On Monday March 16, 2009 Natasha Richardson, 45, was taking a ski lesson without a helmet (she declined the offer to wear a helmet) on a beginner slope at the Mont Tremblant ski resort north of Montreal, with an instructor. Toward the end of the lesson, Richardson fell and struck her head and the ski instructor called the ski patrol for assistance. She was alert and conversational afterward, even joking about her fall, and did not complain of any ill effects. One hour later, in her hotel room, she developed a severe headache.
Ambulance dispatch records obtained by the New York Times show that Richardson was not hospitalized until almost four hours after suffering the brain injury that ultimately killed her — three hours after developing symptoms.
Yves Coderre, director of operations for Ambulances Radisson, which provided the emergency transport for Natasha Richardson, had told the Toronto Globe and Mail that when paramedics initially arrived 1 p.m. at the Mont Tremblant resort, they were told they were not needed. As they were turned away, paramedics did observe from a distance that Natasha Richardson was sitting on a stretcher at the resort.
The next request for the ambulance for Natasha Richardson, still conscious, came at about 3:00 p.m. followed by a reported “enroute hospital” time of 3:42 p.m. to Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Ste. Agathe — a 25-mile trip from Mont Temblant.
At 4:20 p.m. Natasha Richardson was examined by a physician.
A transfer was ordered to a larger hospital in Montreal, the Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal. Natasha Richardson arrived at the Montreal hospital at about 7:00 p.m. Monday.
Tuesday, Natasha Richardson was accompanied by husband Liam Neeson and flown to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City in critical condition, where she died on Wednesday after surgery.
Epidural or extradural hematoma (haematoma) is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in which a buildup of blood occurs between the dura mater (the tough outer membrane of the central nervous system) and the skull. The dura mater also covers the spine, so epidural bleeds may also occur in the spinal column. Often due to trauma, the condition is potentially deadly because the buildup of blood may increase pressure in the intracranial space and compress delicate brain tissue. Because the bleed come from an artery the pressure can build up quickly while there is an eye before the storm giving the condition the name ‘Talk and die syndrome.’ The condition is present in one to three percent of head injuries.Between 15 and 20% of patients with epidural hematomas die of the injury. Epidural hematoma is usually found on the same side of the brain as impact.
Skull fractures often accompany epidural hematomas.
Signs & Symptoms of Epidural Hematoma
Expanding hematoma causes headache, nausea, and vomiting. Shifting brain tissue causes local brain dysfunction such as weakness, numbness, or speech problems. If severe progression of the hematoma occurs, central areas of the brain and the brainstem become displaced, causing loss of conscious, abnormal positioning of the arms and legs (decerebrate posture). At this point irreversible brainstem damage can occur. Documentation exists of rapid deteriorating conditions from injury to decerebrate posture in as little as two hours.
Full symptom list in severe head injury:
A lasting headache which worsens, or is still present over six hours following the injury.
Extreme difficulty in staying awake, or still being sleepy several hours after the injury.
Two or more bouts of vomiting.
Unconsciousness, either for a short or extended period of time.
Unequal pupil size.
Straw colored or blood stained fluid coming from the nose or ears. This is cerebrospinal fluid which normally surrounds the brain.
Severe dizziness or loss of balance.
Confusion or strange behavior.
Problems with memory.
Bleeding from the scalp that cannot be quickly stopped.
Not being able to use part of the body, such as weakness in an arm or leg.
Difficulty seeing or double vision.
Slurred speech
Unusual breathing patterns.
Ringing or deafness in one or both ears.
Having a seizure or fit (when your body suddenly moves uncontrollably).
An autopsy revealed that a torn artery bled between the outer lining of the brain and the skull.
Chicago Police Department Supt. Jody Weis is a wellness, fitness and exercise advocate for his members.
“It is essential that recruits begin the academy with a minimum level of physical fitness to ensure safe and successful participation in training,” according to a statement of the Chicago Police Department released Friday, March 13, 2009.
Under the State of Illinois POWER test (Peace Officer Wellness Evaluation Report), a man in his 20’s must do a minimum of 37 sit-ups in a minute and run 1.5 miles in 13:46. A woman in her 20’s is required to do 31 sit-ups and run the same distance in 16:21. The test also includes a bench press and a sit-and-reach (flexibility) evaluation.
Male
Female
TEST
21-29
30-35
21-29
30-35
1. Sit and Reach
16.0
15.0
18.8
17.8
2. One-Minute Sit-Up
37
34
31
24
3. Maximum Bench Press Ratio
(ratio of weight pushed divided by body weight)
0.98
0.87
0.58
0.52
4. 1.5 Mile Run
13.46
14.31
16.21
16.52
Several recruits typically fail in each class. New recruits are given the option of resigning or getting in shape for the next class. The POWER test is videotaped for legal documentation.
The City of Chicago is pushing for mandatory fitness tests for veteran officers. Failing officers would be assigned a trainer and be recommended special diets. Details and resolution are part of ongoing contract negotiations with the police union.
Currently, veteran officers may volunteer to take the POWER test and get a $250 award if they pass. There’s no remedial action if they flunk.
Dr. Drew Pinsky has co-authored “The Mirror Effect” with Dr. Mark S. Young — publishing their striking study of narcissism among celebrities. The Celebrity Rehab host and addiction specialist (Dr. Drew) and business/entertainment expert (Dr. Young) discovered that a high proportion of celebrities suffer from traits associated with clinical narcissism—including vanity, exhibitionism, entitlement, exploitativeness, self-sufficiency, authority, and superiority.
The authors warn that in the last decade, the entertainment industry has changed dramatically and dangerously. Not only are stars hurting themselves, as exemplified by the daily dose of celebrity bad behavior and crash and burn news (DUI’s, drug overdoses and reality-TV presentations); the public consumption is affecting vulnerable people who mirror the celebrity traits in their own behavior.
The book explores how YouTube, online social networks such as Facebook and Myspace, and personal blogs offer the dangers of instant celebrity to the most vulnerable of citizens in America.
The book also offers distinct examples of stars like Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Amy Winehouse and media enablers, such as TMZ, Perez Hilton, and Gawker, have changed the definition of “normal behavior.”
The Mirror Effect raises important questions about our changing culture—and provides insights for parents, young people, and anyone who wonders what celebrity culture is doing to America.
The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism Is Seducing America was made available on Amazon on March 17, 2009.
Usain Bolt, 22, of Jamaica broke a 12-year-old record for the 200 meters Wednesday, crossing the finish line in 19.30 seconds. Bolt turns 22 on the day after his 200-meter world record on August 21.
Usain Bolt (nicknamed “Lightning Bolt”) is the first man to break a record in the 100 meter and the 200 meter sprint.
According to Jamaican sprint coach Bert Cameron, Usain Bolt at age 12 ran 52-flat for the 400-meter on a grass track — a grass track with ruts.
Recent 200-meter world records: The top 10 200-meter times.
19.30 — Usain Bolt (Jamaica), 2008. Beijing
19.32 — Michael Johnson (U.S.), 1996, Atlanta
19.62 — Tyson Gay (U.S.), 2007, Indianapolis (AT&T USA Track and Field Championships)
19.63 — Xavier Carter (U.S.), 2006, Lausanne, Switzerland (Grand Prix)
19.65 — Wallace Spearmon (U.S.), 2006, Daegu, South Korea (Meet)
19.66 — Michael Johnson (U.S.), 1996, Atlanta (Olympic Trials)
19.67 — Usain Bolt (Jamaica), 2008, Athens
19.68 — Frankie Fredericks (Namibia), 1996, Atlanta
19.69 — Walter Dix (U.S.), 2007, Gainesville, Fla.
Swimming butterfly in the third leg of the 4X100 United States Medley Relay Team, Michael Phelps won his eighth Gold Medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The U.S. Team also included Aaron Peirsol (backstroke, 53.16), Brendan Hansen (breast stroke) and Jason Lezak (freestyle) won in a world record 3:29.34 — a world record.
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” with Dr. Mark S. Young — publishing their striking study of narcissism among celebrities. The Celebrity Rehab host and addiction specialist (Dr. Drew) and business/entertainment expert (Dr. Young) discovered that a high proportion of celebrities suffer from traits associated with clinical narcissism—including vanity, exhibitionism, entitlement, exploitativeness, self-sufficiency, authority, and superiority. 
