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THE BHP WIRE —
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Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.
Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.
Innovation, patents, science, technology and world-changing contributions.
Pioneers, champions, Negro Leagues, records, activism and excellence.
Meet the people whose lives, choices and achievements shaped the journey.
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Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.
In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1972 she launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, breaking another political barrier.
MORE →Reflects the personal views, recollections, and perspective of the author, Mike Davis.
This is a personal recollection on the Move fire on May 13, 1985
| Salt water aspiration syndrome | |
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| Aspiration of salt water due to diving equipment malfunction or improper breathing techniques can go unnoticed, as the small size of water droplets may not trigger the upper airway's cough reflex. | |
| Specialty | Undersea medicine |
Salt water aspiration syndrome or saltwater aspiration syndrome is a medical condition caused by the inhalation or aspiration (entry of materials into lungs from mouth) of small amounts of salt water during an underwater dive, leading to lung irritation and inflammation. Unlike drowning or near-drowning, it does not involve ingestion of large volumes of water. It often results from faulty diving equipment or improper breathing techniques, allowing fine water droplets to reach the lower respiratory tract.
The condition begins with a cough, followed by shortness of breath, chest discomfort or pain, shivering, fever and other systemic symptoms. It can resemble a viral infection but improves within hours, especially with supplemental oxygen. While most cases resolve on their own, severe instances may require critical care. Diagnosis is based on clinical history and symptom progression. Salt water aspiration syndrome was first described in 1970.
Salt water aspiration syndrome occurs when small amounts of salt water are inhaled or aspirated, unlike drowning and near-drowning which involve intake of large volumes of water. This condition can develop subtly over the course of an underwater dive[1] or happen with a single aspiration event.[2] Faulty diving equipment such as diving regulators, improper breathing techniques, or buddy breathing lead to the inhalation or aspiration of fine salt water droplets. The small size of the droplets allows them to reach the lower respiratory tract without significantly triggering the upper airway's cough reflex, hence getting aspirated without causing immediate symptoms during the dive.[1]
Hypertonic salt water—being more concentrated than human blood—creates an osmotic gradient when it enters the lungs. This gradient draws water out of surrounding lung tissues into the alveoli and bronchioles, leading to irritation and inflammation. Salt water can also cause oxidative stress, dilution of pulmonary surfactant, breakdown of the blood-air barrier, cellular degradation and cell death.[3] Marine microorganisms and particulates can further exacerbate inflammatory processes, which may cause or contribute towards systemic symptoms seen with this condition.[4]
Most patients with salt water aspiration syndrome report experiencing aspiration during their dive. Affected individuals start with a cough immediately after completing the dive,[A] sometimes productive of excessive or blood-tinged sputum.[1] Following a latency period of about two hours, divers may develop shortness of breath, increased respiratory rate, increased heart rate, bluish skin, chest discomfort and pain.[6]
The condition generally mimics symptoms of a viral infection. Fever, malaise and chills are most commonly reported, and usually the first systemic symptoms to appear. Most individuals experience tremors and shivering[1] — the latter is worse with reduced oxygen levels in blood.[7] These symptoms tend to worsen with cold exposure or physical activity. Headaches are reported in about two-thirds of cases, while about one-third experience body aches. Gastrointestinal involvement can cause loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Less commonly, affected individuals experience fainting, temporary loss of consciousness and mild confusion.[1] In rare cases, severe inflammation of lungs can occur.[2]
Lung auscultation may reveal abnormal breath sounds such as rhonchi (snoring-like) or crackles (rattling), and chest imaging can show lung consolidations[4] and edema.[5] Decreased lung volumes, including a reduction of average 0.7 liters in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and vital capacity, is found on spirometry. Laboratory studies do not show specific abnormalities, but low oxygen levels in blood, slightly elevated white blood cell count and lactate dehydrogenase levels may be seen.[1]
The diagnosis of salt water aspiration syndrome is based on medical history and physical examination. Its initial symptoms of cough and difficulty breathing are similar to near-drowning, however, near-drowning does not cause viral infection-like symptoms. Furthermore, it can be difficult to distinguish the condition from an acute viral infection at first; unlike viral illnesses, salt water aspiration syndrome tends to improve within a few hours.[1]
The condition shares features with decompression sickness; a review of the dive profile and the absence of other symptoms associated with decompression can help distinguish between the two.[B] Significant improvement following supplemental oxygen further supports the diagnosis of salt water aspiration syndrome.[C] Other diving conditions like pulmonary barotrauma, immersion pulmonary edema and low body temperatures can produce similar symptoms or occur alongside this syndrome; these can be distinguished through the clinical course and imaging results.[1]
Treatment involves supportive care with supplemental oxygen, observation and rest.[1] Most cases resolve within the first 24 hours, often spontaneously without treatment.[10] Critical care may be necessary for severe cases or cases complicated with underlying respiratory disorders.[2]
The condition was first described in 1970 by Carl Edmonds,[4] who documented 30 cases at the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Penguin.[6] A 1989 study estimated that 37 percent of deaths that occurred during recreational scuba diving in Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s involved salt water aspiration syndrome. The study hypothesized—based on reports of the victim's symptoms and an analysis of their equipment—that the syndrome acted as an intermediate factor, exacerbating panic and exhaustion, which subsequently led to loss of consciousness and death by drowning.[11] In 2019, a case study reported severe salt water aspiration syndrome that occurred during a beluga whale encounter; an audience member at Georgia Aquarium aspirated salt water that a beluga whale splashed, which led to severe inflammation of lungs and low oxygen levels in blood requiring supplemental oxygen in the intensive care unit.[2]
Source: Wikipedia. Article content is retrieved live through the MediaWiki API.
Salt water aspiration syndrome or saltwater aspiration syndrome is a medical condition caused by the inhalation or aspiration (entry of materials into lungs from mouth) of small amounts of salt water during an underwater dive, leading to lung irritation and inflammation. Unlike drowning or near-drowning, it does not involve ingestion of large volumes of water. It often results from faulty diving equipment or improper breathing techniques, allowing fine water droplets to reach the lower respiratory tract. The condition begins with a cough, followed by shortness of breath, chest discomfort or pain, shivering, fever and other systemic symptoms. It can resemble a viral infection but improves within hours, especially with supplemental oxygen. While most cases resolve on their own, severe instances may require critical care. Diagnosis is based on clinical history and symptom progression. Salt water aspiration syndrome was first described in 1970.
Drowning is a type of suffocation induced by the submersion of the mouth and nose in a liquid. Submersion injury refers to both drowning and near-miss incidents. Most instances of fatal drowning occur alone or in situations where others present are either unaware of the victim's situation or unable to offer assistance. After successful resuscitation, drowning victims may experience breathing problems, confusion, or unconsciousness. Occasionally, victims may not begin experiencing these symptoms until several hours after they are rescued. An incident of drowning can also cause further complications for victims due to low body temperature, aspiration, or acute respiratory distress syndrome (respiratory failure from lung inflammation). Drowning is more likely to happen when spending extended periods near large bodies of water. Risk factors for drowning include alcohol use, drug use, epilepsy, minimal swim training or a complete lack of training, and, in the case of children, a lack of supervision. Common drowning locations include natural and man-made bodies of water, bathtubs, and swimming pools. Drowning occurs when a person spends too much time with their nose and mouth submerged in a liquid to the point of being unable to breathe. If this is not followed by an exit to the surface, low oxygen levels and excess carbon dioxide in the blood trigger a neurological state of breathing emergency, which results in increased physical distress and occasional contractions of the vocal folds. When significant amounts of water enter the lungs, it is most often later in the process, when they irresistibly force an inhalation. While the word "drowning" is commonly associated with fatal results, drowning may be classified into three different types: drowning that results in death, drowning that results in long-lasting health problems, and drowning that results in no health complications. Sometimes the term "near-drowning" is used in the latter cases. Among children who survive, health problems occur in about 7.5% of cases. Steps to prevent drowning include teaching children and adults to swim and to recognise unsafe water conditions, never swimming alone, use of personal flotation devices on boats and when swimming in unfavourable conditions, limiting or removing access to water (such as with fencing of swimming pools), and exercising appropriate supervision. Treatment of victims who are not breathing should begin with opening the airway and providing five breaths of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is recommended for a person whose heart has stopped beating and has been underwater for less than an hour.
Salt poisoning is an intoxication resulting from the excessive intake of sodium (usually as sodium chloride) either in solid form or in solution (saline water, including brine, brackish water, or seawater). Salt poisoning sufficient to produce severe symptoms is rare, and lethal salt poisoning is possible but even rarer. The lethal dose of table salt is roughly 0.5–1 gram per kilogram of body weight. In medicine, salt poisoning is most frequently encountered in children or infants who may be made to consume excessive amounts of table salt. At least one instance of murder of a hospitalized child by salt poisoning has been reported. Adults can consume too much salt by consuming seawater, pickled goods, brine water or soy sauce. Salt poisoning has been seen in a number of adults with mental health problems. Salt poisoning can affect most species of animals, although it is more common in swine, cattle, and poultry.
Hypernatremia, also spelled hypernatraemia, is a high concentration of sodium in the blood. Early symptoms may include a strong feeling of thirst, weakness, nausea, and loss of appetite. Severe symptoms include confusion, muscle twitching, and bleeding in or around the brain. Normal serum sodium levels are 135–145 mmol/L (135–145 mEq/L). Hypernatremia is generally defined as a serum sodium level of more than 145 mmol/L. Severe symptoms typically only occur when levels are above 160 mmol/L. Hypernatremia is typically classified by a person's fluid status into low volume, normal volume, and high volume. Low volume hypernatremia can occur from sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, diuretic medication, or kidney disease. Normal volume hypernatremia can be due to fever, extreme thirst, prolonged increased breath rate, diabetes insipidus, and from lithium among other causes. High volume hypernatremia can be due to hyperaldosteronism, excessive administration of intravenous normal saline or sodium bicarbonate, or rarely from eating too much salt. Low blood protein levels can result in a falsely high sodium measurement. The cause can usually be determined by the history of events. Testing the urine can help if the cause is unclear. The underlying mechanism typically involves too little free water in the body. If the onset of hypernatremia was over a few hours, then it can be corrected relatively quickly using intravenous normal saline and 5% dextrose in water. Otherwise, correction should occur slowly with, for those unable to drink water, half-normal saline. Hypernatremia due to diabetes insipidus as a result of a brain disorder, may be treated with the medication desmopressin. If the diabetes insipidus is due to kidney problems the medication causing the problem may need to be stopped or the underlying electrolyte disturbance corrected. Hypernatremia affects 0.3–1% of people in hospital. It most often occurs in babies, those with impaired mental status, and the elderly. Hypernatremia is associated with an increased risk of death, but it is unclear if it is the cause.
Before the 1921 destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, Black residents had created a remarkable center of business and community life. The district included stores, professional offices, entertainment venues and homes owned by Black citizens. Understanding Greenwood means learning what was built—not only what was burned.
MORE →Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
