Mothers of children born with the often devastating effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS don’t have to be alcoholics or even regular drinkers in order for this condition to develop. There are certain windows during a pregnancy where the developing fetus is more susceptible to damage – especially during the first trimester. This means that fetal alcohol syndrome can develop even if a woman only has a few drinking occasions during this time. And while there is no distinctive evidence to suggest this, some scientists and biologists suspect that FAS could develop in response to only one drinking event, if it occurs during a time of critical fetus development. As a result, it is never safe to drink while pregnant, and mothers that do could be damaging their child – for life.

The symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome are varied but distinct to the condition – especially where physical deformations are concerned. Babies born with FAS have a small head circumference, small eyes and thin lips. There may be deformations of joint areas like elbows, knees, the heel and wrist, etc. The child may exhibit vision of hearing impairment and have poor coordination. While many of these conditions are clearly evident upon birth or shortly thereafter, some might not appear for years. This is especially true of children that are born with mental retardation, learning disorders and delayed development as a result of fetal alcohol syndrome related complications.

Some of the symptoms of FAS may occur later in life and not be recognized for what they are from a causation standpoint. This can include something as seemingly benign as poor coordination, or something as deadly as heart defects. Additionally, FAS can cause a child to exhibit abnormal behavior patterns later in life. This is often manifested in the form of ADD, ADHD, poor impulse control, severe nervousness, social anxiety and even panic attacks.

Alcohol is considered a Teratogen; a substance that impedes or even completely restricts human growth. This has implications not only for the growing fetus, but also for developing young women. This can present in the form of delayed development including problems adjusting socially, academically and occupationally, which can make it extremely difficult to care for an infant. And because the most noticeable characteristic of FAS is significant deformation of the face, this condition is rather apparent when it is present, leading to more social and anxiety issues for the mother initially and for the child later on as they integrate into their peer groups and communities. These facial characteristics include very small, wide-set eyes, a thin upper lip, upturned, stunted nose, and other features indicative of the condition. In some cases the features will fade away as the child gets older, but in many they will remain for life.

Because of the sensitive timing of pregnancies and fetus development, it is never acceptable to drink while pregnant. The old social stigma that children born with FAS must logically have severely alcoholic mothers is swiftly disappearing, thanks to better education about what this condition is and how it develops. If you or someone you love is pregnant and struggling with a drinking or drug problem, then 2 lives depend on what you do next.

A hospital is a bustling environment housing all manner of individuals from the routine outpatient to the experienced surgeon. From the emergency room to the pediatric unit, staff and patients alike look to the clocks to deliver not only a precise time, but an invaluable sense of dependability and assurance. This is why any number of individuals in the health care field can benefit greatly from the use of synchronized hospital clocks in their facilities.

For the Nurse

Cathy, a recent nursing graduate, has just begun the eighth hour of her overnight shift. While she is enjoying her new career, adjusting to the extended, late hours has not been easy. With patients to admit, rounds to make, and four hours left in her shift, the last thought she wants to have is: does my watch have the wrong time, or is the clock in this unit incorrect? Dependability is key in the nursing profession, and a nurse wants to consistently be on time whether it is to report for a shift, scrub in for surgery, or administer medication. Cathy knows the life of a nurse is a difficult balancing act, and synchronized hospital clocks are a vital component in helping to maintain that balance.

For the Patient

Lisa, a first-time mother, is admitted to the obstetrics ward after experiencing frequent contractions. Not knowing what to expect from her first labor and delivery, she is both excited and nervous. Regardless of the situation, it is common for patients to experience some anxiety when they must be admitted to a hospital. Doctors and nurses can alleviate this apprehension by being prompt and attentive. Synchronized hospital clocks allow hospital staff to keep track of the time when switching patient rooms or even entire units, and when timing events in the room itself, such as the frequency of a patient’s contractions. An accurate clock in a patient’s room can make all the difference. Also, when Lisa’s new baby boy is born at 12:02am, she is grateful for a precise clock so that she knows exactly what date to celebrate her son’s birthday.

For the Administrator

Elaine has been a hospital administrator for over twenty years. She has many responsibilities, including a staff of hundreds of employees. Along with a large number of workers comes an even larger number of start times, end times, breaks, and shift changes. Because of this, she is in need of synchronized hospital clocks to keep discrepancies at bay. She also uses hospital clocks to ensure that everyone is on the same schedule, allowing all employees to perform their jobs in an accurate and timely manner. Additionally, with the recent rise in medical malpractice suits, careful management is imperative, and hospital administrators, like Elaine, need a time-keeping system that is exact and reliable. Synchronized hospital clocks provide this dependability by allowing patients under anesthesia to be properly monitored, records to be accurately kept, and other time-related errors to be greatly reduced in number, helping the hospital to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation.

In a facility where high-stress and high-activity are every day occurrences, synchronized hospital clocks serve not just one, but many purposes. A nurse may use hospital clocks to keep track of her schedule, while a patient may look to hospital clocks for reassurance. Regardless of who has their eye on the time, synchronized hospital clocks are sure to be accurate when you need them the most.