Food affects our mood free essay sample

The way someone selects, prepares, and eats food is tied to emotional experiences. People eat different types of food when they feel sad, bored, tired, or stressed. Although it is natural for humans and other animals to eat in response to emotions, we have to identify how we feel and understand our desire to eat when we are not really hungry because the relationship between our bodies, our minds, emotions, and our eating habits is complicated. Reading the current research on food and emotions can help us to identify strategies that will work best for us to come conscious of emotional eating habits. When people feel sad, they tend to eat food that is sweet, and one favorite is chocolate. Some studies suggest that â€Å"chocolate can influence levels of the mood-boosting brain chemical serotonin† (Siobha Manson 28). However, the difference will not be much because people would have to eat big quantities of chocolate, and the high does not last long. We will write a custom essay sample on Food affects our mood or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page People choose to eat chocolate due to the fact that it is high in sugar, so it can provide a boost of energy. Of course, some people crave chocolate because they love the taste of it, not because they are physically addicted to it. People tend to overeat when they are bored because they are looking for something to do. I personally relate to this because when I am bored, I usually go to the kitchen and look for a snack. The problem is that I do not get fruit or something healthy; I end up eating chips or candy. Boredom can get in the way of people who want to lose weight because they eat just to pass the time, and this can create an eating disorder. We should listen to our bodies before we eat; if we are not really hungry, we should stop, and we would be avoiding overeating. Humans being are tied to believe that by drinking coffee our energy is going to rise. People could have become addicted to caffeine without knowing it, to the point that they cannot function during the day if they have not had coffee. Also drinking coffee has become a drug, our bodies fight caffeine withdrawal and this makes us feel low energy. What people do not realize is that what works for one person does not necessarily work for another person. This may affect our body and makes us feel fatigue and mental forgiveness if we do not have coffee in the morning. Sometimes, when people feel overwhelmed about a situation, it may cause stress. We could react to those emotions by using food as natural painkillers to make us feel relaxed. They tell themselves that they need to eat more to get enough nutrients to get through whatever they are stressed about. However, they could find themselves unable o eat. When a person under eats, he or she is still more choosing fatty, sugary or salty food. Food does not just affect our body by providing nutrients; it also affects how we feel emotionally. This should be important to everybody to be able to know when to stop, and when we are eating because we just feel like we need to eat, not just because of hunger. However, we do not have to stop eating the foods we love, we just have to control ourselves on the quantities and the reason why we are having eating it.

The Role of the Vice President free essay sample

This paper traces the role of the vice president and how it has changed over the years. It discusses how a vice president is chosen, how his role has grown over the years and how he is just a heartbeat away from the president. The Vice President of the United States has to be ready at any time to take over the country in case of an emergency. The vice president must be ready to become president or acting president in a moments notice if the president becomes seriously ill, dies, resigns, or is removed from office. Out of the fourteen vice presidents that have become president, eight have become president because of death, and one because of a presidents resignation. None of the vice presidents expected to become president on such a short notice, but due to death and a resignation they fulfilled their job as acting president very well. We will write a custom essay sample on The Role of the Vice President or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The other vice presidents who became President of the U.S. were not as lucky to have their president die or removed from office (World Book # 1).

Why Polo Ralph Lauren Expand in Singapore free essay sample

Polo Ralph Lauren is known as a strong brand with a strictly American image. Consumers from around the world know the Polo brand and with the world becoming more and more Americanized there is much opportunity for the company to enter the growing Asian market. Summary The Polo Ralph Lauren brand was started by American entrepreneur Ralph Lauren in 1967. At the time he was working for a company called Beau Brummell Neckwear. Lauren designed an innovative tie that was wider than other ties on the market at the time. He then convinced Beau Brummell Neckwear to sell his ties inside the Empire State Building. The ties sold like crazy which led to the establishment of Polo Ralph Lauren. Lauren named the brand Polo after the popular horse racing sport because the sport represents prestige and elegance in the United States; a sport that only America’s noble and elite can play and afford. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Polo Ralph Lauren Expand in Singapore or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Therefore, Ralph Lauren’s target customers were those who had an above average income. This is a desire and goal that Ralph Lauren was determined to meet with his Polo brand. In 1969 the company opened its first boutique store inside Bloomingdale’s, an Upper East Side New York department store. In 1971, the first stores of Polo Ralph Lauren fashion appeared in Beverly Hills, California. Ten years later Lauren became the first American designer open a shop in London. Cureently, Polo Ralph Lauren has grown to be a well-known brand, not only for tie but also for all fashion items particularly fashion for men. However the brand is not limited to only menswear. Polo also provides childrenswear, womenswear, swimwear, sportswear and even home decor items. Following this paragraph is a brief description of Polo Ralph Lauren’s top selling brands. Polo by Ralph Lauren: provides a complete menswear wardrobe with distribution through Ralph Lauren stores and Department stores. Polo Sport: A line of men’s active sportswear RLX Polo Sport: Complete in the sports apparel market by offering clothing for running, skilling, cycling etc. Polo Golf: This collection of men and women’s golf wear Blue Label: classic women’s weekend wear. Environmental Assessment The environmental analysis of a company allows the company to get a clearer picture of the threats and opportunities in the external environment of the company. From the results, the company can provide suitable strategies to exploit opportunities and eliminate threats. I have broken the business environment of Polo Ralph Lauren into 4 parts. Political and legal, economic, social and cultural, and technological. Political and Legal environment Public policy must always be considered when looking at the business environment. One of the reasons why Singapore was chosen over other Asian countries was because of its government stability. Singapore currently has many policies in place to support foreign business. They provide a stable economy with low interest and banking rates as well as a competitive tax system. Singapore also has no restrictions on foreign exchange management making it more convenient and for foreign investors to transfer capital and profits in and out of Singapore than in some of the other countries in Asia. The Singapore commercial law now contains other pro-business components. Foreign investors are not required to participate in the activities of joint venture or franchising. Singapore government also does not restrict foreign investors to protect their domestic industry for any reason. All of these factors help make company executives and investors alike to grow and develop their company in Singapore. Economic Environment Singapore is seen by most as a well developed country with a dynamic business environment. Business ideas can easily turn into the reality because of the countries flexible business environment, low history of corruption, high financial transparency and price stability. Also, the economy does not receive much interference from the government and it only the legal matters of setting up a business is usually taken care of in as little as 3 days to set up. Since 2002, the tariff has been stable and less than 1% which helps to increase business financing. There are also very few products are taxed in Singapore. According to the 2010 World Bank assessment of business environment, Singapore is considered easiest country in the world to start a business. Singapore also has been labeled the Worlds second most free country by The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom in 2010. Singapore’s stable economy is not highly affected by inflation rates and market fluctuations. This is a key factor Polo Ralph Lauren to succeed in Singapore’s market. Because the country is so developed, consumers are more likely to comfortably purchase a luxury brand item such as Polo Ralph Lauren. Social and Cultural Environment Singapore is located in the middle of South East Asia. Between countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Singapore is known as a trade center for Southeast Asia, which brings much diversity to the nations culture and social life. Based on the demographics alone, Singapore is filled with the multi- ethnic people and a wide variety of different cultures. Total population in Singapore was over 5 million this year. 7% of the population is Chinese, 14% Malaysian and just over 7% of the population is Indian. The diverse nationalities and cultures of Singapore have a drastic effect on the style and behavior of the people in Singapore. The traditional family values seem to still be in tact but the Western World is definitely having an impact on the country’s youth as it is in most of Asia. The strong western influ ence is what allows for the Polo Ralph Lauren company enter the Asian market and be succesful in the Asian market. American brands are seen as prestigious in Asia and Polo is one of America’s more prestigious brands. It is a must have for American’s so it will become a must have in Asian countries as well. Technological Environment Technology is so important to Polo Ralph Lauren’s success in Singapore. The development of information technology has played a significant role in creating innovative distribution strategies, media strategies, advertising strategies and so on. According to Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), Total Internet Users in Singapore is well over three million which means that over three-fourths of the population has internet access. With the internet being so popular in Singapore it is easy for citizens to find product information as well as information about the current fashion trends. Currently about 10% of all Singaporean’s that use the internet use it for purchasing goods. As this number continues to grow more opportunities for companies to develop online catalogs and ordering systems will grow as well. Polo already has a website full of useful product information and also an online ordering system. The website currently operates in over thirty countries including Singapore. Opportunities and Threats Opportunities The Polo Ralph Lauren company has much opportunity to develop in Singapore and other parts of Asia. Economic theory says that the company will see their sales increase as the World’s economy continues to recover and the country of Singapore continues to develop. The rapid growth of the economy spend on shopping has greatly increased the standard of living of many Singaporean citizens and as a result people will spend more money while shopping. Singapore is becoming more and more of a tourist attraction. Many foreigners come from all over the world and while they are there they will shop. The key tourism drivers for Singapore are travel and Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions). In 2011, Singapore’s tourism industry welcomed over 3 million tourist, business, and MICE visitors. This generated revenue of over 6 million dollars. With Polo being such an attractive brand globally, the company can definitely benefit from Singapore’s tourists both business and leisure. Threats Polo Ralph Lauren’s products are marketed customers of middle and high-class. The key players in this market tend to be Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, and Calvin Klein, etc. Competitors have used some tools such as pricing, quality, and design. Because of this, Polo Ralph Lauren has expanded the range of its market. So it faces competition in each price point from discount to luxury. The price of Polo Ralph Lauren products tend to be more expensive than their competitors. For example: The new Lauren line will feature jackets from $230 to $250 and pants from $119 to $139, whereas Calvin Klein will offer pants and skirts at the price of $125. Competitive Analysis of the Industry Harvard Business School professor and author of many well known business strategy books Michael Porter designed what he calls the â€Å"Five forces† to analyze the competitive environment of a business. The five forces he lists are rivalry among existing firms, threat of new entrants, substitute products or services, bargaining power of suppliers and bargaining power of buyers. The stronger each of these forces the more competitive a company is in its industry. Rivalry among existing firms In most industries, corporations are mutually dependent. For a competitive movement of one firm, it can be expected to have a noticeable effect on its competitors and thus may cause retaliation† (Wheelen, 2010, pp159). Growth in the apparel industry will boost competition and help eliminate the weaker competitors. To be able to survive in the market, companies need to continuously improve product quality, keep up with the current trends and adapt to new customer care services. Polo is threatened by competition from Guess and Tommy Hilfiger. For the luxury range designers, Prada, Gucci and Versace are the direct competitors of Ralph Lauren. However, with the power of Ralph Lauren brands, loyal customers and designed in classic American style that allows it to mitigate the threat. Ralph Lauren targets the upper price point range where consumers are light price sensitive, so competition is less fierce. For the Polo Ralph Lauren, the threat of rivalry from competitors is moderate. Polo Ralph Lauren’s Top Competitors Giorgio Armani Calvin Klein Hermes DKNY Lacoste Armani Exchange DKNY Van Heusen DKNY RLX Prada Sport Nike, Reebok, Adidas, etc. Threat of new entrants â€Å"Normally, new entrants to an industry bring to it new capacity, a desire to gain market share and substantial resources. They are, therefore, threats to an established corporation. The threat of entry depends on the presence of entry barrier and the reaction that can be expected from existing competitors† (Wheelen, 2010, pp159). An entry barrier is created to prevent a company to enter an industry. It requires considerable resources to launch market and distribute products in this industry, not to mention a recognizable brand. There are many difficult factors for new entrants such as suppliers, distributor’s channels, product diversification, product differentiation and the ability to negotiate with retailers. Thus, they must spend large amounts of time and money on building brand loyalty and raising customer knowledge. With a strong reputation, the risk for new entrants of Ralph Lauren is considered to be low. Threat of substitute products and services â€Å"A substitute product is a product with some differences but can satisfy the same need as another product† (Wheelen, 2010, pp160). With the numerous brands at different price points ranging from the low end to the high-end black and purple label, the companys products can meet all the needs of customers. It is considered that the threat of substitutes for Polo Ralph Lauren would be low since there are no considerable apparel substitutes that would cause customers to switch to another industry. Bargaining power of suppliers â€Å"Influences of suppliers come from their ability to raise prices or reduce the quality of purchased goods and services† (Wheelen, 2010, pp159). In a diverse market, if the numbers of suppliers is smaller to supply a variety of customers, suppliers will have relative power that can be used to influence price. Supplier’s power in some aspects of this industry is high since a large portion of Ralph Lauren revenue comes from licenses. Therefore, the financial viability and operational ability of licensees are depended on by Polo Ralph Lauren. The same applies to many of Ralph Lauren’s manufacturers in Asia which are affected by the potential of political instability or workers rights violations. Generally, the threat of suppliers is high since major brands compete for manufacturers and switch manufacturers is costly. Bargaining power of buyers The customer is the key factor in the buying process. They decide where to buy the product and the price they want to pay for it. They can choose what to buy and from what company. Therefore, the companies should create value and set a price that the customer is willing to pay Buyers affect an industry through their capacity to reduce the prices, deal for higher quality or more services, and even play competitors against each other. Polo Ralph Lauren’s revenue mainly stems from wholesale that supplies its products through several department stores in the wholesale channel. When the buyers order products, depending on the quantity they could integrate backwards and control this channel of distribution, hence the threat of buyers can be considered moderate. The revenue of retail segment is about 45. 5% of Ralph Laurens total revenue in Fiscal Year 2010 as retail sales grew to $2. 2 billion. Ralph Laurens retail segment runs through the chain of 326 retail and factory outlet stores as well as online stores. The individual buyer has no influence on the price of the products offered. Core Competencies of Polo Ralph Lauren (How) Jay Barney is considered to be the father of the modern Resource- Based View. According to his theory companies can sustain a competitive advantage through heterogeneity of firm- level differences. So in order to maximize returns, companies must change the mode of management selection strategies with the important task of indentifying and developing and deploying key sources. Value: when they enable a firm to conceive or implement strategies that improves its efficiency of effectiveness. It allows the firm to differentiate products or services and create unique value. Polo Ralph Lauren is a strong brand that has been known for many years by many consumers. Companies earned higher profits from their products than other appeal companies because of the loyalty associated with the brand. Customers not only bought products designed good brands but also have products with high quality that are designed based on the classic American style but still very elegant and durable. Polo Ralph Lauren has a variety of products at different price points from popular products to the high- level design. Rare: valuable firm resources possessed by large number of competing firms cannot be sources of either a competitive advantage or a sustainable competitive advantage. Competitors do not have access to the resource. Good quality has created long-term reputation for Ralph Lauren. Polo Ralph Lauren has a very wide range of products but each one has lasted for years, their craftsmanship is very hard to find. The company also has special product lines such as products designed specifically for the Olympic Games or Ralph Lauren Polo handmade woven design silk tie which cannot be found in other companies. Imperfectly inimitable: because of a combination of the following: unique historical conditions, causally ambiguous, social complex. Competitors cannot easily copy or reproduce the resource. Popular branding consultant Scott Davis stated in his book Building the Brand that â€Å"Lauren apparel becomes part of who the customer is by striking a deep emotional chord with that customer. Ralph Lauren’s customers feel good about themselves†. The emotional value aims the brand transcend other brands. Other companies can be able to copy the design of Polo Ralph Lauren products but not the feeling. Currently, the products of Polo Ralph Lauren still remain as one of the industry’s most powerful design and it is favored by the general public. Non- substitutable: There must not be strategically equivalent valuable resources in terms of rareness or imitatibility. Equivalent resources that may allow for a similar strategy are not readily available. Fashion is a part of lifestyle, Polo Ralph Laurens products have created the excitement for consumers through the design and its brand thus these products must reflect the consistency and long-term use. The feelings and experiences are not easily forgotten. The objective of the company is constantly creating a change in style but not losing their uniqueness. The theories listed will definitely aid Polo Ralph Lauren as they continue to expand on the Singapore market. Playing off their image as a uniquely American luxury brand is in their best interest while the world is becoming more Americanized. Works Cited Barney, Jay B. , and Delwyn N. Clark. Resource-based Theory: Creating and Sustaining Competitive Advantage. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2007. Print. Events. Welcome to WorldBank Group. World Bank Group, n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. lt;http://web. worldbank. org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/0,,pagePK:158889~piPK:146815~theSitePK:223547,00. htmlgt;. IDA Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. IDA Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. lt;http://www. ida. gov. sg/gt;. Please Select Your Location. Cal vin Klein. Calvin Klein, n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. lt;http://explore. calvinklein. com/en_US/gt;. Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL) Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review. Researchandmarkets. com. Research and Markets, Mar. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2013. lt;http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/1291183/polo_ralph_lauren_corporation_rl_financial. pdfgt;. Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren. Polo Ralph Lauren, n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. lt;http://www. ralphlauren. com/gt;. Wheelen, Thomas L. , and J. David Hunger. Concepts in Strategic Management and Business Policy: Achieving Sustainability. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2010

Process Essay Example

Process Essay Example Process Essay Process Essay Romance14 October 2010 Sneaking Out Most teenagers know that sneaking out is key when it comes to the end of the week especially since parents are getting stricter and grounding a lot more. On the weekends, teenagers hang loose, party, relax, and just try to have fun, unfortunately, most parents do not understand. Teenager’s number one goal is to not get caught, therefore hey put a lot of thought in to this process. Even though most of the time teens do get caught in the act, every teenager should know at least one way of sneaking out of the house. Every teenager should know at least one way of sneaking out of the house. Teens put a lot of thought in to sneaking out, they must consider their area situation, disciese themselves, take chances, and be prepared. Most importantly is sneaking back in. As teens put a lot of thought into sneaking out, their number one goal is to not get caught. First, the teen needs to have an emergency excuse ready, in case the teen does get caught. Second, they must remember what time they’re parents usually go to bed, or if they have to stay up late to finish some paperwork etc. Teenagers should remember two important things before sneaking out. One, they need to stuff soft, bulky items, such as stuffed animals, clothes, etc. under their covers to show that the teen is safe and sound in bed. Two, if they do sneak out at night and leave a door or window unlocked, you leave they’re parents home vulnerable to a home-invasion robbery/break-in. The lives of they’re family could be in jeopardy. Anyway, let’s say they’re parents are sound aslee p. The first step would be figuring out how the teenager would get out of their room. An important factor in getting out of the room would be where the room even is, whether it’s downstairs, upstairs or on the main floor. If the room is upstairs, you either would go out the window with a roof, or a tree to climb down. They could also go down the stairs and to one of the doors. It’s easier to go out the window, but noise is key. The teen can’t wake up their parents, or any of their siblings in order not to get caught. If the room is downstairs, then its as easy as going out the front door, though sometimes parents have a security system installed in case of a break in, or to even prevent teens in sneaking out. The teen could also go out another door, like the back. Say the parents do have a security system; the teen has no choice but to go out a window carefully and quietly. The teen needs to make sure and have a friend meet them down the block so the lights of the car in the drive way doesn’t bother the parents, and gets the teen caught. After getting out of the house, getting back in is also very tricky, and most important. In order to complete a mission in sneaking out, the teen must get out and get back in without getting caught, that’s the point. After the teen feels successful in getting out, they go out and have fun. When they arrive back home,they need to come in the same way they got out. If the teen came out the window, they should have cracked it and left it semi-open to re-enter the home. If there is any light on in the house, and the teen is sure that they have gotten caught, they need to call home immediately and used their emergency excuse for a cover up. If not, the teen would re- enter the home through the middle floor window in this case. Once the teen is back in his or her room, they must clean up anything that may put them in jeopardy in getting caught. The teen needs to get in bed, and go straight to sleep. If the teen would want to wash their face, take a shower, etc. , they may get themselves caught, so the recommendation for that would be not to do it. Finally, the teen makes it home, safe and sound without getting caught. Most teenagers know that sneaking out is key when it comes to the end of the week especially since parents are getting stricter and grounding a lot more. On the weekends, teenagers like to just have fun and stay out with their other friends, unfortunately, most parents do not understand this concept. Teenager’s number one goal is to not get caught; therefore they put a lot of thought in to this process. Most teens do get caught, but every American teenager should know at least one way of sneaking out of their house.

Tech Data Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Tech Data - Case Study Example This report seeks to review a company by focusing on various aspects involved in the year 2002 is important in that make it rather easier to understand the running of the company both now and on earlier days. 1. Current Situation A. Current Performance 1. 5 percent drop in net sales to 50% from 2001 to the beginning of 2002 2. Approximately 8000 associates in the United States and Canada 3. 227 in share amounts around the year 2002. B. Strategic Posture 1. Mission â€Å"To be the IT distributor of choice for our customers and business partners, thus enabling our shareholders to prosper† (Jameson, 2011). 2. Objectives Strive to achieve the continued balance in sales and improve the quality of the services and the goods that it goes through To offer innovative technology in every mission that the company seeks to undertake and achieve the number one company in the segment while at it Provision of a safe and habitable working environment for the employees in an effort to increase their working morale eventually achieving higher success for the company The company aims at increasing the market share in Canada by having a return in sales of around 5%, assets in around 7% and 15% in Equity. Moreover, the company aims at increasing the market base in Canada to level with some states in the United States 3. ... Board of Directors 1. 21 members in the board with 4 of them being from outside. 2. Well suited and Older generation men in this section 3. Is it time to have a change in terms of the age? B. Top Management 1. Top managers from different parts of the world 2. Experienced and Outspoken members in the corporate field. 3. Takers of risk in the Organization 3. External Environment (EFAS Table) A. Natural Environment 1. Lack of rain affects the levels of the water in hydroelectric dams that produce electricity used to charge gadgets. 2. Radiation induced problems such as cancer increasing from the use of these gadgets (Karami, 2010) B. Societal Environment 1. Economic 1. Growing economy from urbanization 2. Technological 1. Increased levels of awareness among the people 2. Counterfeit forms of the products hitting the market 3. Political-Legal 1. High tariffs induced by the government 4. Socio-cultural 1. Ignorance is one part that affects the distribution of the products as some people t end to oppose change however important it may be. 2. Career mobility requirements make it rather difficult to have a stable work. 5. Task Environment 1. Very high competitive market provided the different companies that come with the jobs. 2. Globalization as the company spreads to other countries 3. Acquisitions and Mergers from the different types of changes the company makes during expansion. 4. High number of rivals in the market 5. Low purchase power due to widespread of technology products. 6. Few customers in their Canadian branches from ignorance 4. Internal Environment (IFAS Table) A. Corporate Structure 1. Both divisional and united structure where

Business Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Business Strategy - Essay Example Thus, the goal of this paper is to identify and recommend specific measures on how the proposed transition in ownership can be best managed with the interest of both parties in mind. This paper will primarily answer the biggest issues that Walden and Able faces which includes their different strategies and success metrics. How would you reconcile Ables need for building market share (long-term strategic business objective) with Waldens drive for year-to year quarterly increases in sales and pretax profit (short-term, corporate objective)? The current strategy of Able is building market in order to efficiently distribute costs. The business organization believes that in order to be successful in its industry, in needs to capture most of the market. The strategy can be seen as a long-term business objective. On the other hand, Walden pursues a short term corporate objective of increasing its quarterly income and pre-tax profits. At the first look, these two strategies seem to be in direct contrast with each other. For one, the focus of Walden is in the short run while Able is concern in the long term. However, looking more closely, both of these strategies can be simultaneously pursued as they will be bringing in the same results for the two business organizations which is growth. It can be argued that establishing the quarterly goal of revenue and profit increases can be attained through revamping the whole operation of Able and in the long run can help it earn a sizable share in the market. Walden’s acquisition of Able can be largely help the latter to pursue its goal of increasing market share and record sales and profit increases each quarter. It should be noted that aside from circular saws, Able’s products are only able to corner no more than 3% of the market. This is amidst the fact that there is a large and growing

Trauma in Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Trauma in Conflict - Essay Example FitzPatrick and Hartsock observe that throughout history military nurses have stood with physicians and assisted them in carrying out emergency medical interventions. Nurses have served as care providers in many regions of conflict such as Somalia, Croatia, Desert Storm and recently in Iraq and Afghanistan (Flint et al. 2007). The evolution in trauma nursing has opened up new roles for nursing such as injury prevention, data management and the use of new technologies for dealing with trauma injuries. One such medical intervention is the military tourniquet. The military tourniquet is used for supporting poly-trauma patients. The Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) is a common military tourniquet used by military nurses. This essay will discuss the potential dilemmas arising out of the use of tourniquets, particularly CAT. The issues will be considered in the context of trauma conflict situations. Patients in military operations in Afghanistan will be considered too. According to Beac hley, military nurses have contributed significantly towards the effective management and care of severe injuries. Amongst such measures are triage rapid evacuation, stabilization and surgical procedures (Flint et al. 2007). It is necessary for military nurses to master the interventions that are required for dealing with blast and gunshot victims. The frequency of such injuries has increased significantly over the past few decades owing largely to the fact that they are not confined to the military anymore. The proliferation of weaponry and its use out of the military has made the civilian population yet more susceptible to trauma. The role of nurses has become increasingly important in managing trauma ever since the Crimean War. Effective management of penetrating trauma, which has occurred in wars and military operations, requires the nurse to be apt at the working knowledge of the interventions (O'Shea 2005). A critical aspect of emergency care of trauma victims is gaining contr ol of and stopping haemorrhage. It has been reported that taking measures to prevent deaths occurring from blood loss from the limbs are the most vital means of saving lives. Haemorrhage has been cited as the most important reason for death after trauma (Lerner & Soudry 2011). In the protocol used for managing a trauma patient, circulation is now being given increased importance. The treatment procedure has changed from ABC to ABC to highlight the significance of controlling blood loss (Brodie et al. 2007). These changes are also being introduced into training programs for military trauma nurses. A device used in such cases is tourniquet. Tourniquets are devices which can reduce arterial and venous flow by compressing it. In the UK, tourniquets are a part of the personal first aid kits of soldiers going to the field. They are encouraged to make use of tourniquets when faced with excessive amounts of blood loss. Despite the effectiveness of tourniquets on stopping blood loss, their u se in conflict situations is subject to debate. There are strong arguments both favouring and discouraging the use of tourniquets in critical situations in the war zone. The arguments against the use of tourniquets are that they lead to the unnecessary loss and amputation of limbs. This highlights the gravity of the issue and the medicolegal aspects surrounding their use. Tourniquets are used for medical or tactical reasons. They help to deliver care-under-fire,