Misidentification of copperhead and cottonmouth snakes following snakebites.

Introduction: Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) and cottonmouth or water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus) snakes account for the majority of venomous snakebites in the southern United States. Cottonmouth snakes are generally considered to have more potent venom. Copperheads are considered less venomous and there is some controversy as to whether or not bites from copperhead snakes need to be treated with antivenom.

The impact of the TelEmergency program on rural emergency care: An implementation study.

Introduction Timely, appropriate intervention is key to improving outcomes in many emergent conditions. In rural areas, it is particularly challenging to assure quality, timely emergency care. The TelEmergency (TE) program, which utilizes a dual nurse practitioner and emergency medicine-trained, board-certified physician model, has the potential to improve access to quality emergency care in rural areas.

Guidelines for field triage of injured patients. Recommendations of the National Expert Panel on Field Triage.

In the United States, injury is the leading cause of death for persons aged 1--44 years, and the approximately 800,000 emergency medical services (EMS) providers have a substantial impact on the care of injured persons and on public health. At an injury scene, EMS providers determine the severity of injury, initiate medical management, and identify the most appropriate facility to which to transport the patient through a process called "field triage." Although basic emergency services generally are consistent across hospital emergency departments (EDs), certain hospitals have additional expertise, resources, and equipment for treating severely injured patients.

Relief of acute migraine headache with intravenous oxytocin: report of two cases.

We present 2 cases, one adult and one pediatric, of acute migraine headache promptly relieved by intravenous oxytocin. Both cases were typical flares of a chronic intermittent headache pattern with classic vascular symptoms. Pain relief in both cases was rapid and temporally related to oxytocin administration.

Evaluation of potential adverse health effects resulting from chronic domestic exposure to the organophosphate insecticide methyl parathion.

Methyl parathion (MP) was used illegally to spray homes for insect control over approximately an 8-yr period. In an attempt to determine if there were any adverse health effects from this, health-screening evaluations were performed on 353 individuals living in homes that were illegally sprayed. The average subject spent 15.