Human Behavior

Defining the Psychosexual Thriller Genre in Movies and TV (With … – No Film School

Things can get a little weird in the psychosexual thriller sub-genre.

Do you like your movies and TV shows to be a little titillating? The psychosexual thriller genre in movies and TV is a complex, yet fascinating genre that explores the darker side of relationships.

These stories often involve sexual tension, psychological manipulation, and danger. They are designed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. They are closely aligned withpsychological thrillersas well.

Some of the most popular and iconic films and TV shows of the past few decades like Fatal Attraction, Gone Girl, and YOU have been psychosexual thrillers.

In this article, we will define the psychosexual thriller genre in movies and TV, and explore some of the key themes and tropes that make these stories so compelling. We will also look at examples of some of the most notable films and TV shows in this genre to give you a better understanding of what makes a great psychosexual thriller.

Strap in because things are about to get hot up in here.

What makes psychosexual thrillers exciting is their ability to tap into our primal fears and desires. These stories often explore themes of obsession, manipulation, and power dynamics, which can be both exhilarating and terrifying.

Additionally, the sexual tension between characters in these films and TV shows adds another layer of complexity and intrigue to the story.

The psychosexual thriller genre in movies and TV typically involves a story that combines elements of psychological suspense, sexual tension, and danger. These stories often explore the darker side of human relationships, particularly those involving power dynamics and sexual attraction.

These movies and TV shows feature main characters that are often involved in complex, manipulative relationships that are driven by sexual desire and obsession. The storylines frequently involve psychological gamesmanship, as characters try to gain the upper hand over one another.

Themes in psychosexual thrillers can include sexual exploitation, emotional manipulation, sexual violence, and sexual identity. The genre often includes elements of mystery, as the audience is often left guessing about the true intentions and motivations of the characters.

Penn Badgley and Charlie Barnett in YOUCredit: Netflix

Psychosexual thrillers also keep us on the edge of our seats with their unpredictable twists and turns. The tension and suspense created by these stories can be incredibly thrilling, making it difficult to look away or stop watching.

What are some tropes that build this genre?Let's break them down:

Power dynamics: These films often explore power imbalances in relationships, where one character may be trying to exert control over another. This can manifest as a boss and employee relationship, a teacher and student relationship, or even a romantic relationship.

Manipulation: Characters in psychosexual thrillers are often manipulative and use their charm, wit, and sexual prowess to get what they want from others. They may use lies, deceit, and even violence to achieve their goals.

Obsession: Characters in these films often become obsessed with one another, either sexually or emotionally. This can lead to stalking, violence, and even murder.

Dual identities: Many psychosexual thrillers feature characters with dual identities, such as serial killers who are also respected members of society. This adds an element of suspense and mystery to the story.

Sexuality: Sexuality is a key theme in psychosexual thrillers, and characters may use their sexuality to manipulate others. Sexual tension is often a major part of the story as characters use sex as a weapon or a means of control. Typically, stock characters like a femme fatale are used to ensnare their lovers in deadly traps.

Unreliable narration: These films often play with the audience's perceptions of reality, using unreliable narration and unexpected plot twists to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Psychological trauma: Many psychosexual thrillers feature characters who have experienced some form of psychological trauma, which may be driving their behavior. This trauma can be linked to past sexual abuse, childhood trauma, or other traumatic experiences.

'Fatal Attraction'Credit: Paramount Pictures

The psychosexual thriller genre is important for several reasons. First, it provides a space for exploring the complex and often taboo subjects related to sexuality and power dynamics. These themes are not always easy to discuss in real life, but psychosexual thrillers offer a way to examine them in a controlled and safe environment.

Second, psychosexual thrillers challenge our assumptions and perceptions about human relationships. They force us to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and the people around us, and they can serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession, manipulation, and violence.

Finally, the psychosexual thriller genre is simply a fascinating and engaging genre of storytelling. It provides a unique blend of suspense, mystery, and sexual tension, making for a thrilling and often unpredictable viewing experience. Whether we're watching a classic film or a modern TV show, we can't help but be drawn into the complex and seductive world of the psychosexual thriller.

'Big Little Lies'Credit: Warner Bros. Television Distribution

This genre often involves complex and morally ambiguous characters, which can be both compelling and thought-provoking. These characters are not always easy to understand or sympathize with, but they offer a glimpse into the darker aspects of human behavior and relationships.

What better place to explore them than TV?

'Killing Eve'Credit: IMG

What makes psychosexual thrillers so exciting is their ability to captivate and challenge viewers, drawing us into a world of intrigue, suspense, and danger. All of these thematics and ideals are fun to explore in movies.

'Black Swan'Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures

The psychosexual thriller genre is a unique and fascinating genre that continues to captivate audiences around the world.

With its exploration of power dynamics, manipulation, obsession, and sexuality, this genre delves into some of the most complex and taboo aspects of the human mind and relationships.

Whether you're a fan of classic films like Basic Instinct or newer TV shows like You, there is no denying the enduring appeal of the psychosexual thriller. By understanding the key themes and tropes of this genre, viewers can gain a deeper appreciation for the artistry and complexity of these compelling stories.

What are some of your favorite psychosexual thrillers? Let us know in the comments!

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Defining the Psychosexual Thriller Genre in Movies and TV (With ... - No Film School

Human Behavior

Beaufort responds to the death of Tyre Nichols. Can it happen here? – Charleston Post Courier

BEAUFORT On an unseasonably warm late-winter day, notable for clouds of biting gnats that descended on Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, several dozen people gathered to honor Tyre Nichols and hear city officials discuss the relationship between the police and local residents.

Following the Jan. 10 beating death of Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers, Beaufort Councilman Mitch Mitchell noted that city officials had fielded questions from residents about the likelihood of a similar incident occurring here.

To address some of those questions, Mayor Stephen Murray and the council has reviewed procedures with police Chief Dale McDorman.

Several dozen people attend an event organized by the City of Beaufort to discuss the death of Tyre Nichols held in Beaufort, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Nichols was beaten to death by Memphis police officers, who now face criminal charges in the wake of the beating. Tony Kukulich/Staff

While he expressed a high level of confidence in the city's police force, Murray acknowledged the impossibility of guaranteeing Beaufort would never see a situation like the one involving Nichols.

"I'll stop just short of saying that an incident that happened in Memphis could never happen in our hometown, as the chaos and unpredictability of the world that we live in has shown me that almost anything is possible," Murray said at a Feb. 25 event.

Speaking to The Post and Courier, McDorman said law enforcement too often waits for a tragic incident before they discuss policing issues.

"We're finally realizing that you have to get in front of these things before they happen," he said.

By discussing police procedures in public, the chances of avoiding dangerous situations in the future are improved, he added.

According to reports, officers from the Memphis Police Department stopped Nichols, a29-year-old Black man, on Jan. 7 for reckless driving.

Video of the nighttime incident shows Nichols being pulled from his car as police officers shout commands. As the situation escalated, officers pepper sprayed Nichols before tasing him. Nichols then fled.

Several minutes later, police again detained Nichols. He can be heard in a video shouting for his mother, who lived a short distance from where he was being beaten.

Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the scene. The New York Times reported that, after crews arrived, they waited 19 minutes to begin treatment.

Nichols died three days later.

Following the incident, five officers, all of whom are Black, were fired and now face a variety of criminal charges. Two additional Memphis police officers and three members of the Memphis Fire Department were also fired for their actions related to the incident.

Mitchell, a councilman who was shocked by the brutality of the beating that led to Nichols' death, received calls from residents who thought an event to commemorate Nichols was in order. Mitchell saw an opportunity for an open discussion of the incident in Memphis in the context of local community policing efforts.

After speaking with the mayor, city manager and other council members, Mitchell took the lead on a plan to bring elected officials, law enforcement and the public together for a difficult conversation.

"I thought it was an opportunity for ourcity to show its heart and do something to commemorate his memory, and to leverage this unfortunate experience as a relationship-building opportunity for our law enforcement in our community," Mitchell said during his opening remarks.

City of Beaufort Councilman Mitch Mitchell makes opening remarks during an event organized by the city to discuss the death of Tyre Nichols held in Beaufort, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Nichols was beaten to death by Memphis police officers, who now face criminal charges in the wake of the beating. Tony Kukulich/Staff

McDorman offered an assessment of the actions of the Memphis police related to Nichols' beating. While still waiting for the full story to come out, ... "I can tell you that I'm fairly confident that what I saw on that was a criminal act conducted by criminals," he said.

The chief added that, like Murray, he is confident his officers would not engage in the behavior witnessed in Memphis.

"There are no guarantees when you're dealing with human behavior," McDorman said. "However, I sleep very well at night, and I'm very comfortable feeling that this is not something that would happen as the Beaufort Police Department."

He credited the department's hiring, as well as the training his officers receive, as being differentiating factors.

Deputy Chief Stephenie Price of the Beaufort Police Department speaks with an attendee after an event organized by the City of Beaufort to discuss the death of Tyre Nichols held in Beaufort, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Nichols was beaten to death by Memphis police officers, who now face criminal charges in the wake of the beating. Tony Kukulich/Staff

Each Beaufort police applicant is subject to apsychological exam, polygraph test, background check and a review of the applicant's social media presence, McDorman said. Officers receive de-escalation and bias-based profiling training annually.

The department also randomly reviews video from body cameras and from inside police cars. Every incident in which an officer has to apply force greater than a voice command is documented and reviewed by multiple levels in the department's chain of command up to and including the chief.

The rigorous pre-hiring process sometimes means filling open positions takes longer, a tradeoff McDorman is willing to make. He added that he'd rather the department pass up a qualified applicant than accept someone who ultimately proves unqualified.

Attendees join hands during the closing prayer offered by Pastor Theresa Roberts after an event organized by the City of Beaufort to discuss the death of Tyre Nichols held in Beaufort, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Nichols was beaten to death by Memphis police officers, who now face criminal charges in the wake of the beating. Tony Kukulich/Staff

Mitchell said that the news of Nichols' death left him feeling like he needed to do something.

"It's good to know that other citizens were thinking similarly," he said.

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Beaufort responds to the death of Tyre Nichols. Can it happen here? - Charleston Post Courier

Human Behavior

Celebrity sightings have a built-in contradiction – UC Riverside

Their popularity makes celebrities easy to spot. Strangers, however, can also get mistaken for celebrities, resulting in cases of false celebrity sightings. In attempting to explain the contradiction, a University of California, Riverside, study reports that celebrity faces are remembered more precisely but less accurately.

(UCR/Zhang lab)

Precision, in this context, refers to how memories for a particular face resemble each other over repeated memory retrievals, which can be likened to the clustering of arrows on a target in archery. Accuracy measures how remembered faces resemble newly encountered faces or the deviation from the target in archery.

What our findings say is that people might accept errors by misidentifying someone as a celebrity in the interest of securing a celebrity sighting, said Weiwei Zhang, an associate professor of psychology, who led the study that appears in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. Our study explains why people are good and bad at spotting celebrities and highlights the importance of assessing both memory imprecision and bias in memory performance.

The study tested 52 college students memory for morphed faces that looked like the celebrities Anne Hathaway, Brad Pitt, Zendaya Coleman, or George Clooney. The goal was to assess whether and how prior familiarity with celebrities affects participants memory performance.

An example of the morphed faces used in the face-change-detection task. (UCR/Zhang lab)

The researchers collected a total of eight face stimuli: those of Hathaway, Pitt, Coleman, and Clooney, and four non-celebrity faces. Participants were first briefly presented with a photo of a celebrity or non-celebrity. After a short interval, they were presented with a test face and asked if it was the same face as the studied face (test faces were the same half the time and altered the rest of the time). For instance, if the first photo was 100% celebrity, the test face could be altered to 78% celebrity 50% of the time, Zhang said. The same procedure was followed when participants were first shown photos of non-celebrities.

We found that familiarity with celebrities led to sharpened and more precise memories for celebrities as compared to non-celebrities, he said. But it also led to impaired memory accuracy, where celebrity lookalikes or morphed faces were misremembered as celebrities.

According to Zhang, the findings can help explain a tradeoff in human behavior.

Familiarity with celebrities in our study is key for the variance-bias tradeoff in face recognition for celebrities, he said. We don't seem to do this for anyone else.

Bias and variance are prediction errors. The total error is the sum of these two error terms, resulting in a trade-off between the two. In machine learning, bias is the difference between the average prediction and the correct value. Variance is a measure of the spread of data points. The variance-bias tradeoff, as its name suggests, is the tradeoff between variance and bias. Finding a good balance between these prediction errors helps minimize the total error.

Zhang explained that human cognition appears to work like machine learning; where cognition is concerned, variance, which is the opposite of precision, and bias, which is the opposite of accuracy, would need to trade off each other to maximize the opportunity to process and represent information.

The conventional wisdom is that we want our memory to be super accurate and precise, he said. But such a rigid memory would not be able to accommodate the variance seen in natural stimuli. For instance, with different lighting conditions, makeup, dresses, and hairstyle, a persons look can vary greatly. Our memories have to be noisy and vague enough high variance to support face recognition with all the variance we find in looks. However, when our memory is vague, face recognition can fail from time to time, which is not optimal in celebrity sightings, given that we don't want to miss encounters with celebrities. So as a solution, we introduce recognition biases in the mix. We start identifying strangers or celebrity lookalikes as celebrities as an overcorrection for vague memories.

Zhang is unsure if the findings have applications beyond faces to objects and places, for example.

It is at least theoretically possible that the variance-bias trade off may be extended to objects and places of importance to individuals, he said. We think our findings may be related to dj vu experiences in that we may have inaccurate but subjectively strong memories.

Next, the research team plans to conduct research to assess how memory accuracy and precision interact with each other and how these two aspects of memories are encoded in the brain.

Zhang was joined in the study by BoYeong Won and HyungBum Park. Won is now an assistant professor of psychology at California State University Chico. Park is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago.

The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders.

The research paper is titled Familiarity enhances mnemonic precision but impairs mnemonic accuracy in visual working memory.

Header image credit:Robert Daly/Getty Images.

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Celebrity sightings have a built-in contradiction - UC Riverside

Human Behavior

Brown widow spiders’ aggression likely driver – EurekAlert

image:Black widow spiders have earned a fearsome reputation for their venomous bite. But in parts of the southern United States these spiders have much to fear themselvesfrom spider relatives who really don't like their company. In the past couple decades, researchers have noticed black widow spiders (adult female shown at right) commonly being displaced by the brown widow (adult female at left), a fellow species in the same genus, Latrodectus. But new research suggests this isn't a just simple case of one species winning the competition for food or habitat. Instead, a study shows brown widow spiders have a striking propensity to seek out and kill nearby black widows. (Note: Images are not shown to matching scale and thus do not reflect relative sizes of the two spiders.) view more

Credit: Louis Coticchio

Annapolis, MD; March 13, 2023Black widow spiders have earned a fearsome reputation for their venomous bite. But in parts of the southern United States these spiders have much to fear themselvesfrom spider relatives who really don't like their company.

In the past couple decades, researchers have noticed black widow spiders commonly being displaced by the brown widow, a fellow species in the same genus, Latrodectus. But new research suggests this isn't a just simple case of one species winning the competition for food or habitat. Instead, a study shows brown widow spiders have a striking propensity to seek out and kill nearby black widows.

In experiments pairing brown widow spiders in container habitats with related cobweb spider species, the brown widows were 6.6 times more likely to kill southern black widows than other related species. The findings of the study, conducted by researchers at the University of South Florida (USF), are reported in an article to be published March 13 in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America.

"We have established brown widow behavior as being highly aggressive towards the southern black widows, yet much more tolerant of other spiders within the same family," says Louis Coticchio, who led the study as part of his undergraduate research at USF.

Brown widow spiders (Latrodectus geometricus) are believed to be native to Africa but have been introduced on all continents but Antarctica. Black widow spiders are native to North America and comprise two closely related species, the western black widow (Latrodectushesperus) and the southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans).

Coticchio spent the first part of his career as a zookeeper specializing in venomous animals in California and returned to Florida to earn a degree in biology, channeling a passion for spiders into his research projects. In collecting wild spiders in Florida, he says he noticed brown widows displacing black widows but not other related species. This got him wondering.

"I had a sneaking suspicion that Florida in particular provided plenty of food and habitat for both the brown and black widow, and that there was possibly some other area such as behavioral differences that were playing a role," he says. "My observations in the field showed that brown widows appeared to be much more tolerant of other species outside of their genus, and so if resources were the main factor, then we should have seen the same behavior with other spiders competing for the same resources, but that did not seem to be that case."

Coticchio partnered with advisor Deby Cassill, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at USF. Along with spider expert Richard Vetter of the University of California, Riverside, they devised a three-part study to explore the potential drivers of brown widows displacing black widows.

One element of their study applied mathematical modeling to the risk factors to survival that brown and black widow spiders face, which showed both species are far more likely to die by predation than by starvation. In other words, "competition for scarce resources is not a significant cause of mortality among spiderlings for either species," the researchers say.

They also compared rates of growth and fertility between brown and black widows, finding that sub-adult brown widow females were 9.5 percent larger than black widows, and adult female brown widows reached reproductive maturity 16 percent sooner. While adult male brown widows were 25 percent smaller than adult male black widows, they reached reproductive maturity 21 percent sooner. Meanwhile, brown widow females were about twice as fertile as black widows, with brown widows often producing multiple egg sacs at a time versus black widows producing just one.

Placing brown widows in proximity with black widows and other spider species, however, showed the clearest results. Sub-adult brown widow females simply cohabitated with red house spider (Nesticodes rufipes) females in 50 percent of pairings and were killed and consumed by the red house spiders in 40 percent. Brown widows cohabitated with triangulate cobweb spiders (Steatoda triangulosa) in 80 percent of pairings and were killed in just 10 percent. But when sub-adult brown and black widow females were paired, the brown widows killed and consumed the black widows in 80 percent of pairings. In pairings of adults, black widows were killed in 40 percent of trials, while they defensively killed brown widows in 30 percent of trials and cohabitated in the remaining 30 percent.

Throughout the experiments, brown widow spiders regularly ventured into black widow webs, the researchers say. Red house spiders and triangulate cobweb spiders also showed such "bold" behavior, but black widows were never observed as aggressors.

"We didn't expect to find such a dramatic and consistent difference in the personalities of the brown widow and the black widow," Cassill says. "Brown widows are boldly aggressive and will immediately investigate a neighbor and attack if there is no resistance from the neighbor. For two bold spiders, the initial attack is often resolved by both individuals going to separate corners and eventually being OK with having a nearby neighbor. The black widows are extremely shy, counterattacking only to defend themselves against an aggressive spider."

The characterization of brown widow spiders as "aggressive," however, is a relative term, reflecting their stance toward black widow spiders, but not toward humans. While widow spiders are "synanthropic" (i.e., commonly found around human-made structures, such as barns, garages, and sheds), they "are very shy when harassed by humans or larger animals that are not considered prey," Coticchio says. "They will run or roll up into a ball and play dead when being attacked or harassed by most other animals outside of their prey range." Brown widow venom causes less severe reactions to humans than black widows, and bites to people are very rare.

Brown widow spiders' evident aggression toward black widows raises many questions, perhaps first and foremost: Why? What drives such behavior toward a closely related species? The researchers note that invasive species typically outcompete natives through advantages in factors such as fertility, growth, dispersal, or defenses against predators. Direct predation by an invasive species on its native relative, across the animal kingdom, is rare.

"One question I would love to answer is how brown widows interact with other species of spiders, more specifically black widows in Africa, where brown widows are believed to have originated," Coticchio says. "I would love to see if their behavior and displacement of black widows is something that they have adapted here in North America, or if this behavior is something they exhibit naturally even in areas where they have coevolved with black widows for much longer periods of time."

###

"Predation by the Introduced Brown Widow Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae) May Explain Local Extinctions of Native Black Widows in Urban Habitats" will be published online on March 13, 2023, in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America. Journalists may request advance copies of the article via the contact below or download the published paper after 10 a.m. March 13, 2023, athttps://academic.oup.com/aesa/advance-article/doi/10.1093/aesa/saad003/7044733.

CONTACT: Joe Rominiecki, jrominiecki@entsoc.org, 301-731-4535 x3009

ABOUT: ESA is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has more than 7,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, the Society stands ready as a non-partisan scientific and educational resource for all insect-related topics. For more information, visit http://www.entsoc.org.

The Annals of the Entomological Society of America publishes cutting-edge entomological research, reviews, collections of articles, and discussions of topics of broad interest and national or international importance. It aims to stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue across the entomological disciplines and advance cooperative interaction among diverse groups of entomologists. For more information, visit https://academic.oup.com/aesa, or visit http://www.insectscience.org to view the full portfolio of ESA journals and publications.

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

Experimental study

Animals

Predation by the Introduced Brown Widow Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae) May Explain Local Extinctions of Native Black Widows in Urban Habitats

13-Mar-2023

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Brown widow spiders' aggression likely driver - EurekAlert

Emergency Medicine

I’m an ER pediatrician. Here are 7 things I never let my kid do – TODAY

Kids will be kids, and accidents happen, but certain activities carry more risk than others. Injury is still the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and unfortunately, many of these are preventable.

We spoke to pediatricians who are also parents about things theyd never let their children do because of the heightened risk of injury or death, and how to make sure your child is as safe as possible.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of unintentional injury and death in the U.S., per the CDC. Children should always be in the backseat with the proper restraints, the experts note.

This means using the appropriate size and type of restraints whether thats a car seat, booster seat, seatbelt for their age, height and weight, Dr. Brent Kaziny, medical director of emergency management at Texas Childrens Hospital, tells TODAY.com.

While it may be obvious to buckle up younger children, parents also need to be vigilant about school-aged children and preteens, the experts say.

Even if a child seems large enough to ride in the passenger seat, stick to this hard and fast rule. My kids will not ride in the front seat before the age of 13, which is the recommended age that kids can move to the front, Dr. Katie Lockwood, a primary care pediatrician at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, tells TODAY.com.

The (front) airbags are potentially dangerous to children, whose skeletons are still developing and arent the right size to be in the front, says Lockwood, adding airbags can cause rib fractures, punctured lungs and injuries to the head, neck and spine.

No matter how much pressure kids put on their parents because their friends ride in the front, Lockwood stresses that 12-year-olds and younger go in the back, no matter how short the drive.

Unfortunately, the highs of this beloved backyard accessory may not be worth the lows. Some trampolines are riskier than others, the experts say.

Dr. Ee Tay, apediatric emergency medicine specialist at Hassenfeld Childrens Hospital at NYU Langone, tells TODAY.com that public trampolines or trampoline parks are out of the question for her kids. Theres just so many broken bones and orthopedic injuries, says Tay, adding that the uncontrolled environment and greater number of kids increases the risk of collisions and falls.

It depends on the weight of the child, how hard they can bounce, how high they can jump, if theres another child next to them. ... Its just very unpredictable, says Tay. Other trampoline-associated injuries include lacerations, concussions and spinal injuries.

While he does see many trampoline injuries, Kaziny says he thinks there are ways to do it safely. Trampolines that are in-ground or have enclosure nets are safer, and parents should always supervise trampoline sessions, minimize the number of kids jumping at once, and make sure there aren't significant differences in age or weight among kids, says Kaziny. (The same applies to bounce houses.)

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends children under 6 do not use trampolines at all, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children only use them in supervised training programs for gymnastics or other sports.

My kids will never, ever go on an ATV. ... They are so dangerous, says Tay, adding that the all-terrain vehicles cause many preventable accidents among children. This applies to both riding and driving ATVs, though most are built for just one person.

Motor sports have become increasingly popular in the U.S., and ATV-related injuries are on the rise, TODAY.com previously reported.

ATVs do not require any training or a license, Tay points out, and children often dont have the ability to properly judge speed or distance. They just kind of go at it, says Tay. The heavy machines can also flip easily.

Although ATVs do come in youth sizes, Kaziny says he commonly sees parents get an ATV that the child won't outgrow too quickly. The child ends up being on something thats really not age appropriate ... from a size and power perspective, says Kaziny.

The AAP recommends that no one under the age of 16 ride or operate an ATV, and that this is the most effective way to reduce ATV-associated injury or death.

If parents choose to let their child ride an ATV, Kaziny recommends making sure it is age-appropriate, the child is wearing a helmet and other protective equipment, and that they follow safety measures.

Drowning is another leading cause of unintentional injury among children. More children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning than any other cause of death (per the CDC), says Lockwood, adding that these often occur in swimming pools but also bathtubs (especially among infants) and natural water sources.

The experts encourage parents to teach their children how to swim as early as possible but even after kids learn, parents should remain vigilant and set rules.

As kids get older and they know how to swim, they have increased confidence," which can lead kids to take more risks, such as swimming alone, Lockwood says. So it's important to remember your child can still drown, even if they know how to swim.

I teach my kids from a young age not to swim alone and that they should always have an adult whos watching them, Lockwood continues. She stresses parents should ensure there is always one designated and sober "water watcher."

Even if the child is swimming in their own pool at home, the experts warn that tragedies can happen. Its shocking how quickly a kid can end up getting themselves in trouble if youre not really paying attention, says Kaziny. He recommends that all home pools should have child-resistant barriers, like locking gates.

I dont let my kids ride anything with wheels without wearing a helmet, says Lockwood. This includes bikes, scooters, skateboards, rollerblades and hoverboards.

"Kids have a disproportionately large head compared to their body, so theyre more likely than adults to fall and hit their head," explains Lockwood. Resulting injuries range from bumps and lacerations to concussions and severe brain bleeds that cause permanent damage.

Tay agrees: There are too many injuries that we see in the ER for something that can be very easily prevented with (head) protection.

Children should also wear helmets while skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, horseback riding and during water sports. "If they make a helmet for it, you should wear one," says Kaziny.

Lockwood encourages parents to remind children that no matter how good they are at something, accidents happen and other people can cause crashes.

"I also try to model that good behavior by always wearing a helmet myself," adds Kaziny.

Parents can prevent a lot of ER visits by teaching kids how to behave appropriately around animals, especially ones they do not know.

We have a rule at my house. ... If we see an animal we want to interact with, that we do it in a safe and controlled way and make sure the owner is OK with it, says Kaziny.

Children may feel more confident approaching animals if they have pets at home, but Kaziny recommends teaching kids about boundaries with animals. For example, a child cant kiss or hug any dog because they do this to their own dog.

One of the common types of injuries that we see is when the child gets right up in the animal's face then the child gets bitten on their face, says Tay, adding that she also sees bites occur when children approach an animal while it is eating.

"I would not let my kids go to someones house without verifying if they own guns, and if they do that theyre safely stored," says Lockwood. Safely stored means they are locked in a safe and out of reach of children which is especially important as kids get older and hang out without parental supervision, she explains.

Firearm injury has now exceeded motor vehicle collision injury as a cause of child mortality, Dr. MarcAuerbach, professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine, tells TODAY.com. Unfortunately we have seen a large number of both unintentional firearm injuries and in the older child or teenage population, related to suicide or homicide."

Fortunately, firearm-related injuries and deaths in children are preventable, says Kaziny. Families that own firearms should always practice firearm safety and store them appropriately, and parents should feel empowered to ask about firearms in any home their child will be.

Auerbach also encourages parents to have early conversations with children so they can really understand how dangerous and life-threatening firearms can be.

Caroline Kee

Caroline Kee is a health reporter for TODAY Digital. She previously worked for Healthline and Buzzfeed News.

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I'm an ER pediatrician. Here are 7 things I never let my kid do - TODAY

Emergency Medicine

Over 550 Emergency Medicine Positions Unfilled in This Year’s Match – Medpage Today

In this year's Match, 555 positions in emergency medicine went unfilled -- more than double the 219 unfilled positions last year and only 14 unfilled spots in the 2021 Match, according to preliminary data.

This year's data were shared across social media but not officially by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), and most of the spots will likely be filled in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). Nonetheless, emergency medicine physicians are concerned about the recent trend.

"It's a radical change," said Robert McNamara, MD, chair of emergency medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia and chief medical officer of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM). "If you go back 3 or 4 years, emergency medicine was one of the most competitive specialties."

The reasons for the jump in unfilled positions -- the exact spots and programs were also posted on social media -- are multifactorial, according to a joint statement from several emergency medicine groups published on the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) website. Reasons include workforce projections, increased clinical demands, emergency department boarding, economic challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic, the corporatization of medicine, and others.

"It's still a great profession, we just don't have the narrative we did 15 to 20 years ago," said Ryan Stanton, MD, an emergency medicine physician in Lexington, Kentucky, and an ACEP board member. "It's a negative narrative. We hear about struggles with payers, and threats of continued cuts. Students listen to that."

McNamara placed special emphasis on workforce issues -- in particular, a study by ACEP that warned of future challenges with emergency physician oversupply -- and on the increasing involvement of corporate entities.

"Emergency medicine residents always have among the highest debt of any specialty," McNamara said. "They have a strong sense of social justice and often don't come from privileged backgrounds ... so they're likely to accumulate debt."

Residents carrying a lot of debt who suspect they won't be able to get a job when they graduate may be deterred from entering the specialty, he noted.

Additionally, fewer graduates are finding placement with physician-owned groups, and instead more are working for corporate entities, which can impact physician autonomy, he added.

"Doctors who work for these companies don't like it," McNamara said. "They're burning out. They get treated like a money-making machine, like a cog in the wheel. ... Emergency medicine is a 24/7/365 specialty, and with the nature of the things we see, you can't do a difficult specialty long-term if you feel someone is taking advantage of you."

Facilities have created more emergency medicine residency spots in recent years, he pointed out, noting that, in a way, the specialty is a victim of its own success. "Once you attract talented doctors, you want more," he said. "Some hospitals say, wow, they have an emergency medicine residency, I want one too. We just created too many."

He said it's not just corporations pushing to create new positions, but academic centers as well.

Stanton was particularly concerned about the creation of new residency positions. "There are no guardrails on the number of programs, whether they're produced by HCA or the expansion of academic programs," he said. "You can open up a residency program as long as you meet ACGME [Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education] criteria."

"A residency program is not a cost-effective staffing strategy. It is an educational opportunity," he added. "Any program expanding simply to find a cheap workforce is doing it for the wrong reasons."

Bryan Carmody, MD, of Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, who posts frequently about Match data, noted in a blog post last fall that even while emergency medicine residency positions are up -- they more than doubled in the past 15 years -- the number of applicants took a significant dip last year, and fell again in this year's Match cycle.

"Regardless of why, the what is clear," Carmody wrote. "There are unquestionably fewer emergency medicine applicants. So the next question is, if you care about emergency medicine, what -- if anything -- should you do about it?"

In the joint statement, ACEP, AAEM, and others noted that they convened a Match Task Force to identify the factors that have led to the increase in unfilled positions, and to develop a strategy to mitigate the crisis.

"Although these are challenging results, emergency medicine remains a vibrant and appealing specialty for many, with almost 2,500 new trainees already joining the emergency medicine family," the group wrote.

McNamara said there are no easy solutions. "We have to restore emergency medicine to a practice where physicians can enjoy the job," he said. "It's not going to be good for a while."

Kristina Fiore leads MedPages enterprise & investigative reporting team. Shes been a medical journalist for more than a decade and her work has been recognized by Barlett & Steele, AHCJ, SABEW, and others. Send story tips to k.fiore@medpagetoday.com. Follow

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Over 550 Emergency Medicine Positions Unfilled in This Year's Match - Medpage Today

Emergency Medicine

Libyas Emergency Medicine and Support Center serves the people affected by the Turkeys Stricken Areas – EIN News

LIBYA, TRIPOLI, March 14, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Emergency Medicine and Support Center (EMSC) is a specialist center responsible for the provision of humanitarian assistance, medical care, and relief aid to people affected by war and natural disasters, in addition to the treatment of wounded victims and providing healthcare to all with impartiality.

Upon the instructions of His Highness, the Prime Minister of the National Unity Government, EMSC strives to provide medical care and relief aid to people affected by Turkey's stricken areas. The EMSC worked, together with the National Safety Authority, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Medical Treatment Support and Development Agency, and the Military Medicine Division, to dispatch a joint team for relief and rescue consisting of 106 medical and paramedical personnel. The team is divided into four groups and serves as humanitarian assistance.

The first group was stationed in Adana province and was assigned the task of coordinating logistics and follow-up.

The second group stationed in Jumhoriet district, Antakya, and Hatay province also contributed to rescue operations. The group recovered 69 bodies and pulled out six people alive. The location of 380 bodies was also determined, and the relevant Turkish authorities were informed.

In all duration, coordinates were provided to the authorities and were used by other foreign agencies to recover the bodies.

The third group was stationed in the Hattay Field Hospital, where first aid, advanced medical aid, resuscitation, and minor operations were provided to more than 600 cases. The group was the only one that worked hand in hand with Turkish personnel.

In addition, the fourth group conducted a field investigation of cases in camps set up for the displaced people near the epicenter of the earthquake in Jumhorit, district of Hatay Province. The group provides treatment and medication to more than 40 patients inside the aforementioned camps.

About Emergency Medicine and Support Center:

The Emergency Medicine and Support Center (EMSC) is a specialist center that provides services for the provision of humanitarian assistance, medical care, and relief aid to people affected by war and natural disasters such as flood disasters and earthquakes. Additionally, to the treatment of wounded victims and providing healthcare to all with impartiality. Consequently, the Libyan team, which consists of EMSC personnel, focuses on the treatment of Syrian cases as well as Arabic-speaking Turkish patients and other cases in general.

http://emsc.ly/

Tarek ElhamsharyEmergency Medicine and Support Centeremail us here

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Libyas Emergency Medicine and Support Center serves the people affected by the Turkeys Stricken Areas - EIN News

Emergency Medicine

In rural Mississippi, E.R. staff are being trained to care for moms and deliver babies – WBHM

Two medical teams wait patiently in the hallway outside of a hospital room at theMississippi Center for Emergency Servicesat the University of Mississippi Medical Center in mid-February. Its quiet as they slip on blue gloves and consult with their team on tasks. One will help the mother. The other will receive the baby.

Dr. Tara Lewis presents todays patient and students listen carefully as she lays out the scenario, making note of the patients age, symptoms and whats missing from her chart. Then, as the patient Victoria Tubby screams through the door, they ready themselves. Its time to deliver a baby.

But this is no ordinary hospital room, and Victoria is no ordinary patient. For starters, shes not a real person. Shes a high-tech mannequin that simulates a woman in labor. She bleeds, screams and has a removable belly and placenta.

And the delivery of her baby a slippery, 5-pound doll is all part of aSTORK training simulationunderway at MCES.

As hospitals in rural Mississippi continue to cut maternal and neonatal services, residents are strapped to find options in an emergency like going into labor. The STORK programlaunchedin May to prepare paramedics and health care providers for those rising gaps in care.

Lewis, an emergency medicine physician, said the response to STORK has been overwhelmingly positive. At its creation, the plan was to teach 10 classes in a year, but demand turned it into two per month. By the end of the programs first year, more than 400 people will have attended a STORK session, whether at the MCES or at a hospital across the state.

The training had real-world effects almost immediately.

Weve had people reach out to us that we have trained that have delivered babies the next day in their E.R., Lewis said.

Giving birth in an emergency room doesnt seem ideal for most mothers, but across the Gulf States, hospitals have had todownsize, opting to preservecritical careover maternity care and leaving pregnant people to rely heavily on emergency services. Over the past year,as many as four hospitalshave suspended labor and delivery services the most recent being Singing River hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi.

We see people having to drive two to three hours to get obstetric health care in the Delta specifically, Lewis said.

Most of the Mississippi Delta qualifies as amaternity care desert, according to the latest March of Dimes report meaning there are barely any obstetric providers for mothers in the region. Mississippis poor health care system also affects babies. With only one childrens hospital in the entire state, even patients with the least critical care needs can expect to travel hundreds of miles.

Adam Bandy, whos part of the pediatric transport team at MCES, said long ambulance trips are common and his job can take him into some deeply rural areas.

Make sure you pack your lunch because were probably going to be gone for 5 to 6 hours on this trip, Bandy said. Thats a routine trip. Thats not if theres any kind of complications or if we have to provide any kind of next level of care.

Bandy points to hub cities, such as Jackson and Hattiesburg as having adequate facilities for patients, but in places like Greenwood or Gulfport, sometimes the nearest hospital with a pediatric unit isnt in the state.

Well go to Louisiana, Alabama [and] Tennessee on occasion, and we will transfer either from here to there, or we will bring them from there for resources since Jackson has the only childrens hospital in the state of Mississippi, he said.

Those resources can be hard to come by, so STORK provides each participant with a duffle bag packed with supplies to deliver a baby or stabilize a laboring mom. If the paramedic uses anything in the bag, STORK will replace it.

Bandy was present at the February STORK training, but it isnt his first time completing the course. He said its vital to keep those skills sharp. Lewis said STORK gives health care providers the opportunity to practice skills they may not use daily. The class is made up of paramedics, flight medics, and nurses, many of whom have never had to deliver a baby.

Before the simulation, students attend a lecture to learn how to stabilize a patient, stop a hemorrhage and intubate an infant emergency procedures that could mean life or death.

In the hospital room, they pay special attention to Victoria and check her and her babys vitals on a large screen. Victoria is responsive and offers feedback to her providers while they work. She can be affirming and grateful that theyve gotten the baby out, or can be difficult, yelling out dont touch me! She sometimes goes into shock, and its a scramble to then bring her back, but participants can practice as many times as they want.

She can simulate things like seizures, postpartum hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, abnormal presentation of the baby, Lewis said. She does it all.

Students practice multiple best- and worst-case scenarios, offer fluids and medicine and support Victoria through labor. Everyone keeps a watchful eye to help her safely deliver her baby.

You can actually get your hands on it and catch a baby and do it multiple times because that repetition kind of helps educate people, helps you get that just muscle memory of what to do, Lewis said.

This story was produced by theGulf States Newsroom, a collaboration betweenMississippi Public Broadcasting, WBHMin Alabama,WWNO andWRKFin Louisiana andNPR. Support for reproductive health coverage comes fromThe Commonwealth Fund.

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In rural Mississippi, E.R. staff are being trained to care for moms and deliver babies - WBHM

Emergency Medicine

Grit and Goals: DFCM Resident Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser on the … – University of Toronto

After a storied hockey career that culminated in being inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Hayley Wickenheiser pursued another childhood dream: becoming a doctor. She traces her interest in the medical field to her youth, when one of her friends was badly injured after being hit by a truck. There were 30 kids in our neighbourhood, and wed go as a pack to check on her. I remember the doctors and nurses being very kind. We were little and they made it less scary for us. It was at that point that I got a real interest in medicine, says Wickenheiser, who is in her second year of residency at the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Wickenheiser was named to the Canadian womens national ice hockey team at the age of 15 years, but despite being laser focused on the sport during her young adulthood, she felt a pull toward medicine. I always knew I needed a life after hockey and thought that would be a good one, says Wickenheiser, who is training to become an emergency medicine physician.

She will begin her enhanced skill year in emergency medicine at DFCM in July 2023. Wickenheiser says she chose to do her residency at DFCM because of the wide breadth of topics learned and for generalist training that would allow for maximum flexibility in her career. Against a backdrop of fewer graduating medical students ranking family medicine as their first choice when applying to residency, Wickenheiser says she is very happy with her decision. Family medicine is touted as less'sexy' than specialist training, but I think it's the best kept secret in medicine and one of the most underrated routes to choose. I have zero regrets about choosing DFCMit's been amazing. From awesome professional development to preceptor teaching, it's really a choose-your-own-adventure at times. I like that.

After announcing her retirement from the sport in January of 2017, she began medical school that same year at the University of Calgary. The transition was eased by years of preparation. For close to a decade before her retirement, Wickenheiser shadowed an emergency department doctor, which helped her realize her affinity for the specialty. I dont do well sitting all day long, she says. She is quick to rattle off the things that drew her to emergency medicine: Every patient encounter is different. You have to think quickly, work in a team and be very good under pressure. It feels very much like a team sport.

At that point, Wickenheiser, who is widely regarded as the greatest female hockey player of all time, thought she would be done with the sport. Then the Toronto Maple Leafs called a few months into medical school, she says, with a laugh. As an assistant general manager for the Leafs, Wickenheiser oversees 11 staff members and is responsible for the development of not only the franchise players, but of prospects and players from the Toronto Marlies and affiliate Newfoundland Growlers. My job is to make sure its a high-functioning department where were helping the players both on and off the ice to maximize their potential and get them prepared to be successful NHL players. If they already are a successful NHL player, then help them find that one per cent here and there that can elevate their game, she says.

Her workday varies depending on her clinical responsibilities, but in general, she wakes up early and heads to the rink for a workout or because of her duties with the Leafs. If she is doing a family medicine rotation, then she will work an afternoon or evening clinic. If she is doing a hospital-based shift that runs from 8 a.m. until late afternoon, then she will adapt her schedule accordingly.

Wickenheiser says the parallels between sport and medicine are striking. Everything I learned in hockey, I use every day, says the four-time Olympic gold medallist. Medicine is a team game. Youve got to think on your feet. Youve got to handle stress. Youve got to be physically at your best. She also says that using constructive criticism to enhance performance is another common theme. In medicine, youre being told what you need to improve on all the time. Being able to handle that in a productive way is very important to your development as a physician.

One big difference between these two worlds, however, has to do with self-care and wellness. As an athlete, youre celebrated for taking care of your body. In medicine, sometimes it feels like that should be the last thing you should be doing as a physician taking care of everyone else. I think its counter intuitive. Its something I think medicine has to get a lot better at, she says.

When asked what motivates her to stay on this difficult path, Wickenheiser, who grew up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, says hard work is part of her identity. I dont think of myself as overly smart or special in any way, but one thing I hang my hat on as an athlete and what I do in medicine, is that Im confident I can outwork just about anyone. Its the one thing I know I can control in my life even when there are other things happening that I cant. You can always control your effort.

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Grit and Goals: DFCM Resident Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser on the ... - University of Toronto

Emergency Medicine

Quick take: Head-up CPR, drones and hypothermic emergencies – EMS1.com

BOSTON The 30th annual National Collegiate EMS Conference was held February 24-26, 2023, in Boston. The conference included 13 workshop sessions, three plenary sessions, an academic poster session, hands-on skills labs, student lecture competition, BLS and ALS competition, and several social and networking functions for over 1,200 registrants from 112 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada.

Annual awards were presented to recognize outstanding achievement by collegiate EMS organizations and individuals, including:

Following are takeaways from several conference sessions.

Presented by N. Alex Cutsumbis, BS, NRP, a graduate of the SHRS Emergency Medicine Program, and an instructor for the University of Pittsburgh and Center for Emergency Medicine paramedic education programs

The idea behind heads-up CPR came about after analyses of the impact of CPR when tilting the body. It was found that contrary to expectations, head-down CPR outcomes were poor. It was theorized that tilting the head down would increase blood flow to the heart and brain from the force of gravity. What was found in animal experiments was that tilting the head down increased intracranial pressure and decreased cerebral perfusion pressure. By tilting the head up for CPR, the ICP fell and cerebral perfusion pressure increased by statistically significant levels. Long-term outcomes were improved.

Elevated CPR is performed with an impedance threshold device and using mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a device to elevate the head and thorax. A few EMS systems have been engaged in studies and Baptist Health became the first U.S. hospital system to adopt heads-up CPR.

Studies have been conducted on animals and in EMS systems, and there are some conflicting results. Results include an increase in cerebral blood flow, lower ICP pressures, and increased cerebral perfusion pressure. Generally, the studies have been finding a higher probability of ROSC and favorable neurological outcomes. More research is needed.

Presented by J. Dominic Singh, BA, NRP, I/C, staff advisor to UMass Amherst EMS, chief of operations for Spencer EMS, and a career firefighter/paramedic for Amherst Fire

Non-transporting EMS is common among organizations such as fire departments, quick response services and events EMS. Collegiate EMS often provides services to support sports, concerts and other campus activities not requiring transport services. Some of the considerations for non-transporting EMS include the gear needed, scene planning and planning for egress.

Gear considerations consist of managing immediate life threats and stabilization of the patient, (e.g., stop the bleed and airway supplies). Consider lightweight equipment, including handheld suction rather than electric suction pumps. A pulse oximeter with plethysmograph is handy to have. Gear should be portable as a fully stocked ambulance is not necessary for patient stabilization. Scene planning is important and based on the venue. Preplan egress to move a patient with consideration given for narrow stairs, tight hallways and other unique features found in the venue.

Presented by Tom Leith, AB, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Michigan

Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are becoming more common with both hobbyists and in public safety. In addition to being used for video and surveillance, drones are being used to deliver equipment and supplies to the scene of an incident. As more advanced drones are developed, they may be used to transport patients in the future. Some of the items being delivered by drone include AEDs and medications. Delivery can be made to lay rescuers on the scene of an incident, to rural areas, for disaster medicine, and to remote areas in wilderness EMS and search and rescue. Use of drone delivery is low cost with potentially high reward. Studies suggest that improved delivery times can lead to improved quality of life years. Drone delivery of AEDs can be more flexible than fixed-point public access AEDs.

Responders in remote locations may not be able to carry an exhaustive supply of different medications. With the increase in opioid overdoses, one medication that can be delivered by drone is naloxone. Other medications that can be delivered as needed include benzodiazepines for acute seizures and blood. Rwanda is using drones to deliver blood. In search and rescue, drones can deliver food, water, clothing, shelter and rope rescue gear. Drones are also used for surveillance, including finding people in wildfires, in avalanches, and for maritime rescue using imaging and following radio transceiver signals.

Presented by Benjamin Abo, DO, P, EMTT, FAWM, an emergency physician and toxicologist, and assistant professor for Florida State University School of Medicine

The traditional infographics and posters for heat and cold injuries do not give complete information and can be misleading. For example, heat stroke should not be defined as when a persons body stops sweating and is red and dry. Heat stroke occurs when there is an altered mental status and high body temperature. Cooling on the scene before transporting the patient is critical to survival. One way this can be performed is through cold water immersion rather than simply placing ice packs in the armpits and on the groin. Use the body bag from the ambulance with bags of ice from a convenience store. Fill the body bag with ice and water from a fire hose. Stop the hyperthermic process and then transport the patient. Hypothermia, likewise, should be treated aggressively. Patients will lose core body heat through convection and to the ground through conduction. They need to be warmed up!

The annual NCEMSF conference is held the last weekend of February and rotates among several cities. Check http://www.ncemsf.org/conference for announcements for next years conference location, information on presenting and registration. Vendors, exhibitors, graduate medical and health school programs, and alumni are always welcome.

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Quick take: Head-up CPR, drones and hypothermic emergencies - EMS1.com