Dr. Josyann Abisaab
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Second Degree Burns: Dr. Josyann Abisaab
Second degree burns are more serious than first degree burns, but still do not always require emergency room visits. The classification of second degree burn applies when the skin has been burned through to the second layer of skin. This layer is known as the dermis, and when it is damaged blisters rise up and the skin becomes intensely reddened, with an accompanying splotchy appearance. Sever pain as well as swelling is also present. As long as this second degree burn only takes up an area of the skin no larger than 3 inches in diameter, this can be treated as a minor burn like a first degree burn. If…
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Emergency Room Advice:Burns Part I: Josyann Abisaab
One reason why a person might decide to go to the emergency room is if he suffered a severe burn. Burns can be caused in many ways; some of the more common sources of burns are hot substances such as boiling water, or from fire. Certain chemicals which are caustic can also cause serious burns. How can a person decide whether a trip to the emergency room is really needed? The following guidelines in three parts should be helpful. First-degree burns are the least serious. These types of burns only affect the outermost layer of skin, and do not penetrate further. The skin usually appears red with some swelling, and…
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Understanding Triage: Dr. Josyann Abisaab
ER physicians like Dr. Josyann Abisaab know that people wonder why emergency rooms often don’t treat patients in the precise order in which they arrive. This due to the concept of triage. Triage is generally a patient’s first stop in the emergency department. It is the site where a member of the ER team, usually a nurse, evaluates the patient’s condition and assigns him to one of three categories: 1. Imminently life-threatening 2. Urgent, but not imminently life-threatening 3. Less urgent As a result of triage, someone who arrives with a life-threatening condition can be seen immediately, even if he or she was not the first to arrive. Conversely, this means that…
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Asthma and Emergency Care
Having a child with asthma can be very stressful. It is hard to know when an ER visit is necessary. Emergency care doctors such as Dr. Josyann Abisaab recommend you prepare for such a visit in advance, and become familiar with the symptoms that need emergency care. Some of them are: If your child’s coloring changes; blue or gray lips and/or fingernails. If your child has difficulty talking. If your child’s peak flow reading drops below 50% and does not improve with medication. If your child repeatedly uses rescue medications for severe flare-up symptoms which do not go away after five or ten minutes or return quickly. If the areas…
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Protecting the Knee from ACL Tears
A very painful injury seen in ERs by doctors like Dr. Josyann Abisaab is an ACL tear. The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is one of the four main ligaments which control the motion of the knee. This injury usually occurs in “weekend warriors” who play only once or twice a week, and do not build up the required strength and flexibility in between games. To prevent ER visits with torn ACLs, strengthen the area by doing lunges, squats, hamstring exercises and leg presses on a regular basis. This will help secure and brace the knee during games.