5 DIY Methods to Make Halloween Dresses Using Medical Accessories

Dare to be different this Halloween! Say goodbye to traditional store-brought scary costumes and try these 5 DIY creative ideas to make your Halloween dress using medical accessories. 

Halloween is the perfect time to create a thrilling costume that will scare the life out of people. With a little makeup, a few household items and a few inexpensive medical accessories, you can create a scary look in no time. With no dearth of choices, here are the 5 scariest DIYs to make your Halloween dresses using medical accessories:

1.    Walking Mummy

Dressed in bandages in search of a new life - mummy look can be extremely scary. But, what’s best is – ‘Walking Mummy’ is one of the easiest costumes to do.

Simply, take some medical bandages and a bucket full of colored water. Soak the bandages in water for half an hour, after which let them dry completely.

Pull the coloured bandage all over your body. Team it up with some dirty make-up on your face. Bang! You’re all set with your Walking Mummy look. 

 2.    Dead Man Walking

Take an artificial medical scissor and put it in a manner as if you were a stabbed patient.

Also, instead of attaching it to your belt, glue in into your headband and make sure your hair hides it properly.

Next, take some medical bandages and wrap them around the artificial wound. Paint your face white and darken the areas around your eyes with black. Line your eyes with red eyeliner to make them appear bloodshot. Also, put on some fake blood smeared clothes and walk creepily.  

3.    Bloody Mary

You won’t really need a mirror for this look!

Simply, open your unwashed hair and shake your head to get a totally messed up look. Take your old white dress and put some grease and fake blood or red food color on it.

Cover your face with a white face powder. To pump the effect a little, wrap some medical bandages around yourself and create multiple bruises with the help of a red lip liner and blend it with black make-up and purple eye shadow. Put some grease on your hands as well. 

4.    Scary Doctor Costume

To be a scary dental surgeon, wear a closed white lab coat and dark trousers and face mask. Buy a large tooth-shaped patch that is tinted in red color and place it on the left side of your face mask.

Splatter fake blood all over your costume. Also place a few rips in your clothing and make it dirty by slightly rubbing the front and back of your costume in dirt. Apply light grey make-up with streaks of fake blood on exposed face area.

Use dark make-up around your eyes by blending black and grey costume makeup. Also, carry around a bloody wrench and a few fake blood stained teeth.

5.    Stabbing Victim

Take your old tank top and create numerous stab-like holes in it. Line these holes and other open spots of your top with fake blood. To add more of the scary effect, take an artificial medical drill, devoid of the blade, such that you only handle it and make others feel scary. 

**All the images are subject to the copyright images and are taken for reference. 

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How to Use Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POCs)?

Portable Oxygen Concentrators are life saving machines for patients with chronic breathing problems.

POC’s take in regular atmospheric air and purify it. The patient receives pure oxygen after the cleaning process. The oxygen enters the blood stream and aids in daily activities of the patient. Hence, the pressure on the heart is reduced. Let’s look at the right way of using a POC.

1. Call in the Experts

Before a patient starts using the POC, he needs to call in the travel medical assistance company and get a complete demo from an expert. The patient should avoid setting up the machine himself unless trained well in advance. There are risk factors involved which should not be taken lightly.

2. Switch The Machine On

After having received the complete training from the expert, switch on the POC. Adjust the flow of the oxygen as directed by the doctor. Wear the nasal cannula and place the prongs inside the nasal chamber. Ensure that the cannula sits comfortably on the face and neck. Now use the POC for the time advised and at the flow recommended by the doctor. At all times do not readjust the flow without consulting the doctor.

3. Disinfect After Every Session

Once the treatment is complete, shut down the machine completely. Remove the nasal cannula and disinfect it immediately with an alcohol swab. Place it in the slot in the machine until further use.

4. In Case Of Any Problem

If the patient faces any problem during usage, he should switch off the machine completely and call the retailer. Do not try to reconnect until the service engineer or the paramedic gives you a green signal.

5. Replacement Of The Nasal Cannula

Besides keeping the POC clean and disinfected, it is important that the patient replaces his cannula once in three months. At all times follow the instruction of the manufacturer and the doctor.

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Understanding Everything You Need To Know About Commercial Medical Escorts

A commercial medical escort is a paramedic professional who accompanies a patient on a commercial flight or an ambulance in order to take care of him medically.

A patient, who needs to be transferred to a medical facility, needs a professional who can monitor him at all times and address all his needs, professionally. Accompanying family members might be able to provide the care and concern, but they are not trained to handle a medical emergency. A medical escorts needs to be hired in order to ensure that the patient reaches the medical facility safely.

1. Who Is A Commercial Medical Escort?

In very simple terms a commercial medical escort is trained flight nurse, or a physician or an in-flight paramedic whom accompanies a patent. He can of assistance to the sick traveler on a commercial flight or on air ambulance. He or she always travels with all the medical equipment required.

2. Determine The Condition Of The Patient

The medical escort can make an assessment of the medical condition of the patient and determine whether he or she is in a condition to travel by air or by ground transportation arrangements. They take a complete handover from the medical facility from where the patient is being discharged, in order to make a judgment.

3. Choose Wisely

When hiring a commercial medical escort, always do some prior research. Go for a long distance medical travel provider that has a solid reputation, experience and the best rates. They should be fully equipped to make all ground arrangements and allow the patient to focus on getting better.

4. Come Armed With Medication and Equipment

A professional commercial escort will always come armed with the right equipment and all medication that might be needed in a crisis situation. They are also fully trained to make all arrangements for oxygen while in flight.

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Medical Tourism - The Next Big Thing

Medical tourism in very simple terms implies the movement of people from one country to another in search of better medical care.

The trips are well planned and a lot of research goes into the whole exercise. They are a combination of surgical care, combined with touring, a small vacation and sightseeing too. It is a silent but powerful revolution that has been sweeping the medical corridors for over a decade now. The countries that have directly benefited from it are India, Greece, Mexico, Israel, Hungary to name a few. The global medical tourism market is anticipated to be around US$60-billion. Lets read some more about this global phenomenon.

1. Sound Marketing Skill

In the last few years after the big bang settled down, nations that lost out on the cake have realized that marketing is the key to success. Hospitals and institutions that have expected patients to reach them and not the other way round are making changes in their approaches. Countries that are marketing themselves as safe medical havens are cashing in on the business and making heavy profits.  The reason that plastic surgeons, dentist and cosmetic surgeons do so well, is much clearer now.

2. Similar Cultures

Over the last decade or so, the ground root problems have become very clear. People travelling to strange countries faced language barriers, dealt with cultural differences and came back utterly dissatisfied. The present day customers are travelling to countries where they know the culture, will get familiar food and probably similar religious backgrounds too. They are now expecting the nurse to speak their language and the doctors to treat them with respect.

3. Global Awareness

The present day customer is comparing the rates of  travel medical assistance companies, doing their homework and only then deciding to move out of the country. The way this industry is heading, it only stands to benefit all associated with it.

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A Complete Guide to Using Portable Oxygen Concentrators

POC’s or portable oxygen concentrators have tanks with compressed oxygen inside them.

POC’s irrespective of whether portable or stationery are capable of taking the air from the room and converting it into a concentrated form of oxygen. The air we inhale has 21% oxygen and the rest is mostly nitrogen. Most POC’s come with their carry-away cases and travel carts. They can be easily used while travelling or when you are outdoors. Let’s read a small guide on POC’s.

1. POC’s Run On Batteries

All portable oxygen concentrators run on batteries. In some, the batteries have a run time of 5 hours in some less. They come with their AC/DC adapters and can be charged easily when near an electrical outlet.

2. Ask For a Demand Valve

Patients should ask their travel medical assistance supplier to attach a demand valve to the POC. This will increase the time of usage of the POC. At all times, the patient should keep the details of the medical transport company handy in case there’s a problem.

3. The Continuous Flow POC

There are four types of POC’s with continuous flow available in the market. They are able to produce up to 3 liters per minute of oxygen, continuously.

4. The Pulse Dose POC

These machines do not deliver a continuous flow of oxygen. The oxygen is supplied in pulses, as and when the patient breathes. Most machines are able to deliver 450 ml to 1,250 ml oxygen per minute.

5. Choose the Correct POC

The selection of the right POC will depend on the daily routine and lifestyle of the patient. His activities including the sleep and rest patterns will have to be observed closely. Patients can also go for a combination of pulse POC when at home and continuous POC when out.

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Steps That Will Help You To Determine The Cost Of Air Ambulance

Hiring an air ambulance is a very costly affair. Selecting whether you need a helicopter or an aircraft is the easy part. Whether you will be able to bear the fees is the tricky part.

The fees of an air ambulance can range from $12000 to $25000 depending on the service provider and the distance that is being covered. As obvious emergency air transport is called for in an extreme medical emergency where transporting the patient to a medical facility becomes a matter of his life and death. Keep the following points in mind when selecting a transport company for an air ambulance.

1. Look For A Local Company

Hiring a local company makes more sense than asking for an out of state provider to offer their services. Their costs will be lower and the team will be well versed with the area.

2. Go Through The Services Carefully

Depending on the medical care that the patient needs, the transport company should be chosen. If the patient needs specialized treatment, choose a company that has a tie up with such a medical facility. Ensure that their staff is well experienced and they have the latest equipment on board.

3. Examine The Quote Carefully

When the company offers quotation, ensure that it is n written. It should be all inclusive and there should be no hidden costs.

4. Be Very Clear About The Health Cover

There are certain policies that only cover a certain percentage of air transportation costs and other do not cover them at all. Ensure that the health cover is equipped to cover the cost of hiring in air ambulance, or else be ready for a lifetime of debts.

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Ebola Virus and Its Preventions

Ebola is a deadly virus for which scientists are still trying desperately to find a cure.

Ebola is transmitted by coming in contact with the blood of an infected person. No records have been found of transmission through air. The carriers of this virus are believed to be fruit bats, but the virus does not affect them at all. Humans get infected when they come in direct contact with bats or dead animals infected by them. Take the following precautions in order to protect yourself from the virus.

1. Avoid Travel To Infected Areas

Avoid travelling to Africa unless it is a matter of life and death. Check the advisories issued by various countries regarding travel in Ebola infected regions.

2. Take Care of Hygiene

If you happen to be in the infected region, be particular about washing your hands frequently. This is the strongest preventive measure that you can take in order to protect yourself from the infection. A simple soap and water or any rub that has alcohol in it can be used.

3. Abstain From Bush Meat

When in a developing country, avoid eating and buying wild animals altogether. Even non human primates should not be eaten or procured. Avoid produce from the local markets.

4. Avoid Direct Contact With an Infected Person

Caregivers and other medical professionals should avoid direct contact with the body tissues and fluids of an infected person. Especially avoid touching semen, blood and vaginal secretions and saliva. As the disease progresses, it becomes more and more infectious.

5. Be Particular About Infection Control Processes

All health care personnel should wear the protective gear at all times. Things like gloves, masks, eye shields should be worn at all times. The people who are infected should be kept in isolation. The safe disposal of medical equipments is equally important to ensure that the infection does not spread.

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How Travelers Can Prepare For Medical Emergencies Outside Their Country?

The itinerary of a vacation is the key to its success. However, even the perfect planning cannot anticipate any accidents or medical emergencies that may arise all of a sudden.

It is critical to review your healthcare and other medical policies before departing the country for a vacation abroad. Travelers should be prepared for any medical needs that might arise and know the resources they can count on in a foreign country. They should be ready to negotiate in the local language or else know whom to contact. In case the traveler is unable to return on his booked tickets he or she should know how to make alternate arrangements and most importantly how to pay for them.

1. Points To Consider

When the planning for a trip begins, the traveler should consider the following points. Where will he get the right care, how will he communicate to a medical team, will he be able to pay for the medical bill, are things that need to be thought of in advance. The medical insurance should be studied carefully and it should be determined if it will be able to cover all medical emergencies or not.

2. Do Not Compromise On Health Care

When faced with a medical emergency aboard, do not compromise on the standard of care. Carry medical travel insurance or plan hat offers around the clock assistance, by just making a call. The helpline with its extensive resources should be able to line up the best medical team on your beck and call. If the local facilities are not up to the mark they can also make arrangements of an air ambulance.

3. Make The Right Financial Arrangements

When selecting a travel insurance go through the features carefully. Some hospitals might require a deposit at the time of admitting others might not. Choose a policy that has 24 hours phone support and logistics support in order to transfer the required amount to the hospital directly on your behalf.

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Why Medical Evacuation Coverage is Necessary for Cruise Trips?

While planning your next vacation keep in mind that emergencies can occur anywhere. And when thousands of miles away from land, evacuation may be the only viable option for you.

Whenever you plan your vacation for a cruise, you never really consider the potential medical emergencies or other incidents that may threaten to sour your trip. These emergencies occur a lot more than you think. And once they do, the process of treating or evacuating a person becomes a complex and nobody wants to get involved with the different laws of evacuation from the sea etc.

Add to that the amount of expertise or training; it would take for crews and staff of the ship to coordinate with services that help in the medical evacuation process. Therefore, the process itself becomes financially exhaustive and may end up ruining your vacation in more ways than one. You may have heard stories about the Coastguard making these rescue trips, but they are unlikely to show up after your cruise has gone further than particular distance from the shore.

There are additional facts you may not be aware of. One of these is that the cruise captain or the crew are not obligated to transfer you to shore in case of health problems – no matter how bad they are. If there are medical services available they will be from independent contractors who may charge you anything and end up costing you a small fortune. The ship’s doctor is the ultimate boss, so if he asks you to go, you have to without having a say in it.

While ships are equipped with basic supplies to handle minor ailments, or illnesses, something as serious as rampant heart condition is no child’s play, and in the event of such a situation arising evacuation becomes the only solution.

No cruise “Protection Plans” will ever cover you for evacuation, and therefore it is essential you have a health insurance scheme with ample coverage for evacuation, to ensure your vacations do not end in disasters. 

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What Kind of Medical Equipment is On a Medical Flight Transport

Air ambulances transport critical patients, so it must be obvious they carry equipment required to handle the patients’ condition. Here are the things that make an air ambulance safe, even for highly critical patients.

Air ambulance transportation is meant for highly critical patients, who are unable to travel via normal passenger flights or have to be rushed across over the city’s traffic ridden road networks when timeliness is of prime importance. It is therefore, critical, to have on-board the air vehicles, supplies and equipment that are capable of handling any complications or emergencies.

The Stretcher

The stretcher is an obvious presence aboard an air ambulance. Custom made, these stretchers are ideal to hold a patient pneumatically still, thereby maintaining his stability over turbulent flights as well. The stretcher can be attached to the seat rack, thereby providing it further solidity. An automatic loading system is also aboard the air ambulance.

The Ventilator

The ventilator is another essential piece of equipment loaded on the air ambulance. It comes with capabilities for handling all kinds of patients from adult to infant, and from neonatal to pediatric. The controls on the ventilator, allow the nurses to control precision, sensitivity, pressure etc. The ventilators are technically current, as far as standards in the field go, boasting features like Nebulizer, SIMV, CPAP etc.

Antibiotics

The higher quality air ambulances come with installed IV pumps and a whole host of antibiotics like: Levoflaxacin, Metronidazole ,Cephtriaxone , Cleocin among others. These antibiotics can be administered as per discretion of the attending crew, in case a situation arises where the patient is under the risk of being infected by bacteria.

Temperature Monitor

An in-flight heat monitor is also available inside the ambulance to monitor a patient’s heart activity. The monitor comes with all the regular capabilities of a heart monitor that is used in a hospital, from pulse oximeter, to CO2 monitoring among others. Apart from all these devices and equipment a first-rate team of nurses and staff is on-hand, and trained to tackle all possible situations.

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Medical Repatriation- Meaning and Significance

In situations where a person, suffers from an injury or illness, outside his native country that person can be entitled to medical repatriation. This is a service provided by the medical escort companies that assists patients in returning to their country of citizenship.

A medical evacuation is generally carried out in cases of a medical emergency where treatment is not readily available. Under this, you will be transported to the nearest medical facility, within or outside the country, either via an air ambulance, commercial flight or an ambulance, according to the feasibility.

Medical Repatriations on the other hand, is performed exactly under the same conditions as the medical evacuations, but it provides you the freedom of getting treated in your home country – in a known environment, with family and friends.

Can Be Availed In The Remotest Of Locations

When availing Repatriation services, air ambulance services can pick the patients from the remotest of locations, even where other medical facilities are not approachable! Traveler patients can benefit as they get access to the much needed medical facilities – on time.

Repatriation Services For All Types Of Cases

Medical Repatriation services can be provided for all types of cases - from critically ill, to burn trauma cases to accidental injuries, etc. In addition, the staff of medical repatriation services can even coordinate between embassies and medical consultants in case of severe medical emergencies. This helps the family and friends of the patients to concentrate on the wellbeing of the patient and not stress about other formalities.

Deliver Excellent Medical Assistance

The Medical Repatriation services are known for delivering efficient medical care to patients abroad. These services are an important function of providing quality health care 24/7 – saving the lives of many patients. 

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