i Young Chong, MD, has
been named Associate
Chief of Neurology and Director
of the Stroke Program at
NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn
Methodist Hospital. She
arrives from NewYork-Presbyterian
Lower Manhattan Hospital,
where she served as the
Site Chief of Neurology and
the Director of the Stroke Center.
Dr. Chong, who is also an
Assistant Professor of Clinical
Neurology at Weill Cornell
Medicine, assumed her new
role on July 1.
In her new role, Dr. Chong
will lead NewYork-Presbyterian
Brooklyn Methodist Hospital’s
Mobile Stroke Treatment
Unit (MSTU). The MSTU
emergency vehicle is designed
to provide immediate, specialized
care to people who may
be having a stroke — bringing
NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn
Methodist’s advanced technologies,
expert staff, and lifesaving
stroke treatment to
more people in need.
Each Mobile Stroke Treatment
COURIER L 30 IFE, JULY 5-11, 2019 PS
Unit is dispatched with
a highly specialized team consisting
of a critical care nurse,
two certified paramedics, one
CT technician and a neurologist
in attendance virtually.
The unit is equipped to access
electronic medical records and
transmit images right from
the back of the ambulance so
the neurologist can review the
scan results and treat patients
in real time.
To treat a stroke, it is imperative
to know what kind
of stroke it is. An immediate
CT scan can tell our neurologist
whether they’re dealing
with an ischemic stroke – one
caused by a clot blocking the
blood flow to your brain – or a
hemorrhagic stroke – a stroke
caused by a ruptured blood
vessel in the brain.
The unit also contains equipment
and medications to treat
strokes, including tPA — a medication
that works by dissolving
a blood clot and improving
the flow of oxygen-rich blood to
the affected part of the brain.
On occasion, the on-board CT
scanner will demonstrate intracranial
hemorrhage, which
cannot be treated with tPA. In
these instances, the MSTU can
benefit the patient by offering
earlier neurological consultation
and advanced blood pressure
management with intravenous
medications with the
aim of stopping the bleeding.
Additionally, such information
can be used, with approval of
FDNY online medical control,
to triage a patient to the closest
hospital with the necessary
neurosurgical team required
to treat intracranial hemorrhages.
Health
Summer fun routinely involves days spent soaking
up some of the sun’s rays. Relaxing days at
the beach, barbecues in the backyard, or picnics
at the park can make for fun summer activities that
create lasting memories.
While spending time in the great outdoors is a
great way to take advantage of summer weather, it’s
important that revelers take steps to prevent sunburn
when spending days beneath the hot summer sun.
Sunburns may seem temporary, but the Skin Cancer
Foundation notes that sunburn can cause long-lasting
skin damage. In addition, the Foundation notes
that a person’s risk for melanoma, the most dangerous
form of skin cancer, doubles if he or she has had
more than fi ve sunburns.
It can take several hours to notice the full damage
of a sunburn, though some people may notice
mild symptoms of sunburn more quickly than that.
The SCF recommends that people get out of the sun at
the fi rst sign of sunburn, and then take the following
steps to treat their skin:
Cool the skin down quickly
People sitting near cool water, whether it’s the
ocean or a backyard pool, should take a quick dip to
cool their skin. Make this dip quick so your skin is
not further exposed to the sun. After taking a dip,
cover up your skin and get out of the sun, continuing
to cool the skin with a cold compress.
Do not apply ice directly to sunburned skin. Some
people may want to take a cool shower or bath after
suffering a sunburn. While that’s alright, the Foundation
recommends keeping the bath or shower short,
as long baths or showers can dry the skin, and avoiding
harsh soap that can be irritating.
Moisturize skin while it’s still damp
Apply a gentle moisturizing lotion while the skin is
still damp, and continue doing so to affected areas for
a few days. Avoid petroleum- or oil-based ointments,
as they can trap the heat and make burns worse.
Decrease infl ammation
A nonsteroidal anti-infl ammatory like aspirin,
ibuprofen, or naproxen can help sunburned men and
women manage the pain and discomfort associated
with their sunburns. Symptoms such as redness and
swelling may be mitigated with a one-percent overthe
counter cortisone cream applied as directed for
a few days.
Wear the right clothing
Tight clothing can rub up against sunburned skin
and irritate it even further. Until sunburned skin
returns to normal, wear loose, soft, and breathable
clothing to keep irritation to a minimum.
Make a conscious effort to stay
hydrated
Sunburns draw fl uid to the surface of skin, taking
it away from the rest of the body. So it’s important that
men and women who have suffered a sunburn make a
conscious effort to drink more fl uids until their skin
heals so they can avoid becoming dehydrated.
Report severe sunburns to a
physician
Symptoms of severe sunburn include blistering of
the skin, fever, chills, wooziness, and/or feelings of
confusion. Report such symptoms to a physician immediately,
and avoid popping blisters, as doing so can
lead to infection.
Sunburns can always be avoided. Men, women,
and children planning to spend time in the sun should
take every measure to avoid sunburn, which can produce
long-lasting damage to the skin.
What to do after suffering a sunburn
Applying moisturizer to damp skin can help men and women
reduce irritation resulting from sunburn.