Amiodarone is widely used to treat life-threatening arrhythmias in adults. This study included 314 patients who received amiodarone intravenously via a peripheral vein at our hospital from January 2008 to December 2021. Of these, 40 (12.7%) patients developed phlebitis. We compared the time from the administration of branded versus generic amiodarone to the onset of phlebitis. The results revealed that the time to phlebitis onset was shorter with generic amiodarone than the branded equivalent (p<0.001). The generic group also exhibited a higher increase in the white blood cell ratio from the start of administration to the onset of phlebitis than the branded group (p=0.04). These results suggest potential dangers associated with the use of generic amiodarone. Information available on the safety of generic intravenous medicines is limited, and further research is warranted to identify the causes of the differences observed in this study.

The Okayama Marathon has started in 2015, and about 15,000 runners participated since then. We have organized 13 first-aid stations along the racecourse and assigned about 50 doctor runners to assist runners. We also have organized automated external defibrillator (AED) teams specialized in treating sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) during the race. The AED teams consisted of 37 standby teams spaced out by 0.5 to 1.0 km along the racecourse, 12 bicycle teams, and 12 finish area teams. All team members, a total of about 200 members, belonged to either NPO Life Saving Okayama composed of medical professionals and paramedics providing CPR training workshops, or medical and nursing students. In all seven races, 99,795 (81.3% male) marathon runners participated, and four male cases suffered from witnessed SCA-the four patients developed ventricular fibrillation, followed by the return of spontaneous circulation by the AED applications, and transferred to the hospital with successful discharge without any neurological deficits. The incidence of SCA is hugely higher in the Okayama Marathon than other marathons, estimated at 4.0 per 100,000 runners. However, our emergent medical system has functioned effectively. First aid and emergency care have essential roles in large-scale events in the local city, considering the regional context of the medical delivery system.

This study investigates how confidence in lifesaving activities changes among teacher trainees with experience in basic life support (BLS) training, the lecture incorporates statistics on school accidents and specific instances of school accidents.

Methods: A pre-and-post lecture survey was conducted among first-year students in the Faculty of Education at a University. The lecture covered basic life support and delved into the ASUKA model for handling accidents during physical school activities. It also addressed statistics related to school accidents and included analyses of fatalities and rescue cases.

Results: The survey achieved a response rate of 80.4% (316 participants). Although 82.5% had received prior training in “first aid in primary, middle, or high school classes,” only 8.2% expressed confidence in performing life-saving activities. Confidence levels, measured on an 11-point scale, demonstrated an average increase of 3.8 before and after the lecture. Multivariate analysis highlighted a significant rise in confidence among participants who cited a “heightened awareness of the necessity to act in saving students’ lives” as the catalyst for their change.

Conclusions: The lecture, designed to provide teacher trainees with a realistic understanding of school accidents and emphasize the crucial role of educators in safeguarding children's lives, led to a substantial boost in confidence regarding lifesaving activities.