scholarly journals Franco-British responses to chemical warfare 1915–8, with special reference to the medical services, casualty statistics and the threat to civilians

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-120
Author(s):  
Hanene Zoghlami

AbstractThis dual-focussed examination will critically compare and contrast the British Royal Army Medical Corps and the French Medical Service’s involvement in the Western Front chemical campaign between 1915 and 1918. Because the Anglophone historiography has tended to marginalise the French contribution to the allied chemical war, this article will attempt to re-balance the historical narrative by emphasising the collective nature and importance of this joint Franco-British enterprise. By interrogating a raft of under-utilised primary evidence in the French and British archives, this investigation will contribute to the ‘alliance literature’ by arguing that when it comes to aspects of the Franco-British chemical war such as the co-operation of the medical services, the appellation ‘together but alone’ does not fully hold. The article will explore avenues of the two national armies evolving process of mutual medical assistance, material exchange and scientific collaboration. The striking similarity of French and British gas casualty statistics is highlighted with reference to the overall congruence of their anti-gas strategies – notwithstanding the problematic nature of these statistics. In addition to enhancing soldiers’ resistance to the poison gas threat on the battlefield, the Medical Services were also responsible for the protection of local civilians in the war zones. With reference mainly to France, this investigation will discuss the significance and implications of the poison gas threat to the home front. Finally, the impact of chemical weapon production upon civilian war workers in France and Britain will be commented upon.

Author(s):  
Rayner Kay Jin Tan ◽  
Vanessa Ho ◽  
Sherry Sherqueshaa ◽  
Wany Dee ◽  
Jane Mingjie Lim ◽  
...  

AbstractWe evaluated the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the sex work industry and assessed how it has impacted the health and social conditions of sex workers in Singapore. We conducted a sequential exploratory mixed methods study amidst the COVID-19 pandemic from April to October 2020, including in-depth interviews with 24 stakeholders from the sex work industry and surveyor-administered structured surveys with 171 sex workers. COVID-19 had a substantial impact on sex workers' income. The illegality of sex work, stigma, and the lack of work documentation were cited as exclusionary factors for access to alternative jobs or government relief. Sex workers had experienced an increase in food insecurity (57.3%), housing insecurity (32.8%), and sexual compromise (8.2%), as well as a decrease in access to medical services (16.4%). Being transgender female was positively associated with increased food insecurity (aPR = 1.23, 95% CI [1.08, 1.41]), housing insecurity (aPR = 1.28, 95% CI [1.03, 1.60]), and decreased access to medical services (aPR = 1.74, 95% CI [1.23, 2.46]); being a venue-based sex worker was positively associated with increased food insecurity (aPR = 1.46, 95% CI [1.00, 2.13]), and being a non-Singaporean citizen or permanent resident was positively associated with increased housing insecurity (aPR = 2.59, 95% CI [1.73, 3.85]). Our findings suggest that COVID-19 has led to a loss of income for sex workers, greater food and housing insecurity, increased sexual compromise, and reduced access to medical services for sex workers. A lack of access to government relief among sex workers exacerbated such conditions. Efforts to address such population health inequities should be implemented.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Sturm

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to use Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation, by Duncan Tonatiuh, along with other materials on school segregation to address the question, is separate ever equal? Design/methodology/approach Students compare and contrast segregated schooling using a Venn diagram, then research other instances of school segregation, paying attention to the time periods, geographic locations, and impact on segregated individuals. In pairs, students identify these locations on a US map and create a class timeline of the instances of segregation they uncover. Using their research, the class then discusses segregation and its impact on the segregated groups and individuals. Afterwards, students compare their school to the schools researched to determine if segregation exists in their school, and form a class position statement on the importance and benefits of school desegregation. Findings Students will build an understanding of the importance and benefits of school desegregation and the negative impact of segregation. Originality/value This lesson plan brings together multiple texts that illustrate the impact of segregation on various cultures in America.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Burnett ◽  
Dolly Panchal ◽  
Bjorn Peterson ◽  
Eric Ernest ◽  
Kent Griffith ◽  
...  

IntroductionAgitated patients who present a danger to themselves or emergency medical services (EMS) providers may require chemical restraints.  Haloperidol is employed for chemical restraint in many EMS services.  Recently, ketamine has been introduced as an alternate option for prehospital sedation.  On-scene time is a unique metric in prehospital medicine which has been linked to outcomes in multiple patient populations. When used for chemical restraint, the impact of ketamine relative to haloperidol on on-scene time is unknown.Objective: To evaluate whether the use of ketamine for chemical restraint was associated with a clinically significant (≥5 minute) increased on-scene time compared to a haloperidol based regimen.MethodsPatients who received haloperidol or ketamine for chemical restraint were identified by retrospective chart review.  On-scene time was compared between groups using an unadjusted Student t-test powered to 80% to detect a ≥5 minute difference in on-scene time.Results110 cases were abstracted (Haloperidol = 55; Ketamine = 55). Of the patients receiving haloperidol, 11/55 (20%) were co-administered a benzodiazepine, 4/55 (7%) received diphenhydramine and 34/55 (62%) received the three drugs in combination. There were no demographic differences between the haloperidol and ketamine groups.  On-scene time was not statistically different for patients receiving a haloperidol based regimen compared to ketamine (18.2 minutes, [95% CI 15.7-20.8] vs. 17.6 minutes, [95% CI 15.1-20.0]; p = 0.71).ConclusionsThe use of prehospital ketamine for chemical restraint was not associated with a clinically significant (≥5 minute) increased on-scene time compared to a haloperidol based regimen.  


Author(s):  
Dr. Khaled Albustanji

This study aimed to identify the effect of continuous improvement of medical services provided to patients , represented by the computerized Hakim medical program from the point of view of the medical staff workers, which is an applied study on KhreibetAl-Souq Comprehensive Medical Center after using the Hakim program. The researcher distributed (28) questionnaires on the study sample, i.e. approximately (40%) of the study population of (70) staff employees. (26) questionnaires were retrieved, and after checking the retrieved questionnaires, two questionnaires were excluded because they were not valid for statistical analysis, and accordingly, the number retrieved and valid for statistical analysis reached (24) questionnaires. The study reached several conclusions, the most important of which is that there is a statistically significant impact of continuous improvement represented by Hakim's computerized medical program on medical services provided to patients from the point of view of the medical staff, and that continuing to make improvements in work processes and procedures will lead to providing medical services to patients and beneficiaries, according to the requirements of both the beneficiaries and the medical employees, and will also lead to (more effective) arrangement, speed up and organization of work procedures and saves time and effort for both the medical workers and the beneficiaries, KEYWORDS: continuous improvement, hakim medical program, medical services, medical computing company, requirements of clients


Vestnik ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 289-292
Author(s):  
Л.Ж. Алекешева ◽  
К.К. Тогузбаева ◽  
К.О. Джусупов

COVID-19 нанес серьезный удар по системам здравоохранения многих стран мира, включая Республику Казахстан. Чтобы справиться с пандемией, Казахстан разработал план, содержащий три стратегические цели: 1) предотвращение вспышки болезни; 2) Обеспечение оптимального ухода для всех пациентов и 3) Сведение к минимуму воздействия пандемии на системы здравоохранения, социальные услуги и экономическую деятельность. Однако неравномерное распределение финансовых ресурсов по регионам, нерегулярное потребление медицинских услуг и различия в показателях здоровья препятствуют этим усилиям. Другие проблемы - это нехватка медицинских сил, неожиданность ситуации, отсутствие знаний о коронавирусной инфекции и бессилие перед этой новой болезнью. Были трудности с массовым тестированием, поскольку стигма и страх перед карантином вынуждали людей не проходить тестирование. После отмены чрезвычайного положения и строгой изоляции страну охватила эйфория, которая привела к резкому увеличению числа случаев заболевания. Чтобы взять ситуацию под контроль в июне 2020 года был экстренно введен второй локдаун, постепенно стало уменьшаться количество больных и инфицированных. Пандемия показала, насколько хрупка и зависима система: была отложена плановая вакцинация детям до 1 года, временно приостановлено медицинское обследование и оказание медицинских услуг больным хроническими, онкологическими заболеваниями, плановая госпитализация. Многие врачи и медсестры заразились и заболели. На момент написания этой статьи эпидемиологическая ситуация в стране с COVID-19 находится под контролем и надзором, однако давать какие-либо прогнозы относительно его завершения пока рано. Казахстан готовится к вакцинации от коронавирусной инфекции, в первую очередь вакцинации должны подвергаться группы риска, медицинские и социальные работники, а также люди с хроническими заболеваниями. Пока коллективный иммунитет не сформирован, казахстанцы должны проявлять осторожность при снятии ограничений, чтобы предотвратить взрыв новых случаев заболевания. COVID-19 has strained the healthcare systems of many countries worldwide including the Republic of Kazakhstan. To cope with the pandemic, Kazakhstan mounted a plan containing three strategic objectives: 1) Preventing the outbreak of the disease; 2) Ensuring optimal care for all patients, and 3) Minimizing the impact of the pandemic on health systems, social services, and economic activities. However, the uneven distribution of financial resources across regions, irregular consumption of medical services, and inconsistent health indicators hamper these efforts. Other issues are the lack of medical forces, the unexpectedness of the situation, lack of knowledge on coronavirus infection, and powerlessness in front of this new disease. There were difficulties in mass testing as stigma and fear from quarantine forced people not to get tested. The euphoria enveloped the country after abolishing the emergency state after an intense lockdown which resulted in increased cases. A second lockdown was urgently introduced in June 2020 to take control of the situation. The number of patients and those infected gradually began to decline. The pandemic showed the fragility and inter-dependence of the health system- planned vaccinations against many infectious diseases were postponed. Medical examination and provision of medical services to patients with chronic, oncological diseases, planned hospitalization were temporarily halted. Many doctors and nurses became infected and ill. The country's COVID-19 epidemiological situation is somewhat under the control and supervision as of this writing. However, to give any forecasts for its completion is still too early. Kazakhstan is preparing to vaccinate against coronavirus infection. First of all, risk groups, medical and social workers, and people with chronic diseases should be subject to vaccination. Until herd immunity is not formed, Kazakhstanis must keep caution when the restrictions are taken off to prevent an explosion of new disease cases.


Author(s):  
Peter Grant

This chapter considers the experience of the First World War to demonstrate that state mobilisation does not necessarily crowd out voluntary endeavour. While the scale of volunteering to fight in that conflict has long been appreciated, the equivalent voluntary effort on the home front has been neglected by historians. This chapter charts the scale, coordination and regulation of this voluntary activity, from the establishment of the National Relief Fund, to the appointment of a Director General of Voluntary Organisations in 1915 and the 1916 War Charities Act. It is argued that the War encouraged professionalisation and innovation within the charity sector, while also embedding a notion of voluntarism working hand in hand with the state.


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