Aims: Hospital-acquired infections represent a significant global health challenge, leading to increased patient morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. This study aimed at evaluating the knowledge and practices of healthcare workers at Ghaem Hospital’s special care units concerning the control of hospital-acquired infections. Instrument & Methods: This descriptive-analytical research employed a comprehensive approach, encompassing all nursing and patient-care staff in the special care units of Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad. Conducted from 2022 to 2023, the study utilized a census and sampling method to gather data, which were collected via two questionnaires-one capturing demographic details and the other assessing knowledge and practices related to infection control. Findings: A total of 96 individuals participated in the study, predominantly nurses (62.5%), followed by paramedics (24%), and doctors (13.5%). Practices of hand hygiene before procedures varied in different groups. 30% of doctors, 34% of nurses, and 30% of paramedics thoroughly washed all parts of their hands; 63% of doctors, 57% of nurses, and 50% of paramedics used soap; complete fingernail washing was done by 43% of doctors, 45% of nurses, and 56% of paramedics, showing a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Post-procedure hygiene responses were positive from 44% of doctors, 33% of nurses, and 50% of paramedics. Knowledge regarding the transmission of urinary and ventilator-associated respiratory infections was generally high among doctors and nurses but lower among paramedics. Conclusion: Healthcare staff adheres to infection control guidelines to varying degrees, with doctors and nurses generally performing better than paramedics.

Cardiovascular emergencies have a high prevalence and are important among other pre-hospital emergencies. In such emergency situations, making decisions to provide the best care and transport to the hospital are brought with many challenges. The current study reports paramedics’ on-scene decision-making challenges in relation to a patient with the acute coronary syndrome. The case was an old woman who complained of sudden dizziness and weakness. The patient’ s vital signs included a blood pressure of 100/70 mm Hg, heart rate of 58 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 17 breaths per minute, O2 sat of 96%, and blood sugar of 145 mg/dL. The past medical history of the patient indicated that she had no previous disease or use of medications. In the hospital emergency unit, electrocardiography was recorded and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was observed. Paramedics face many challenges in on-scene decision making, which affect the time, process, and consequences of their decisions. In low and middle-income countries, due to resource limitations, all ambulances are not equipped with diagnostic equipment including portable sonograph and electrocardiogram. In such contexts, decision-making protocols need to be designed and used at the emergency scenes to guide the paramedic and ensure their optimal performance.

Links between climate policy and health policy must not be overlooked. In November 2010, representatives from countries around the world will meet in Cancún, Mexico, at the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference.1 Here they will attempt to draft a treaty aimed at stabilizing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that will prevent catastrophic climate change. What a pity the meeting had not been scheduled in Pakistan. Then the anger of those whose livelihoods have been destroyed by the biblical floods that have washed away the hopes of a nation would surely have focused the delegates’ minds. ...

Humanitarian emergencies including disasters associated with natural hazards, conflict, complex emergencies, and famines can pose significant risks to public health, especially when they lead to population displacement into inadequate conditions. To reduce the risk of communicable disease (CDs) outbreaks in such situations it is necessary to know the key risk factors. In recent times, communicable diseases are the number one cause of disability and death around the globe. The communicable disease can be controlled by creating awareness of the symptoms and types and possible risk factors. Given that the relevance, especially for the paramedic staff of various hospitals was considered. As we know due to the internal dynamics of the nature of work these paramedic staffs have to pass a lot of stress and untimely eating habits along with other unwanted habits especially male paramedics like cigarettes, and alcohol, etc. The purpose of the study was to examine awareness level on Communicable Diseases (CDs) among paramedics in the private healthcare sector in India. The analysis for CDs done for decoding the awareness level in three parameters such as symptoms of CDs, types of CDs, and risk factors of CDs, by taking three important pillars of paramedics: nursing practitioners, physician’s assistants, and emergency medical technicians. In the beginning 34 variables were identified, however, after the pilot study and core group discussions, the number of attributes for the CDs restricted to 24 only. The results show that in the case of CDs, there is need for improvement of awareness among the respondents for symptoms and mixed results for other factors.