritional needs of your pregnancy. Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve your posture and decrease some common discomforts such as backaches and fatigue. Being fit during pregnancy means safe, mild to moderate exercise at least three times a week. But, regardless of gestational diabetes, every pregnant woman should consult with her health care provider before beginning an exercise program. He or she can give you personal exercise guidelines, based on your medical history. Since both insulin and exercise lower blood sugar, you should follow these additional exercise guidelines to avoid a low blood glucose reaction: Always carry some form of sugar with you when exercising, such as glucose tablets or hard candy. Eat one serving of fruit or the equivalent of 15 grams of carbohydrate for most activities lasting 30 minutes. If you exercise right after a meal, eat this snack after exercise. If you exercise 2 hours or more after a meal, eat the snack before exercise. Pregnancy Weight Gain The recommended amount of weight gain during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy weight, whether there is more than one fetus, and the trimester. Typically more weight gain is expected during the second and third trimester and recommended intakes of calories should increase at that time. Gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy by eating a healthy, balanced diet is a good sign that your baby is getting all the nutrients he or she needs and is growing at a healthy rate. It is not necessary to â€Å"eat for two† during pregnancy. It’s true that you need extra calories from nutrient-rich foods to help your baby grow, but you generally  need to consume only 200 to 300 more calories per day than you did before you became pregnant to meet the needs of your growing baby. Ask your health care provider how much weight you should gain during pregnancy. A woman of average weight before pregnancy can expect to gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. You may need to gain more or less weight, depending on what your doctor recommends. In general, you should gain about 2-4 pounds during your first 3 months of pregnancy and 1 pound a week for the remainder of your pregnancy. Where the weight goes Baby8 pounds Placenta2-3 pounds Amniotic fluid2-3 pounds Breast tissue2-3 pounds Blood supply4 pounds Fat stores for delivery and breastfeeding5-9 pounds Uterus increase2-5 pounds Total25 to 35 pounds Baby After Delivery Your baby’s blood sugar level will be tested immediately after birth. If the blood sugar is low, he or she will be given sugar water to drink or by an intravenous tube in the vein. Your baby may be sent to a special care nursery for observation during the first few hours after birth to make sure he or she doesn’t have a low blood glucose reaction. If you had gestational diabetes, there is an increased risk that your newborn will develop jaundice. Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin that occurs when bilirubin is present in the baby’s blood. Bilirubin is a pigment that causes jaundice and is released when extra red blood cells build up in the blood and can’t be processed fast enough. Jaundice goes away rapidly with treatment that often involves exposing your baby to special lights to get rid of the pigment. Gestational diabetes does increase the risk that your child will have diabetes in the future. Usually with gestational diabetes, blood sugar levels return to normal about 6 weeks after childbirth because the placenta, which was producing the extra hormones that caused insulin  resistance, is gone. Your doctor will check your blood sugar levels after your baby is born to make sure your blood sugar level has returned to normal. Some doctors recommend an oral glucose tolerance test 6-8 weeks after delivery to check for diabetes. You should also be screened for diabetes in the future. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 60% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later-in-life. By maintaining an ideal body weight, following a healthy diet, and exercising, you will be able to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In addition, women who have gestational diabetes during one pregnancy have a 40%-50% chance of developing diabetes in the next pregnancy. If you had gestational diabetes during one pregnancy and are planning to get pregnant again, talk to your health care provider first so you can make the necessary lifestyle changes before your next pregnancy. Get tips on eating right with Diabetes by consulting with a dietician or your primary care physician. Sources American Diabetes Association: â€Å"Gestational Diabetes.† Diabetes Care 2008 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: â€Å"Gestational Diabetes: A Guide for Pregnant Women.† August 2009 American College of Nurse Midwives: â€Å"Gestational Diabetes.† JMWH org. 135 2006

Children and Violent Video Games

â€Å"The worst thing a kid can say about homework is that it is too hard. The worst thing a kid can say about a game is it's too easy. † This was actually quoted by Henry Jenkins. Good Morning My Fellow Students and judges, as you all would know I would be discussing the topic video games cause violence and I would be talking in favor of this topic. More and more kids today are playing video and computer games — especially ultra-violent ones that are top sellers. A recent analysis shows that a majority of video games include violence and about half of the violent incidents would result in serious injuries or death in the real world.Violent video games can increase children's aggression. The number one negative effect is they tend to inappropriately resolve anxiety by externalizing it. So when kids have anxiety, which they do, instead of soothing themselves, calming themselves, talking about it or even expressing it emotionally by crying, they tend to externalize it. Th ey can attack something, they can kick a wall, they can be mean to a dog or a pet. Additionally, there's an increased frequency of violent responses from children who play these kinds of video games. Violent video games don't teach kids moral consequences.If you shoot somebody in one of these games, you don't go to jail, you don't get penalized in some way — you get extra points! This doesn't mean that children will go out into the world and shoot someone. â€Å"But they do use more aggressive language, they do use more aggressive expressions, they have less ability to control their anger and they externalize things in these violent ways. It's absolutely not good. The American Psychological Association says playing violent games correlates to children being less caring and helpful toward their peers.And these effects happen just as much for non-aggressive children as they do for children who already have aggressive tendencies. Children spend a great deal of time with violent video games at exactly the ages that they should be learning healthy ways to relate to other people and to resolve conflicts peacefully. Thus I think that playing violent video games is the same as watching violent movies, they are all scripted in the same way and they put you through the violence training. I would say that we should Jump off the video games and get a life! Children and Violent Video Games â€Å"The worst thing a kid can say about homework is that it is too hard. The worst thing a kid can say about a game is it's too easy. † This was actually quoted by Henry Jenkins. Good Morning My Fellow Students and judges, as you all would know I would be discussing the topic video games cause violence and I would be talking in favor of this topic. More and more kids today are playing video and computer games — especially ultra-violent ones that are top sellers. A recent analysis shows that a majority of video games include violence and about half of the violent incidents would result in serious injuries or death in the real world.Violent video games can increase children's aggression. The number one negative effect is they tend to inappropriately resolve anxiety by externalizing it. So when kids have anxiety, which they do, instead of soothing themselves, calming themselves, talking about it or even expressing it emotionally by crying, they tend to externalize it. Th ey can attack something, they can kick a wall, they can be mean to a dog or a pet. Additionally, there's an increased frequency of violent responses from children who play these kinds of video games. Violent video games don't teach kids moral consequences.If you shoot somebody in one of these games, you don't go to jail, you don't get penalized in some way — you get extra points! This doesn't mean that children will go out into the world and shoot someone. â€Å"But they do use more aggressive language, they do use more aggressive expressions, they have less ability to control their anger and they externalize things in these violent ways. It's absolutely not good. The American Psychological Association says playing violent games correlates to children being less caring and helpful toward their peers.And these effects happen just as much for non-aggressive children as they do for children who already have aggressive tendencies. Children spend a great deal of time with violent video games at exactly the ages that they should be learning healthy ways to relate to other people and to resolve conflicts peacefully. Thus I think that playing violent video games is the same as watching violent movies, they are all scripted in the same way and they put you through the violence training. I would say that we should Jump off the video games and get a life!

Water Essays

Water Essays Water Essay Water Essay The commonest of all elements on earth is water, â€Å"which covers about 75% of the earth’s surface.† (Crystal, 1990). It is essential to life and living organisms. Today’s water problems are â€Å"scarcity, depletion, pollution, lack of sanitation, falling rains due to global warming, cross-border conflict, profligate use and mismanagement.† (Godrej, 2003). Overuse is exemplified by us humans by â€Å"tapping them like there is no tomorrow.† (Godrej, 2003). We are pumping out about 200 million cubic meters more than can be recharged. Approximately â€Å"three-fourths of this Earth is covered by the ocean.†( Allen, 1993). But â€Å"97.5 percent of the water is salt water, not fit for human use.† (New Internationalist, 2003). Dirty water is the cause of numerous diseases but improving â€Å"hygiene and sanitation are equally-important in order to curb water-related diseases, and by 2025, two thirds of the world’s people will be facing stress.† (New Internationalist, 2003).Water pollution affects oceans streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and ground water and can also cause natural impurities and   human activities that the nearby does. According to Patricia Barnes-Svarney in 1996,   â€Å"Human activities are also of localized water pollution as water become contaminated with heavy metals, chemicals and bacteria, or untreated sewage runoff   from homes and industries†Ã‚   (Barnes-Svarney, 1996). Some 1.2 million people around the world lack access to clean water, twice that number have no sanitation, and most of the world will not have enough water within 30 years.† (Vidal, 2002). â€Å"Some 70% of all the world’s fresh water used by man goes to grow food, and in the US, North Africa and Asia, the farmers can take up 95%.† The global consumption of water is multiplying every 20 years and new sources are becoming scarcer and more expensive to develop and treat.

Basic Hazardous Waste Management (Blackman, 2001) #2 Essay

Basic Hazardous Waste Management (Blackman, 2001) #2 Essay Basic Hazardous Waste Management (Blackman, 2001) #2 – Essay Example Infectious waste Infectious waste can also be termed as biomedical waste, which is unattended solid waste, with the power of causing transmittable diseases if uncovered pathogenic organisms of consistent virus and dosage through an open passage in the targeted host. For instance, cultures and stock of infectious agents are considered to be infectious waste with a specific hazard. This is because pathogenic organisms are at hand in great concentration in these materials. Examples of agents in this category include â€Å"specimen from medical and pathological laboratories, agents from pharmaceutical preparations and dissipates from release of biological and antibiotics† (Blackman, 2001). In â€Å"Blood and blood products† the main health hazards include â€Å"hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV† (Blackman, 2001). â€Å"Malaria, yellow fever, Colorado tick fever† are considered to be minor agents present in blood products. Blood samples used in diverse tests sh ould be handled more carefully, because they are also considered to be harmful, and can cause infectious diseases. Thus all blood and blood products considered to be waste should be treated as infectious even though test results may term them to be negative (Blackman, 2001). Pathological wastes include â€Å"tissue, organs, body parts, blood and body fluids† that are released during surgery and autopsy (Blackman, 2001). Pathological wastes from patients having infectious waste disease should be handled as harmful because of the chance that these wastes may contain harmful pathogens. Additionally, it is also important to handle pathological wastes as harmful, because they may contain unknown infection present in the patient or corpse being handled. Therefore, all pathological waste should be handled in the same manner regardless of the level of harm present. Proper measures should therefore, be undertaken when handling infectious waste. An adequate and reliable program should be developed to ensure medical staffs, and patients are protected from any form of harm generated by infectious waste. For instance all liquids infectious waste should be removed in sealed containers. Additionally, compaction infectious waste should be avoided. Prior to transportation of any infectious waste proper sterilization should be done. Proper guidelines should also be developed to ensure integrity is maintained (Blackman, 2001).ReferencesBlackman,W. (2001). Basic hazardous waste management. Arizona State University, CRC Press.

American Women in World War II

At the beginning of the Second World War, American citizens had a sense of unity. Men choose to enter the forefront off work and family, but women leave home for the first time and inherit the work left by their husbands. In 1943, many magazines chose to draw women's diligence. These articles concentrate their story on working women and make their non-traditional work better. If they make these small and hardworking jobs exciting and noble, they may think that more women will start participating in the work. Prior to World War II, Hispanic women were reluctant to work at home and were more irritated than other American women. During World War II, the widespread change in the role of women as a result of the necessity of family labor affected the role of Spanish women who served as secretary and nurse, Isabel Solis-Thomas and Elvia Solis was born in Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico. The Solis family moved to the United States and moved to Brownsville, Texas. When World War II broke out, the two sisters voluntarily became roses from women of all races across the country, welded the pipes, and repaired the cargo ship. Mrs. Thomas Solis said recruiters wanted to climb a dangerous place on the ship to short skin, short skin women. She stated that he worked 9 hours a day, 6 days a week, beating and sealing the steel bar accurately and intentionally. An American woman of Asian Americans entered the military service for the first time during the Second World War. The Women Army (WAC) recruited fifty Japanese American women and Chinese American women, sent them to the military information service language school in Snellingburg, Minnesota, and received military translation training. In 1943, the Women Army recruited a Chinese-American woman to serve as aerial WAC. Air Force WAC provides various tasks such as interpretation of aerial photography, air traffic control, weather forecast.

Vertical and horizontal integration strategy Assignment

Vertical and horizontal integration strategy - Assignment Example t the end of this integration is the factory plant at River Rouge, Michigan where all these parts are assembled to become an automobile that will be later distributed in the market and sold. For a time, this strategy became very effective and contributed to Ford’s success. This strategy of vertical integration however eventually became obsolete as supply chain became complex and competition became stiffer. The introduction of new supply chain and inventory control such as Toyota’s Just-in-Time rendered vertical integration out of fashion. The recent recessions also exposed the vulnerability of vertical integration to economic and cyclical downturns. Thus, the strategy evolved to horizontal integration which is more appropriate for its global market. Horizontal integration as a strategy involves the acquisition of the production whose products are the same – either complementary or competitive (www.theeconomist.com, 2009). The classic example of this strategy is buying competitors who sell the same product. In the case of Ford this is the acquisition of Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Jaguar, Land rover, Volvo and Aston Martin which was sold as an option of the company’s