Do Physiological Variables Predict the Need for Transport to Hospital From Music Festivals? An Analysis of Australian Festival Data.

Objective: Using physiological markers to detect patients at risk of deterioration is common. Deaths at music festivals in Australia prompted scrutiny of tools to identify critically unwell patients for transport to hospital. This study evaluated initial physiological parameters to identify patients selected for transport to hospital from a music festival.

Feasibility of pulse oximetry after water immersion.

Objective: This study aimed to determine if pulse oximetry could reliably be used after immersion in water, and if so, which of the finger, earlobe or nose most reliably produced a functional waveform.

Method: Pulse oximetry data was recorded from the ear, nose and finger before and after 30 min of immersion in water. The primary outcome was the ability to measure pulse oximetry at any of the sites.

Performance of First Aid Trained Staff using a Modified START Triage Tool at Achieving Appropriate Triage Compared to a Physiology-Based Triage Strategy at Australian Mass Gatherings.

Introduction: Triage at mass gatherings in Australia is commonly performed by staff members with first aid training. There have been no evaluations of the performance of first aid staff with respect to diagnostic accuracy or identification of presentations requiring ambulance transport to hospital.

Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that triage decisions by first aid staff would be considered correct in at least 61% of presentations.

Safety and Efficacy of an On-Site Intensive Treatment Protocol for Mild and Moderate Sympathomimetic Toxicity at Australian Music Festivals.

Introduction: Serotonin and sympathomimetic toxicity (SST) after ingestion of amphetamine-based drugs can lead to severe morbidity and death. There have been evaluations of the safety and efficacy of on-site treatment protocols for SST at music festivals.

Problem: The study aimed to examine the safety and efficacy of treating patients with SST on-site at a music festival using a protocol adapted from hospital-based treatment of SST.

Ice Water Immersion - Practicalities for Monitoring Hyperthermic Patients in the Prehospital Context.

Immersion of patients in a body bag filled with ice and water is recommended as prehospital management of severe hyperthermia. Experienced paramedics have raised a number of concerns about the use of this technique; particularly, whether cardiac monitoring equipment would remain functional once immersed. This test showed that monitoring equipment does remain functional and provides advice about safety considerations.

Competence in the use of supraglottic airways by Australian surf lifesavers for cardiac arrest ventilation in a manikin.

Objectives: Lifesavers in Australia are taught to use pocket mask (PM) rescue breathing and bag valve mask (BVM) ventilation, despite evidence that first responders might struggle with these devices. Novices have successfully used the Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Supreme and iGel devices previously, but there has been no previous comparison of the ability to train lifesavers to use the supraglottic airways compared to standard techniques for cardiac arrest ventilation.

Methods: The study is a prospective educational intervention whereby 113 lifesavers were trained to use the LMA and iGel supraglottic airways.

A new fossil species supports an early origin for toothed whale echolocation.

Odontocetes (toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises) hunt and navigate through dark and turbid aquatic environments using echolocation; a key adaptation that relies on the same principles as sonar. Among echolocating vertebrates, odontocetes are unique in producing high-frequency vocalizations at the phonic lips, a constriction in the nasal passages just beneath the blowhole, and then using air sinuses and the melon to modulate their transmission. All extant odontocetes seem to echolocate; however, exactly when and how this complex behaviour--and its underlying anatomy--evolved is largely unknown.