Heidi asks:My question is, if I have a character that drowns but is revived, could they have temporary amnesia, especially if they hit their head? If so, how long might it last? A few days? I know Goldie Hawn's character in Overboard gets amnesia after falling off a boat into the water, but I'm not sure how accurate that really is.Dianna says:The definition of drowning: A submersion event where a patient is pronounced dead within 24 hours of...
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Okay, faithful followers.... today is the last birthdy drawing but don't fear... there will be lots more to come.Only one prize was claimed last week. Congratulations to Katie Ganshert who won Julie Klassen's The Girl in the GateHouse and a $10.00 Starbuck's Card!Since only one prize was claimed, I thought I try to give away a few more things....This drawing I'm very pleased because someone won from each following group!!This weeks winners are: 1....
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sheila asks: In my WIP, I have the good guy (a doctor) trying to get the pregnant heroine away from a dangerous situation. She resists so I thought he might give her an injection to knock her out. Is any drug available to put a pregnant woman into a deep sleep that is not harmful to the fetus?Jordyn says: First thing to know is that every drug has a pregnancy classification given by the FDA based on its potential harm to a growing baby. You can find...
Friday, August 26, 2011
It's been such a pleasure having Sarah Sundin back. There was a lot I didn't know about the history of polio and its occurrence that I learned from these posts. Great job, Sarah!Polio Part 3—VaccinesPapa had never truly forgiven Helen for catching polio, as if the doctor’s daughter should have been immune, should have been healthy and strong like Betty, should never have stooped to wearing braces. Some parents coddled their invalids, but not Papa....
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Polio Part 2—TreatmentHelen pedaled down Sixth Street, harder with the left leg than the right, punishing the left leg for its weakness, as she’d learned on the polio ward.In my novel, Blue Skies Tomorrow, which takes place during World War II, Helen Carlisle deals with many repercussions of a childhood bout with polio. Thanks to vaccination, polio is quickly being forgotten, but it was a dread threat in the first half of the twentieth century. If...
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Yes, it's Tuesday again and I'm still celebrating my birthday month. Time to announce another winner!!Last week, Mike Duran won The Last Operative by Jerry B. Jenkins and a $10.00 Starbucks gift card. One prize went unclaimed.Hence, I will be drawing two names again.This weeks winners are: 1. Suzanne Jones 2....
Monday, August 22, 2011
I'm so pleased to have Sarah Sundin back. I've missed having her here over the last several months as I'm sure you have as well. This week, she'll be guest blogging about historical polio, the disease, and the polio immunization.Welcome back, Sarah!Polio Part 1—The DiseaseFor months, Helen had lain in the county polio ward. No matter how hard she’d concentrated, her legs wouldn’t do what she asked from them, demanded from them, pleaded...
Friday, August 19, 2011
I was reading a well known author when an interesting method of killing was proposed. His villain dislocated his victim's spinal cord manually by prying his fingers between the vertebrae. For that reason alone, I almost did an Author Beware post.Then, what followed was the victim living for a few hours paralyzed but still able to breathe. This is bridging on implausible and here's why.First, regarding the method of incapacitating this character....
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Recently, I was reading a novel by a well-known published author. I'm enjoying the story line a lot which is preventing me from putting the book down and reading another one.This was the written sentence. "We took him to the OR and drilled a hole in his head just in case there was a subdural hematoma."WOW! There's a lot going on in this single sentence. A lot that is medically inaccurate and I'll tell you why.First, a subdural hematoma is a "collection...
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Okay, it's Tuesday and I'm continuing with our every Tuesday drawing for the remainder of August for my very special birthday that's coming up (again somewhere between 29-41). Unfortunately, last weeks prize went unclaimed. Good news, two new names drawn this week!So... today's winners are:1. Carla Gade2. Mike DuranCongratulations!! Just e-mail me at jredwood1@gmail.com before next Tuesday (August 23, 2011) with your address to claim your prize...
Monday, August 15, 2011
I'm going to start doing these "Author Beware" posts every now and then. When you see that heading, it signals I'm doing a post on something a published author has written that medically is questionable. Now, I won't name the author or book, just the situation. So, if you know the book and/or author, please keep it close to the vest. This is merely for learning purposes. geology.com In two novels recently, I've come across inaccurate descriptions...
Friday, August 12, 2011
Is there a prescription drug abuse problem in America? If so, what is the scope?This ABC News piece aired in April and it has been on my mind ever since. Here's a few of the stats that made my jaw drop.Americans use 80% of all prescription pain killers in the world. The US consumes 99% of all Vicodin manufactured. In 17 states, deaths related to accidental overdose outnumber those deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents. Check out the full story...
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Have you been to an ER in the last decade? If so, do you remember being asked about your pain level? The infamous question in the adult realm, "Sir, can you rate your pain on a scale of 0-10... zero being no pain and ten being the worst pain you've ever had in your entire life." Every wonder why this was? Maybe you weren't even in pain and they still asked you. Do you remember being in the ER perhaps two decades ago where there wasn't a...
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Hello all! First, I want to say thank you. I'm overjoyed to see so many new followers and subscribers! Truly, it makes this whole blog adventure worth while to see your bright faces.This month is very special for me. I am celebrating a BIG birthday on August 31st. Let's just say it's somewhere between 29 and 41 and I'll let your creative brains fill in a number.To celebrate, I'll be drawing for prizes every Tuesday that's left in August. Four drawings!!...
Monday, August 8, 2011
Dr. Edwards is here for his monthly post and I thought his topic of choice was very timely. He sent me a piece on dealing with chronic pain patients in the ED. This is a problem for every ED... including pediatrics.In the past two years, I've been shocked by the number of chronic pain patients we are seeing in those under the age of 18. If you're writing an in-depth novel with an ED worker in the center, this is one area of conflict you could explore.How...
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