Monday, May 19, 2008

Is making home so easy?

I used to think so.All through these days I thought that Father is the head of the family and he is the one who works the hardest for the family.One reason might be I am male and sympathize with fellow male :) .But a keen observation of day-to-day house-hold activities proved me wrong.It is not only the father but the home-maker also plays an equally important role.I am not getting into man vs woman business because a home-maker may be a man or a woman .I will just talk about my observations from the point of view of the home-maker of my home i.e., my mom.This may open the eyes of many others like me :).

For a long time I have been avoiding my duties as a member of my family.I nicely covered my laziness with "Male Ego" that says, " A man is a manager, HE is supposed to supervise and not actually work :) ".So I used to appreciate the interior decoration done by my sister,praise the
delicious food cooked by my mom.My mom used to feel elated because of my poetic appreciations.Slowly she realized that I am actually contributing to nothing in action.She decided to teach me a lesson.She went on cooking the vegetables/items that I don't like day after day.I used to cry Oh mom! I work so hard(?) at the office and after coming home what do I get? (karela)BITTER GOURD!She coolly replied My dear! I can only cook what I have in the kitchen inventory.I have been requesting you for a while to get some vegetables from market ! You paid a deaf ear to me.So bear the punishment.You know tommorow I am going to cook cauliflower because I have that in my inventory. I told OK momma, what a strategy!I guess IIM's can give a case study on this which says How to manage smart( like me :) ) people ?So I decided that it is better to do Ghar Seva first and then the Samaj Seva.The president of my home's constitution none other than my mom created a set of Fundamental duties of the citizen 'Shadab':-
(1)Ensuring that the needs of kitchen are full-filled.
(2)Ensuring that any repair in Electrical/Electronic appliances is fixed
with in 24 hours.
(3)Ensuring that all the bills are paid before deadline.
(4)Ensuring that the drinking water is filtered and filled in bottles.

Just four!Even I thought that's all.But believe me, "Ensuring that you fulfill your duties daily is going to be really tough".When I started to dispatch my duties I came to know oh! my God house-hold work is tougher than cracking civil services.I started appreciating my mom in the true sense.I realised that she is indeed the Master of our House as it is shown on TV (Women's day and so on).So HatsOff! to all home-makers.You are GREAT.My mom works for 7 days and atleast 10 hours a day so that all others in the family are happy.Drawing the inspiration from my mom I started my new role "The Citizen" no "The Responsible Citizen".

I used to be responsible and contribute towards house-hold activities till the time I reached X standard.Later I ,no, the entire society thought I entered into a VERY crucial phase of my life SSC/+1/+2 so on .So I got a sabatical from my responsibilities towards house-hold activities.I remembered the prices of various goods during my schooling.With these "price-memories" I entered a market with a big list prepared by my mom.I went to tomato walla and asked tomatoes for Rs5/a KG.He gave a weird look and simply told "Aage Badho"(Move-On).Then I read the rate list which said tomatoes Rs20/KG.I asked him when did the price change from Rs5 to Rs20?He said "Aapke bachpan mein"(in your childhood).Suddenly my economics lessons flashed into my mind oh! it is inflation.Later I went to the mutton shop.I over heard my dad saying that KG(1 Kilogram) chicken is Rs80 two days ago.So I thought KG mutton should be Rs100 atmost and also felt proud of my common-sense.I handed Rs.100 to the butcher.He stopped me and told "Baaki paise"(Where is the rest of the money?).I told "Isn't that all?"Thank God I escaped from being made into "khyma" (small pieces) paying him the correct price i.e., Rs240/KG.OK! I decided to first ask the price for the same item in atleast two shops and then buy the best deal.Thank God! this strategy worked.I was done with the test and then returned home.

After coming home mom checked the carry bag and cross verified the items with the list.Yippey! I didnt miss any of the items in the list.But ,But!Now the real test started.The quality of the items and the price of the items!She told tomatoes are not so good.I should have tried in a different shop.Also the Rs 20 could have been negotiated to Rs16 which I didn't.The brinjal is so so.I could have been done better and finally she told the mutton is good!Saving grace!Thank you muttonwallah although you scared me!I got a rating of 3 out of 5.Hey thats a very good rating for
a beginner.But believe me! I started learning .In a month's time I was able to understand a good tomato from a bad ,a good brinjal from a bad, a good quality mutton from a bad and also I was able to get at right price.

I started discharging my duties well.In the process I got an opportunity to observe what does my mom do for almost the entire day in home?Her activities included cleaning the house, washing clothes,cooking,procuring the things that I missed to get and so on...As we all know there are two ways to do any thing the right way and the wrong way.If we do in the wrong way the above activities can be easily done.For ex:-If you need vegetables you can go to any retail outlet and get B-grade ones.If you want to do it in the right way go to the rythubazar (market) and get them.Believe me! there is hell lot of difference in the taste of the vegetables got from the two places. Rythubazar certainly tastes good but it comes at the cost of strain and pain.Now if you take the activity of cleaning house you can take the broom and simply whirl around.After that walking on the floor of the house leaves your feet black because it collects all the dust :) But if you gonna do it in the right way it involves taking broom to every nook and cranny of the house and then cleaning the floor with the wet cloth.Now let us talk about my favorite part cooking , if you cook with out any care you may be the source of the diseases in the house.To cook healthy food one needs to take lot of care right from cleaning the ingredients of cooking, the proportion of ingredients used in the cooking, to the way the food is served.My mom always do it in right way.I appreciate her dedication and she will continue to do so forever irrespective of age.I decided to co-operate her forever in her ordeal.

So I advice all my readers ,take care of your Home Maker.They are the one who are diligently working for you.

Finally the answer to my question "It is not all that easy" ...

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Mera Number Kab Aayegaa !

Apart from the heat, this summer is loaded with marriages.If you tell some one " I Know What You Did This Summer " he'll probably say "I got married".

"Suresh weds Veni (Feb 23 , 2008)" ,this is the first marriage in the series of marriages that I attended and will attend.I started at 9:30 p.m. on Friday night to catch the Ongole bus from Central Bus Stand (CBS) at 10:30 pm. I boarded a city bus to reach CBS.I guess that the driver got sudden pangs of hunger . He jumped out of the bus to have some thing to eat.He enjoyed the food for 15 minutes.After a little hassle between the conductor and passengers for the delay we headed slowly towards CBS .Definitely the food disturbed the driver's tummy, a metro express was moving dead slowly.Thank God! I reached CBS at 10:29 pm. I felt a lot of change.Any bus can stop anywhere.This is nothing short of a treasure hunt.I ran around the bus stand but ongole bus is no where to be seen.Oh! my God I missed the bus.
Bloody phone says disconnected from the network.Barriers break when people speak but boy! there must be network to speak.The so-called APSRTC enquiry booth told that the bus 'might' have already left.I thought I would wait for some time and then leave.Luckily I saw Vikram coming towards me.At that time he looked like an angel to me.He escorted me to the bus.Wow! I was meeting my friends after approximately seven years. Shravan,Satish,Vikram,Ravindra and Sudhakar were there. They welcomed me warmly.Satish looked busy with some 'important' phone call.Shravan was trying to find who was on the other side of phone.Ravindra said that I haven't changed a bit but he changed a lot.Vikram looked manly like a tollywood star.Sudha looked as if he were there to sleep :).

Next day all of us assembled at suresh's house in the afternoon.I found Anil a.k.a party and BabuRao sir also.Anil was as usual tall and cool.Babu Rao sir looked relaxed and charged to
play football with all of us with his funny sarcastic jokes.We were all supposed to start at 1:00 pm to the bride's place but we started at 3:30.Poor Vasu! was waiting some where in the mid-way to bride's place, to pick him up from 2:00 pm onwards.He looked like philosopher with a small belly.We munched guavas brought by vasu. We talked about the intermediate education past and present.BabuRao sir added lot of insights to the discussion.Ravindra talked about his project which is really cool.He showed his engineering college which was on the way.We got bored but to our delight there was a girl in the group.You know boys! We wanted to show-case our skills to impress her.Vikram was already in charge helping her in preparing a gift for Suresh. Anil and I started pulling Vikram's legs.Afterwards we took the charge of impressing the
girl with our 'unique' skill of pseudo-palmistry(p-p).I hope I didn't offend anyone with my p-p.Oh! still there is a long way to go .Ate guavas,laughed to BabuRao sir's jokes, teased Vikram,impressed(I think so :) ) girl what else to do ?Satish took the charge with his intuitive puzzles.Actually puzzles are indeed intuitive but Anil proved them the are silly and useless.I think satish will think twice before posing puzzles if party is present.

Thank God! we reached.Three musketeers(Baaru,Hari, and Rama a.k.a Quest ) were waiting for us.Baaru didn't change looked cute and funny as usual.Hari looked like a small boy doing his intermediate.Rama looked excited.As he belongs to my company I met him in between.The bride's party welcomed us with cooldrinks and snacks.We got refreshed with a cool bath.Some snaps were taken in the dressing room but all of them are not meant for family viewing.I also met with Lucy ,a mutual friend of Suresh and mine at St.Xaviers school.He changed a lot.Now he is working for a noble cause of spreading health awareness in the villages.Suresh dressed up in a beautiful suit.He looked like a chief executive of Infy.He got busy with his wedding process and we got busy with eating process.After a long time I got a chance to savour traditional AndhraFood - Fried Mirchi, Pappad, Curry , Pakoda, Sambar ummm.

After a heavy dinner we arranged ourselves in a circle.Baaru was the cynosure of the circle.He speaks we laugh that was the protocol.We reminisced about our intermediate days especially sanskrit sir and Baaru,uday bhanu sir and vasu,english sir,chinna srinu sir,pedda srinu sir,s-kiibed (eamcet subbarao sir),veyyavay-pettavay(mehta sir).We clicked lot of photos.Time just flew away in our conversation.The entire marriage party returned after mid-night. Anil,Baaru,Hari,Rama,Vasu and I got down at Vijayawada. All others were sleeping.We bade good-bye and happy married life to Suresh and got down.

In Vijayawada we spent some time in lodge room.Baaru left for his home.Vasu left for his aunt's house.Anil left to chirala.Hari,Rama and I returned to Hyderabad by Satavahana express.Hari explained life in a metro(mumbai).Time passed slowly and we reached Hyderabad.Hari headed to Mumbai.Rama left to Miyapur and I returned home.I slept for the entire half-day.My dreams were full of my intermediate days, my cycle,tuitions at BabuRao sir's house,subject discussions with satish and vasu,cricket matches in hari's house so on and so forth.

We dispersed so quickly that we didn't even bade good-bye to each other but I am very happy that we could meet after so many days.Guys! who is getting married next?(Mera number toh abhi nahin aayegaa!) I want to have one more meet-up.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

First Aid

I attended a Training on Handling of Emergency Accidents & First Aid.Once again kudos to my company for helding this session.

I thought it will be a traditional one but to my surprise I was proved wrong.Dr.Mahesh Joshi from Apollo made it a worth-to-attend training.He is tall and full of life.His confidence and authority is itself a kind of first-aid to the patient.Congratulations to the doctor and his team.

I will mention the details in direct speech for ease of understanding.The doctor started with :

Hello Every one!Let us look at statistics.How many accidents/year occur in India?
Audience shouted variety of numbers ranging from 4000 to 4 lakhs.
What a value we have given to lives poor people met with accidents 4000 to 4 L !! (with an ironical tone).It is not your fault.It is the unfortunate scenario of our poor infrastructure.In any mishap prevention is better than cure but we are not always so lucky.Ok it is actually 1L.Do you know that India is the diabetes capital of the world?18 crore Indians are Diabetes-Prone.Do you know that the people of the Hyderabad are the sweetest (1 out of 8 people are suffering from diabetes)?Do you know that 2500 Indians die per year due to BP(BloodPressure)?

So there is high probability of finding people or your own parents or relatives suffering.What can you do so that you donot repent "If I would have done that "?First of all Don't Panic.Don't hurt yourselves.Call emergency helplines 108 or 1066 and then start first aid.How to give first aid ?Don't worry we will discuss.If there is some one else on the scene delegate them the task.I hope you guys are well equipped with "managerial" skills.How do you delegate the task?Call 108 tell them that person is unconscious at Gachibowli (with proper land marks) thats all and then you start doing the first aid.

Now let us dwell into first aid.What is first aid? It is the care given before emergency medical help arrives that can change morbidity or mortality.If done correctly it will decrease morbidity or mortality or else it will certainly increase.So do first-aid only if you know correctly but please do not further harm.

Let me tell you a funny instance happened at Numaish (exhibition).
I was handling a similar session.I wanted to know how does audience attend to a person suffering with fits.I was in the audience and suddenly started doing convulsions.Some of them were scared and ran away.But some responsible citizens started doing so-called first-aid.There were twenty of them surrounding me.They were making me (a fits patient) breathless.Twenty advices wer coming out.They debated among themselves and finally started acting (Thank God! they started doing some thing let us see what they did).Do you see my broken teeth?One of them took out his car keys and inserted into my mouth.In the process poor me's tooth was broken.Another one pour a bucket of water on me.Another one sacrificed his pav bhaji's onion to place them on my forehead.Two of them started thumping my ribs violently.Even today I feel the pain (My God!).Some of them took out their socks , chappal what not! I was afraid and stopped the drama.

Isn't it funny?If it were a real patient it would have been a torture for him rather than first-aid.Let us know about first-aid in case of some general accidents.
(1)Choking
(2)Sudden Collapse
(3)Fits
(4)Bleeds
(5)Sprains/Factures
(6)Dog/Snake Bite
(7)Chest Pain (Heart Attack)
(8)Electric Shock
(9)Paralysis

How many lifelines are there in KBC?Audience shouted 3,4 ...Ok but there are only 2 life lines for a human being.(1)Airway (2) Spine.First aid must ensure that they are fine.

With this thumb-rule let us start with these accidents one by one.

(1)Choking :-
It is speechless,breathless condition caused due to a foreign-body obstructing wind-pipe.
Obviously you cannot ask him questions as he cannot speak.Also donot give him water or tea.
(i)First of all let him know that you are doing first-aid.Make him believe you.
(ii)You can take help of his cough-reflex.Make him stand .
(iii)Go behind him place one of your leg in between his two legs.This will help you to balance his weight and save your spine if he suddenly becomes unconscious.
(iv)Now clasp your arms from behind around his abdomin above his navel.
(v)Give a blow so that it comes out due to his cough reflex or he becomes unconscious.
(vi)If he becomes unconscious using your leg's support lay him down and do the same blows till some medical help is arrived.

In case of babies cough-reflex is not well developed.Giving back-blows between shoulder blades with our hurting the baby helps.

(2)Sudden Collapse :-
It can occur due to variety of reasons.One that occurs due to cardiac arrest is discussed later.Here it occurs due to stress,low blood-sugar levels,low BP and so on.
(i)Oxygen and Blood-Supply should be maintained.Donot pour a bucket of water on his face as shown in Bollywood movies.
To maintain the supply of oxygen and blood
(i)Lay down the patient
(ii)Elevate his legs.If you don't have anything else to do :) you can hold his/her legs or raise his/her an support them against a chair or a wall.Why Elevate ?You are taking the advantage of gravity.By elevating you are letting blood & oxygen flow freely to and fro between heart and various parts of the body.
(iii)Please don't feed him with tea or coffee .It is another side-effect of Bollywood movies.

(3)Fits (Convulsions/Epilepsy):-
Let us understand them.Our brain has an electric circuit.It gets disturbed at times due to various reasons.This leads to repeated contractions in the circuit which causes convulsions.It is a scary sight but don't fear.The patient is already suffering.He is going to do nothing to you.It is your job to prevent secondary losses to him.
In this situtation his tongue falls back and closes one lifeline i.e., airway.
(i)As mentioned in "Sudden Collapse" case lay him down but in a lateral position.This is to avoid the tongue from falling back.
(ii)The patient needs immediate medical attention.As aforementioned you might have already called for medical help.

One quick tip :- Lateral position is known as recovery position when a patient is unconscious.

(4)Bleeds :-
What happens when a person bleeds?People gather around and make variety of hissing sounds as if someone has thrown water on a hot pan.Instead ,re-assure the person.
(i)Irrigate the wound but don't use your saliva or dust as shown in the movies.
(ii)Do pressure Compression.Take a cloth press on the injure part for 5-10 minutes with out break.This helps in the formation of the clot.Do not apply high pressure in such a way that it cuts the blood flow to the entire organ below the wound.
(iii)Applying Ice helps because it reduces temperature and quickens clot formation.
Bleeding from Nose :-
I generally happens in summer or due to high BP.
(i)Put the patient in 45degree posture but do not let him lay down as usual.
(ii)Do pressure compression on nose.If you are busy take cotton place it on nose then put a clip(the one you use for drying clothes) on the cotton.
(iii)Leave it for some time.

(iv)As usual the medical help might reach by this time.

(5)Sprains/Fractures :-
High Heels! Wonderful Stairs ! ooh! aah! ouch!

Sprains occur due to unfamiliar surface or insufficient lighting.They are injuries which occur to ligaments because of sudden overstretching. whereas in the case of fracture a bone is broken into pieces.Extreme pain is the main symptom of fracture.

For these use RICE principle : R(Rest)I(Ice)C(Compression)E(Elevation)
(i)Do not move the injured site.Generally people tend to move and twist and do all sorts of experiments on the injured site.Please avoid doing that.It will intensify the problem.

(ii)In the case of fracture do not use sling to support.Use your other hand or a card board(available in market) to support.Sling may aggravate the problem.What happens in the case of fracture?Your bone is broken say part1 and part2 and gap between the parts.The sling tends to settle in the gap and thus increasing the gap which is the only thing we do not want to happen.

(iii)If you feel that it is a fracture,insist on an X-ray even if the doctor claims that it is not a fracture.

(6)Dog/Snake Bite :-
Quick Statistics: Rabies(caused due to virus) is 100% mortal barring very few exceptions.Again India ranks first in it.A 17yr brilliant student in AP died because of rabies.
Dog Bite:
To attend to the patient make sure that the dog is not around.Then :-
(i)Clean the wound effectively with running soap water for 15-20 minutes.
(ii)Cover it with a cloth
(iii)Take the patient to a hospital with good facility.The hospital must contain Rabies Immunoglobin.The student mentioned above died because of not taking to a hospital with a good facility.The student was given TT and was sent.Poor boy! he suffered a brutal death.
(iv)Knowing whether the dog is vaccinated or not helps in the further treatment.

Note :- Rabies vaccine is not the only answer to Rabies because vaccine is nothing but milder version of virus.Lot of clinical care is required.

Snake Bite:
AS mentioned above make sure that the snake is not around.Although 90% of the snakes are non-poisonous it is safe to assume that the snake is poisonous.
As shown in movies Snake - Bite cannot kill so rapidly .It takes time for the poison to mix with blood and finally collapse the heart.We take advantage of this time to save the patient.
(i)Do not touch the wound with bare hands
(ii)Do not cut the affected part.It may cause gangrene.
(iii)Clean the wound .Immobilise the injured part using a cloth so that blood does not flow freely.
(iv)Every minute is important . Rush the patient to a hospital that is likely to contain polyvalent anti-venom .

In case of scorpion bite/bee stings also clean the wound and rush the patient to the hospital.

(7)Chest Pain (Heart Attack) :-
Heart attack may occur in variety of forms
(a)Chest Pain
(b)Shooting Pain in Shoulders
(c)Left Jaw Pain
(d)Acidity
and so on so forth.

Let me tell you an example of a bank executive who died because of neglecting the symptoms.His spouse applied amrutanjan on his chest all the night.Infact it enraged his problem.The next morning he died in his office.

What I want to say is You,me and most of the employees in India belong to the blessed citizens of the country i.e., they have Health Insurance Policy.So please get ECG done immediately . Go for treatment with out any delay.

Let us understand cardiac arrest.The heart does not beat and breathing ceases, which starves the body of oxygen. Brain damage is likely if cardiac arrest lasts for more than 5 minutes, and death is likely if cardiac arrest lasts for more than 10 minutes.

How can we help a person suffering from cardiac arrest?
(i)Act immediately.
(ii)If the person is conscious ,give him aspirin or sorbitrate5mg.Do not Let him exert.Call for immdediate help.
(iii)If the person is unconscious (in fact if you feel that the person is unconscious),
Ask loudly, "Are you OK?" "Are you OK?" .If there is no response Place two fingers on one or other side of the person's voice box in their throat to feel if they have a carotid pulse.
(iv)If the patient has a pulse but is not breathing it could be because of suffocation? Feel inside the mouth with a finger to see if there is anything blocking it or the windpipe and remove any food or other objects. Provided that dentures are not broken, it is better not to remove them.Call for help immediately,and provide resuscitation (discussed below) until the patient begins to breathe or the ambulance arrives.

If there is no breathing or pulse, the patient has had a cardiac arrest.

(v)If possible, raise the legs up to allow more blood to flow towards the heart.Immediately place the palm of your hand flat on the patient's chest just over the lower part of the sternum (breast bone) and press your hand in a pumping motion once or twice by using the other hand. This may make the heart beat again.

(vi)If these actions do not restore a pulse or if the subject doesn't begin to breathe again:
Use an automated external defibrillator (AED),a device that can start the heart beating again if available.The device is easy to use.Shamshabad airport is supposed to be installed with AED's around.
(vii)If the person has not resumed breathing or an AED is not available cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be started.CPR combines artificial respiration (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, rescue breathing), which supplies oxygen to the lungs, with chest compressions, which circulate oxygen to the brain and other vital organs by forcing blood out of the heart.CPR needs practice Refer this .

(8) Electric Shocks/Burns :
Ensure Scene safety.Shut off Electric supply.In case of burns use water.Get immediate mental attention.

(9)Paralysis :
Symptoms (i)Facial Droop (ii) Unable to Speak (iii)Cannot stretch both the arms one of them sways.
It needs immediate medical attention with good facility.

Ok friends.I will close . Happy Living.Let us all practice CPR.