Free Emergency Echo by George Ivanoff Page A

the narrow tube of the appendix,and the blockage becomes infected with bacteria. This is a medical emergency. If the appendix bursts, its infected contents will spread throughout the abdominal cavity. Infection of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis) can be life-threatening without prompt treatment.
    Symptoms of appendicitis include:
Dull pain centred around the navel, which progresses to a sharp pain in the lower right side of the abdomen
Pain in the lower back, hamstring or rectum (less commonly)
Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhoea or constipation
Loss of appetite
    Treatment for appendicitis
    Treatment includes an operation to remove the appendix completely. This procedure is known as an appendicectomy or appendectomy. If the appendix has burst, the surgeon will insert a tube and drain the abdominal cavity of pus. Antibiotics are given to the patient intravenously to reduce the possibility of peritonitis.
    The typical hospital stay for an appendicectomy is between three and five days. Removing the appendix appears to have no effect on the workings of the digestive system, in either the short or long term.
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    Abridged version reproduced with permission from www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
© 2015 State of Victoria

During times of difficult communication the Phonetic Alphabet is of great use. ‘S’ and ‘F’ can sound the same, as can ‘D’ and ‘B’. Spelling of names is sometimes required. For example, ‘Smith’ is transmitted as Sierra Mike India Tango Hotel using the phonetic alphabet.
    Â 
LETTER
PHONETIC
SPOKEN AS
A
ALPHA
AL FAH
B
BRAVO
BRAH VO
C
CHARLIE
CHAR LEE
D
DELTA
DELLTA
E
ECHO
ECK OH
F
FOXTROT
FOKS TROT
G
GOLF
GOLF
H
HOTEL
HOH TEL
I
INDIA
IN DEE AH
J
JULIET
JEW LEE ETT
K
KILO
KEY LOH
L
LIMA
LEE MAH
M
MIKE
MIKE
N
NOVEMBER
NO VEMBER
O
OSCAR
OSS CAH
P
PAPA
PAH PAH
Q
QUEBEC
KEH BECK
R
ROMEO
ROH ME OH
S
SIERRA
SEE AIR RAH
T
TANGO
TANG GO
U
UNIFORM
YOU NEE FORM
V
VICTOR
VICK TAH
W
WHISKEY
WISS KEY
X
X-RAY
ECKS RAY
Y
YANKEE
YANG KEY
Z
ZULU
ZOO LOO

 
    Missed out on Royal Flying Doctor Service: Remote Rescue ? Read on for an extract!
    Dawson crept along, heart pounding in his chest. He trod carefully, quietly, his eyes searching the nooks and crannies.
    He stepped over rubble and out through the door in the crumbling wall. The sun hit him in the eyes, dazzling him. Squinting, he raised a hand to shield his face.
    Crack!
    The noise of rock hitting against rock.
    He ran.
    It could have just been a falling brick – the walls and rubble piles were certainly unstable enough. But it might have been one of his pursuers.
    And he didn’t want to take a chance.
    Dawson skirted the old building. His runners sank into the sand baked by the harsh sun.
    He stopped at the edge of the wall and peered into the main street. There were people near a bright red car at the very far end of the dirt and gravel road. But, otherwise, there was no one else close by. He took a deep breath, then dashed across the street.
    Breathing hard, legs pumping, he made it through to the next ageing building. He surveyed his surroundings.
    Streaks of sunlight hit the tired walls, making the shadows seem even darker. Dawson peered into the gloomy corners, looking for movement … for signs of life. Nothing.
    He inched forward, back pressed up against the wall.
    He looked into the first room. Reasonably intact, it had four almost complete walls; even the window frame was still in place. But the room was filled with debris, where the roof had caved in.
    Dawson moved on.
    The next room by contrast was barely there. The wall with the doorway was theonly one completely standing. Dawson continued a little quicker.
    Another room and he was at the back doorway. Like the front room, it still had its wooden frame but no actual door. He looked out cautiously before stepping forward.
    â€˜Boo!’
    Dawson jumped, stumbled and fell onto the pile of nearby bricks, scraping his knee.
    A young girl giggled, ran