The Buddy Bench and More

The Buddy Bench and More

In March 1980 my father decided to uproot us from our hometown to a small town 100 miles away. I was a freshman in high school and to say it was traumatic is putting it mildly. I remember having one or two classmates who were nice to me but did not really invite me into their group of friends. I felt alone and isolated. We were required to go outside after lunch (recess) until it was time for our next class. So, I would eat lunch alone and then sneak up to the library to spend "recess". Maybe those memories are the reason why the stories of inclusion that I have been reading lately have brought a feeling of hope to me for all children who feel alone and isolated at school.

The Buddy Bench is a simple idea to help foster friendship and eliminate loneliness on the playground. The idea stemmed from a first grader named Christian after he saw a picture of a special bench on a playground in Germany when his family was contemplating moving there. He asked about it and liked the idea. He thought it would be a great thing to have on the playground at his current school, Roundtown Elementary in York PA. He knew that there were some kids who felt lonely at recess and he thought this would help. The rules are a little different at each school but basically go like this:

Buddy Bench Rules

If you’re sitting on the bench, play with the first classmate who invites you.

While you’re sitting on the bench, look around for a game you can join.

 Two friends sitting on the bench can turn to each other and invite each other to play.

The bench isn’t for socializing. Only sit there if you can’t find anyone to play with.

When you see someone on the bench, ask that person to play with you.

Keep playing with your new friends.

In the fall of the next school year his principal helped him pick out a bench for their new Buddy Bench. He gave a presentation to his local school board and community. From there Huffington Post ran a story on the Buddy Bench and it was then that the story took off.

Personally, this story has given me a sense of hope. Hope for any children who feel like I felt back in 1980.

A Brief History of the Heroin Crisis and the Effect on First Responders

I'm sure most of you have seen the horrifying picture of the 4 year old sitting in the back seat of a minivan while his grandmother and a male are seen overdosing in the front seats. This picture is the reality of the heroin crisis in our country and for first responders it's, unfortunately, an everyday scene.

The heroin addict was born in 1874 when the drug was introduced as a "safe" alternative to the morphine addicts derived from the tens of thousands of Northern and Confederate soldiers who had become addicted. It has been present in American culture ever since. Heroin, morphine and other opiate derivatives were sold legally in the United States until 1920 when Congress enacted The Dangerous Drug Act after seeing the danger. Fast forward to 1996 when OxyContin was introduced and now that heroin is used because it is easier to use, much cheaper and easily available.

Opioid addiction is now an epidemic, with 18,893 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers, and 10,574 overdose deaths related to heroin in 2014. And it's only getting worse. Which means everyone in the United States has or will be affected especially the first responders who see it daily.

In Marion Ohio, the police chief stopped charging those who overdosed (Of course drug traffickers are still arrested). Instead authorities rely on other tools — prevention, education and naloxone (Narcan) an overdose medication — to try to put a dent in an epidemic that killed more than 1,400 people last year in Ohio. Police and paramedics now also have to be drug-treatment specialists. The Ohio Department of Health states that Naloxone (Narcan) was used 19,782 times by emergency personnel in Ohio last year. In another Ohio town one paramedic has used naxolone 5 times in one shift. You wonder what is does to first responders who everyday see people on the edge of death over and over and over again because of addiction.

Several of our products are used for training in basic life saving skills that are used constantly in this battle. We hope one day they aren't needed near as often as they are today.

It's likely that first responders will continue to battle this crisis daily and with their knowledge someday help end it.  We can only hope.

Why We Only Sell Prestan Manikins

Everyday at work I come across stories about how CPR training helped save a life. I often wonder if having the right CPR manikin during training helps with some of these positive outcomes. Pondering this question is how I came up with the idea for this blog post. 
Our owners, Karen and Charlie Morrison have chosen to sell only Prestan manikins here at MCR Medical. Both are seasoned CPR/First Aid instructors as well as instructor trainers. Of course this means they have plenty of experience with using CPR manikins. 
Recently I spoke with Charlie about why they chose Prestan. "It was Karen's preference" was his initial response. Even though the old saying 'Happy wife. Happy life' rings true in a lot of cases, I pressed him for a few more details. He began to share that Prestan manikins are first and foremost the best manikins for teaching CPR and BLS. He also explained that simply being easier to tote around makes them a better choice for trainers. They are lighter than most and the nylon carry case that comes with them are great!
Since I began here a few months ago, I myself have learned a thing or two about our CPR manikins. First, having the option of a rate monitor in the manikins is a tremendous tool in training students. The LED indicators allow for instant feedback to both instructor and student regarding their rate of chest compressions. This design was revolutionary for CPR manikins and CPR training. The use of the lung bags to monitor the proper chest rise are wonderful as well as the actual chest size when training with AED's make them versatile for other BLS training. Little things like the realistic feel of the manikin and how easy they are to keep clean were great selling points as well. 
The right tool for the job certainly rings true in this case. If you haven't used Prestan manikins, I encourage you to try them. You won't be disappointed. 

EMT News: It's Healthy Living Day at the Alaska State Fair

It's Healthy Living Day at the Alaska State Fair

PALMER, Alaska You can find plenty of tasty, deep-fried and high-calorie treats at the Alaska State Fair. On Monday, the emphasis was on healthy eating and life styles.

Several booths offered free health and safety lessons and screenings as part of "Healthy Living Day"
Mat Su Regional Medical and Mat Su Borough EMS have a tent on the purple trail are offering free hands-only CPR training. The one-on-one training takes about 5 minutes.
EMS training instructor Mandy Grinnell says more than 870 people, both adults and kids, had been trained in the tent by Monday.

"Got a lot of first-time parents that are coming in with their little ones that are saying hey can you teach me infant CPR," says Grinnell.

Across the purple trail Lions Club members are offering free vision screening. The quick exam offers two outcomes, pass or referral for further evaluation by a doctor.

Josh the Otter was handing out hugs and coloring books on water safety. The awareness project was started after a child named Joshua Collingsworth died in 2008 from slipping into a pool while unsupervised. To learn more visit http://www.joshtheotter.org/ 

Tuesday Morning

Maya Angelou was a successful author, poet and civil rights activist. While she had a tumultuous childhood, as an adult she surrounded herself with people who inspired her and were uplifting. It's wonderful how she continues to encourage and energize so many people even after her death. 

Recently, our work family was hit with a terrible blow. One of our own was diagnosed with a very ugly illness. I think all of us are still trying to come to grips with the diagnosis but also stay positive. We all want to do something, anything to help our friend through this scary time. But we also don't want to be intrusive. Being a rainbow in someone else's cloud sounds perfect. 

While doing my research for this post, I have come across several articles on being a good friend during a serious illness. The first thing to remember is, it's about them! What they need and want from you. I did see similarities to everything I read; Notes, texts and calls are nice. But keep them short and sweet. Phone calls may not be welcomed all the time and that's ok. Visits can sometimes help them not feel isolated. But be sure you ask before you visit. Consider visiting on a Tuesday morning instead of the weekend or evening when a lot of people want to visit. Share things they enjoy while you're visiting. Also, conversations should help them have moments of joy. Such as talking about pets, traveling and etc. Running errands and bringing them silly or sweet gifts are great ways to help. And finally, remember the caregiver. Ask what they need. Maybe sit with their loved one while they take a short walk or run to the store. 

Now I know that some people are more private than others but with a little listening, you should be able to figure out what they are comfortable with. And if it's nothing right know then that's ok. It is about them anyway.

Children Can Save Lives With CPR Training

                  I have seen several pictures and read several stories lately concerning children learning CPR. As a former teacher of young children, I am always fascinated by their abilities. They are truly little sponges that absorb as much information as we can throw at them. And as a new school year begins wouldn't it be wonderful to send them off with skills that could possibly save a life?

                  That is exactly what is happening around the country as more states begin to make CPR training a mandatory graduation requirement. This map from Pro Teachings LLC shows where we are as a country, as we strive to have CPR required in all high schools.

                

                 While doing research for this blog I came upon several videos and pictures from around the country of young children learning CPR. I really enjoyed this video posted from WPBF in Florida. I like the idea of using the soft toy ambulance for compression training. Also, how wonderful is it that NYPD has a Mobile CPR Unit. This summer they have been traveling throughout the city teaching CPR. I love seeing all their pics on Instagram.

                 

                  Please consider taking a CPR class with your children. It most certainly does Save Lives!


Lora
                  
                 

Law makes CPR a graduation requirement in DC schools

Law makes CPR a graduation requirement in DC schools

Everything Starts with a Customer!

We hope you have had a chance to experience our excellent customer service here at MCR Medical Supply. It really is second to none!  

We are a family owned and operated business which gives us an opportunity to provide amazing personal service. We offer wholesale supplies of First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness products, including materials needed by instructors. While we are not on the front lines we want to help by allowing you to be ready with the right tools!

 

One way MCR Medical shows how much we value great customer service is through the quality of the products we offer. We will only sell supplies that we believe in. We doubt you'll need to contact us for a warranty issue, but if you do, you will receive the type of service that we want to receive ourselves. And if you ever have a warranty issue on ANY item you purchase from us, we will gladly pay all U.S. domestic shipping charges associated with a warranty request out of our pockets (not the manufacturers), and this includes from you to us (if necessary), and from us to you. 

 

Our return policy reflects our desire to provide excellent customer service as well; If within 10 business days of receipt you are not happy with an item, contact us. We will gladly replace it, refund the purchase price of the item (if returned), or credit you for other items, your choice.

We strive to provide 5-star service in every way! We want our customers to be happy with their purchase and come back for more!

Thank you for the opportunity to earn your trust!

I've Decided to be 1 in a Million!

Be 1 in a Million.


In just ten years, Mental Health First Aid has become a full-blown movement in the United States—more than  600,000 Mental Health First Aiders strong and growing every day. In 2016, the National Council for Behavioral Health is making it a priority to train more first aiders than ever before. Our vision? One million Mental Health First Aiders in the U.S.

I have decided to become a Mental Health First Aider. This choice is very personal to me.
My dear father passed away November 4, 2015. My entire life he battled major depressive disorder. Family members have told me that he suffered with this disease since childhood. As a young child, I could not understand why my dad was so different than my friends dads. It wasn't until I was older that I realized he couldn't control his mood without medication. Unfortunately, he did not start treatment for this until his mid 70's. I was grateful that the last few years of his life he was full of joy and love.  I treasure those memories. I know we were happy that he never attempted to take his own life but that isn't always the case. This is why I have decided to be 1 in a million! For my dad and for those who struggle everyday.

WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?

Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID MATTERS.

Most of us would know how to help if we saw someone having a heart attack—we’d start CPR, or at the very least, call 9-1-1. But too few of us would know how to respond if we saw someone having a panic attack or if we were concerned that a friend or co-worker might be showing signs of alcoholism.
Mental Health First Aid takes the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder.




When more people are equipped with the tools they need to start a dialogue, more people can get to the help they may need. Mental Health First Aiders can even save lives.



If you would like more information on becoming a Mental Health First Aider please visit http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org

Sincerely,

Lora

Sunblock? Check. Towels? Check. CPR Trained Adult?

Stephanie White A mother, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and a Public Voices Fellow with the OpEd Project

The American Red Cross website features cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) stories front and center. The plot is always the same - normal people enjoying a normal day until something horribly abnormal happens then, thanks to some well-placed bystanders equipped with the life-saving skills of CPR, a person survives.

My save story was no different.

It was a warm spring day in South Florida, so my husband and I took our one-year-old son down to the pool in our condo building. After enjoying the water, and of course taking lots of pictures, we decided to take a break as the pool became slightly more crowded with a group of kids. One of these was 5-year-old Gio, who’d arrived a few minutes earlier with his mom and his sister.

That’s pretty much all I remember until my husband’s urgent voice broke into my daydreams “Steph, go!” As I turned around, I saw Gio’s limp, body being pulled from the bottom of the pool and heard the screams of his sister. I handed my son over and ran to help. Gio was a terrifying shade of blue I had never seen before. There was no pulse, he was not breathing, and I was shaking.

At the time I was a chief resident of pediatrics and technically a board certified pediatrician however nothing really prepares you for out of hospital CPR. There were no ambu bag, monitors, other doctors, or nurses to help. As I started doing chest compressions, the magnitude of the situation hit me. This little boy was basically dead, I was trying to save him and despite there being multiple bystanders, there was no one else to help.

As I listened to the distant sirens, I recall thinking: “30:2 or should it be 15:2, but the air isn’t going in.” I grabbed his arm to check for a brachial pulse. Just as the doors to the pool courtyard opened, I felt it...it was weak...but it was there. The EMT team rushed in and took over and got him into an ambulance. A few minutes later it was eerily calm. Only those of us who’d been there could have imagined the life or death scene that had just taken place.

Gio survived and has done remarkably well but there easily could have been a more devastating outcome. Drownings are the leading cause of death in children age 1-4. Every year in the United States, there are an average of more than 700 children who die from unintentional drownings. However, for every child who dies from drowning, another five receive treatment in the emergency department for nonfatal submersion injuries. These nonfatal injuries may lead to long-term memory problems and learning disabilities, but can also have devastating effects on overall functioning.

Of course the value of CPR extends far beyond the swimming pool. Simply put, it can help anyone who is unconscious, not breathing and does not have a pulse. The American Heart Association estimates that 70 percent of Americans are not adequately trained in CPR. This is a significant number considering that most emergencies that would require bystander CPR occur at home and involve loved ones: spouses, parents, children, and friends. When someone stops breathing or their heart stops beating, they can only survive 4 to 6 minutes before the lack of oxygen can result in brain damage or death.Timely, effective bystander CPR can double a victim’s chance of survival after a cardiac arrest.

Since that day in March 2012, I have become a far stronger advocate for water safety, swim lessons, pool gates and I routinely ask my patients their family rules for going near water. Last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics released it’s Sun and Water Safety Tips stating whenever children under age 5 are in or around water, an adult - preferably one who knows how to swim and perform CPR - should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision.”

Parenthood is hard work—and it requires thinking ahead. We put daily “nut free” notes in our kids’ lunch. We ask about allergies and laydates. CPR is no different. It’s a matter of life and death. We’d do well to add “CPR trained adult” to our fun-in-the-sun checklists.

 #mcrmedical #cprtraining #cprsaveslives #watersafety #cpr

Installing Face Shield/Lung Bags

Happy Monday Everyone!

We often get calls regarding the proper installation of Prestan Lung Bags/Face Shields. The more you install them the easier it becomes.
I am sharing a link to the proper install of the lung bags/face shield: Face-Shield/Lung-Bag Instructions


Hint* remember to fold the bags like a fan for proper installation.
#mcrmedical #prestanproducts #prestanmanikins #CPR #CPRmanikins #prestanlungbags

Thanks for reading,

Lora

App Alerts Those Trained In CPR Of Cardiac Emergencies

App Alerts Those Trained In CPR Of Cardiac Emergencies: Naperville has become the first Chicago area community to connect with a smartphone app that gives people who know CPR or how to use AEDs a way to put that knowledge to use.
“Naperville is not afraid to lead. We as a community are dedicated to innovation,” said Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, talking about the city’s adoption of the Pulse Point Respond app.
Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis said: “Pulse Point Respond is an app that notifies registered users who are certified in CPR and AED use of a cardiac emergency within a 12-block radius of their current location.”
Chief Puknaitis says it’s hoped those who can help administer aid before fire units get there do so.
Time is critical.
The American Heart Association says for every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation, the chances of patient survival decrease 7 percent to 10 percent. The fire chief says Naperville spent $20,000 to set up a link between its 911 dispatch center and the Pulse Point Respond app. He says it’ll cost about $4,000 a year to maintain, which he says is worth it. #cpr #newcprapp #cprtrained #aedtrained #pulsepointrespond

MCR Training Valves Now Individually Wrapped

We're deep into summer and I’m sure you all will be very busy training. We thought we would do our part to make this season a little less hectic by revamping one of our very popular products.  Our MCR Training Valves will now be individually wrapped.  It’s the same quality product as before but now they will be wrapped separately for your convenience. We have also started selling our valves in a 50 pack bundle. When your purchase the 50 pack bundle you’ll receive three free training masks.

The adult, child and infant masks are capable of being decontaminated per CDC guidelines. Which makes them reusable and helps maximize your training dollar! The mask’s soft, pliable bladder conforms well to manikin faces and the valve stems are fully compatible with all brands of universal CPR valves. We also sell these masks and a few variations of them in 10 packs which include a set of 10 free valves.

The valves and masks will be packaged in a compact carrying case that can be used for an assortment of things. The polypropylene box is approximately 11" x 6.25" by 5.75” (outside dimension) and is perfect for storing many of the supplies we carry, such as a BVM or training kits.  The base is white but the lid is clear with a blue handle.

The bundle is a great deal and perfect for all instructors regardless if you have a high volume classes or you’re simply stocking up on supplies. Be prepared for what this summer’s training season has in store for you. #mcrmedical #trainingvalves #freetrainingmasks

Wonderful Story of Giving Back

Meet Angela. (She's in the blue scrub top in the bottom row.)

Angela is a new customer of ours and has given us permission to share her story and photos. She partnered with her local Red Cross and recently traveled to Honduras where she was able to provide first responder and CPR training to 255 students. Her students are studying to be healthcare workers in very rural parts of Honduras. She also provided the same training to 40 local government representatives that are living and working in very remote communities. She contacted us just a few days prior to her departure and we were able to deliver her Prestan Ultralite Manikins just in time for her trip. Since her students had never owned any manikins for training she very generously voluntarily donated the manikins she purchased with MCR Medical Supply to ensure their education continued with reliable training tools.
      
The picture above was one Angela provided us from her trip along with a few kind words directly from her.
“I just wanted to let you all know that my manikins arrived today in time to take them to Honduras. These are the coolest manikins ever! The chest rise is so great. I can't believe there's that much utility in such small and light packaging!!”

Thank you Angela, not only for sharing your story with us but for sharing your knowledge and skills to those less fortunate. You are changing the world.

   

#mcrmedical  #CPR  #cprsaveslives  #firstaid  #CPRinstructor #cprsupplies  #firstaidsupplies #cprtraining  #prestan  #cprmanikins

Learning the Ropes~~~

Hi everyone. I'm Lora and am new to the MCR Medical team. The above picture was taken of me and Officer Nathan last week. I felt the need to show him my support and ask for a picture. He happily obliged.

I am so very lucky to work for a company that truly puts people first! The owners are very knowledgeable about the products we sell and what the customer needs. Not sure what I did to be lucky enough to be hired on but it must of been something good. I will be doing some blogging as I learn about our company and our products.


We are in an industry that helps saves lives. I love that. And I want to hear stories from our customers and their students about how learning CPR and/or First Aid made a difference in someone's life. We are reaching out on Facebook for those stories. Yesterday we posted a wonderful story about Angela and her trip to Honduras. She partnered with her local Red Cross and traveled to Honduras where she was able to provide first responder and CPR training to 255 students. Her students are studying to be healthcare workers in very rural parts of Honduras. She also provided the same training to 40 local government representatives that are living and working in very remote communities. Kudos Angela for giving back and saving lives. I will posting the complete story in a few days.


In closing, remember that we are here for YOU! The CPR Instructor, the teacher, the parent and anyone who needs our products so please visit our website mcrmedical.com and look around at all the items we have to offer. I look forward assisting you.

Thanks for all you do,


Lora E. Jones
MCR Medical

What’s with all the CPR Manikin “Blue Rate Monitor” talk?

Recently the Emergency Cardiovascular Care guidelines for CPR changed to add a recommendation that “In adult victims of cardiac arrest, it is reasonable for rescuers to perform chest compressions at a rate of 100/min to 120/min.

As you might expect, this has raised a huge amount of discussion about compression rates and training aids.  Metronomes, for example, are set by the manufacturer to a predetermined rate.  No matter the metronome speed, students will only know that they are pressing slower, the same, or faster than the metronome rate.  So, if a metronome is set to 100 beats per minute, then students will know when they are pressing too slowly, but will not know for certain when they are pressing too quickly.  Conversely, if a metronome is set to 120, then students will know when they are pressing too quickly, but not know for certain when they are pressing too slowly.

The new Blue Rate Monitor available for Prestan Adult CPR Manikins is a training aid which takes this into account.  It displays different colors of lights according to how fast the student is performing compressions.  A compression rate of 0-59 per minute displays a red light, 60-79 per minute displays a yellow light (too slow), 80-99 displays a green light (almost fast enough), 100-119 displays TWO green lights (the proper rate), and anything more displays the two green lights PLUS flashes a yellow light (too fast).

Rate Chart

This system gives students instant feedback about their compression rate, adjusting to their compression speed in real time, so they know right away if their speed is slipping, or if they are starting to go a little fast.  Let’s see a metronome do that!

All adult Prestan CPR Manikins from MCR Medical are equipped with the new blue monitors.

But why are they called “Blue” if they don’t have blue lights?  The plastic housing of the new module was changed to blue to signify that it has the upgraded standards, so instructors know instantly if the rate monitor is new or old.  This is extremely helpful for instructors who may have both, or if renting or buying a Prestan manikin.

Prestan Professional or Ultralite? Which do I want to use in my training?

View the original here.

Both styles of Prestan CPR training manikins are in stock and available now from MCR Medical Supply. We're happy to discuss CPR manikins and all of our products either over the phone at 614-782-2100 or email sales@mcrmedical.com.

We look forward to speaking with you and fulfilling your CPR Training needs!

I feel ...swell.

As a person who suffers from painful swelling of the lower legs, I know all too well the debilitating effects of edema. Whether the condition stems from varicose veins or thrombophlebitis, the result is the same, you're in pain.

Summer seems to bring out the worse in my edema. The heat, humidity, a lot of walking around amusement parks - the reasons vary. I have and use compression stockings, but wow. They get h o t and are altogether unattractive when wearing shorts or a sundress.  then of course are the questions, "What's wrong with her legs?", "Are they broken?", and my personal favorite, "Are those real legs?" I suppose one can understand that last one as my stockings are rather dark in color and I guess they could look like wooden legs to a wildly imaginative child. 

A love of salty snacks does my legs no favor either. Fluid retention is often exacerbated by overconsumption of salt. I wonder if salt water taffy counts? Nonetheless my legs swell, I am unhappy, in pain and sometimes feel house-bound with anxiety.  I know the condition will resolve, I know often I am my own worst enemy with either intentional or unintentional sabotage (salty foods and all) and I know others suffer right along side me.   

Working for a medical supply company, I've seen several version of our elastic bandage line. So far, these are my absolute favorite bandages!  They're super soft as well as substantial enough that I can use, wash and re-use them several times. The Velcro is much less "pokey" than others I've tried; which is especially helpful when you're moving around during the day or sleeping at night not to feel a sharp scrape or jab where the Velcro is sticking you. Side note: I tend to toss and turn quite a bit during the night, so I reinforce the Velcro closure with some first aid tape. Keeps things right where they should be until morning! 
  
I've very happy we found these and can share them with you! To see them for yourself, follow this link to elastic bandages. And if you have questions, send us an email to sales@mcrmedical.com or call 614-782-2100 and happy wrapping!


The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.