Poor awareness among medical graduates about basic life support (BLS) is a matter of great concern. The presence of a trained rescuer is the key determinant of ultimate survival from life-threatening emergencies. To achieve this goal, early exposure to such life-saving skills is the right decision to foster these skills for medical students, which can be reenforced in succeeding years. Forty-two first-year medical students participated in this study. The entire procedure consisted of faculty training, assessment of knowledge of students by a pretest questionnaire, a lecture, a demonstration, and hands-on training using a mannequin (with special emphasis on the site, depth, rate, and sustainment of uninterrupted chest compressions). Posttest 1 was conducted to assess the knowledge gained. The retention of knowledge and skills in the second year was evaluated by posttest 2 and directly observed procedural skills, respectively. Student feedback was collected on five-point Likert scale. Analysis using a Freidman test indicated the mean rank for posttest 1 (2.81) to be significantly higher than the pretest (1.26), indicating a gain in knowledge. The mean rank for posttest 2 (1.93) was lower than for posttest 1 (2.81) but was significantly higher compared with the pretest (1.26), indicating a significant retention of knowledge during the second year. Directly observed procedural skill evaluation showed that 7% students could perform all the seven steps correctly and that 74% students could perform three or more steps correctly, signifying a good retention of skill. Two students taught BLS skills to their family members as well. The results of this study suggest that the program provides students with sound basic knowledge and adequate practical skills in BLS.

Background:Some of the highest exposures to air pollutants in developing countries occur inside homes where biofuels are used for daily cooking. Inhalation of these pollutants may cause deleterious effects on health.Objectives:To assess the respiratory and other morbidities associated with use of various types of cooking fuels in rural area of Nagpur and to study the relationship between the duration of exposure (exposure index [EI]) and various morbidities.Materials and Methods:A total of 760 non-smoking, non-pregnant women aged 15 years and above (mean age 32.51 ΁ 14.90 years) exposed to domestic smoke from cooking fuels from an early age, working in poorly ventilated kitchen were selected and on examination presented with various health problems. Exposure was calculated as the average hours spent daily for cooking multiplied by the number of years. Symptoms were enquired by means of a standard questionnaire adopted from that of the British Medical Research Council. Lung function was assessed by the measurement of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). PEFR less than 80% of the predicted was considered as abnormal pulmonary function.Results and Conclusions:Symptoms like eye irritation, headache, and diminution of vision were found to be significantly higher in biomass users (P < 0.05). Abnormal pulmonary function, chronic bronchitis, and cataract in biomass users was significantly higher than other fuel users (P < 0.05). Moreover an increasing trend in prevalence of symptoms/morbid conditions was observed with increase in EI. The presence of respiratory symptoms/morbid conditions was associated with lower values of both observed and percent predicted PEFR (P < 0.05 to 0.001). Thus women exposed to biofuels smoke suffer more from health problems and respiratory illnesses when compared with other fuel users.

BACKGROUND- In India, the traditional culture has stigmatized street sweeping as a filthy and lowly occupation. The medical problems of these workers are further compounded by various socioeconomic factors such as poverty, lack of education, poor housing conditions and poor diet. The objective of the current study was to assess the socio demographic profile of the street sweepers, the morbidities prevalent amongst them and to establish an association between socio demographic variables and various morbidities.METHODS- A cross sectional questionnaire based epidemiological study was carried out ,after taking written consent, amongst 100 street sweepers belonging to age group of 18-60 years in South Mumbai under E ward of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for a period of 2 months.RESULTS- Skin problems (91%) followed by musculoskeletal disorders (88%) were the most common morbidities observed amongst street sweepers predominantly in males belonging to the age group of 40-50 years. The prevalence of anemia was found to be relatively higher in females with low socio economic background (6.7%). It was also observed that greater the duration of services, more was the risk of morbidities like musculoskeletal disorders (88.5%), respiratory disorders (11.5%), hypertension (6.4%) and cardiovascular disorders (1.3%).CONCLUSION- The most common morbidities observed were skin problems ( 91%) and musculoskeletal disorders (88%) predominantly in males belonging to age group 40-50 years. Anemia was more common in females . Additionally, illiteracy was a risk factor for respiratory symptoms (14.7%).KEYWORDS- Occupational health, Health hazards, Street sweepers,

This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Author HK conceptualized and designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Authors UWN and NDS participated in the analyses as well as contributed the unpublished data. Authors HK, UWN, ST and NDS independently reviewed the studies. Author SNU performed additional statistical analyses. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) and Malnutrition in children have tremendous burden on the health care sector of developing nations including India. The intensity with which these conditions are holding grip in the community is indeed a matter of concern and hence developing nations should develop an insight to assess the severity of it has become a necessity.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out in children aged 0-14 years. Children were clinically assessed and diagnosis was made as URTI or LRTI Also anthropometry was performed and accordingly children were divided into categories of no malnutrition (NM), severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in ‘under 5’ years age children according to WHO guidelines, whereas children aged ‘above 5’ years were categorized as per the IAP guidelines.Results: It was observed that most of the mothers of children were illiterate with inadequate or absent ventilation and use of biomass fuels (chulha) for cooking purpose in households of rural children. The proportion of malnutrition was found to be equal in Under 5 children. In ‘above 5 years’ age study subjects, 52.4% of urban study subjects were normal as compared to 16.7% of rural study subjects.Conclusions: Our study implies that ARI and Malnutrition definitely is more prevalent in the pediatric population. Prevalence of URTI was found to be on a higher side in the rural population and LRTI prevalence was found to be higher in the urban population. Similarly, the prevalence of malnutrition was almost similar in ‘Under 5’ aged children, whereas the prevalence of malnutrition in ‘Above 5’ aged children was higher in the rural population than urban population.