Cardio facts, car seat safety and contact with Congress

By Carol Lindsay, RN
October 25, 2002

HeartCenterOnline [www.heartcenter online.com] conveniently separates content to cater to both professionals and patients. A comprehensive source of information regarding the anatomy of the cardiovascular system is available in the patient domain, under "Anatomy."
Virtual tours of the heart use animation to show blood flow, valves and cardiac conduction. An alphabetized list of heart-related anatomy terms provides a description of each term, accompanied by an illustration or animation.
Some examples of animated explanations include fetal circulation and disease processes, such as valvular disease and myocardial infarctions. The professional portion of the site features patient brochures, samples of informed consent, a news center and newsletter.

Road rules
Does it make you crazy when you see a child standing in a car, unrestrained, looking out the window while the car speeds down the freeway?
If you are looking for a way to educate parents, check out www.carseat.org. The site promotes an educational program for people who violate child passenger safety laws.
Information includes a description of the program, its history, statistical data and facts about booster seats. A child passenger safety technical encyclopedia is provided for easy access to terms.
Answers to frequently asked questions, laws and regulations related to child passenger safety and a list of updated safety seat recalls and replacement parts also are available. The site also accommodates Spanish readers.

ECG simulator
The ECG simulator at www.skillstat.com/sixSecond2.htm can be downloaded for use online or offline. The simulator has 26 different rhythms and was designed to be a fast, fun learning tool.
For practice of ACLS, play the game where you identify the rhythms or take advantage of the ACLS self-testing assessment tool. The site provides six randomly generated tests that cover ACLS basics, algorithms and pharmacology and cardiac rhythms.
Take the interactive heart structure quiz, assess yourself with a cardiac dictionary or take the cardiac trivia challenge.

Rhythm reviews
The ECG reviews at www.ce5.com/ekg.htm are intended for health care professionals who would like to practice their ECG skills.
This site contains reviews in six areas: basic rhythms, sick sinus and heart blocks, atrial tachycardias, pacemakers, ectopies and lethal rhythms. Each section contains information and a tutorial on the rhythm and a follow-up quiz.
Also provided are links to more courses that can be studied for no charge. Other topics within the site include healing humor, health ethics and stress management.

Government access
The American Nurses Association's link for nurses to Congress at www.nursingworld.org/gova/politicalpower makes it easier for nurses to keep up with the association's legislative issues and learn how congressional representatives have voted.
Issues are listed under news/action alerts. Links to federal and state advocacy issues and the latest information about federal bills that involve nursing are available. Nurses can enter their ZIP code to find their legislator's name, address and e-mail address.