March is Malignant Hyperthermia Awareness And Training Month; Prepare Before a Life Threatening Crisis is Triggered

Newswise — Sherburne, NY –The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States proclaims March to be Malignant Hyperthermia Awareness and Training Month as a way to remind us that a Malignant Hyperthermia crisis is best managed with preparation. Malignant Hyperthermia is often experienced in individuals undergoing, what was expected to be, routine surgery but can also happen to a person outside of the operating room. Malignant Hyperthermia is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder found in an estimated 1 out of 2,000 people. Once triggered, the rapid progressive series of chain events include a body temperature of up to 107 degrees, muscle rigidity, system-wide organ failure, and possible death. Introduction of a treatment drug and advances in the understanding of MH have saved many lives since the syndrome was first described in the 1960s.

How You Can Prepare:
Healthcare Professionals are encouraged to keep MH training current in order to rapidly recognize and diagnose the disorder and to maintain an appropriate supply of the drugs and equipment needed to successfully treat a MH emergency and plans to transport a MH-suspected patient.

Patients and Families are encouraged to document their health history and wear identification tags that can alert healthcare professionals to the disorder and work together with healthcare professionals in their community to build awareness about Malignant Hyperthermia.

Events Happening This Month:
A celebration concert in Atlanta Georgia was announced by the Geoff Keller Chapter Group of MHAUS to remember the life of namesake Geoff Keller with his family and friends and build awareness about Malignant Hyperthermia. The concert is set for March 13, 2013 at 6:30 PM at The Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, Emory Campus, 1660 North Decatur Road, Atlanta, GA. Featured are "The Druid Hills Billys”, a Bluegrass band comprised of Atlanta-based doctors. Another concert is being planned in Peoria, Illinois for April 21st. Find more details at the Geoff Keller MH

Group: http://my.mhaus.org/group/GeoffKeller

Show your support on the MHAUS Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/mhaus.malignant.hyperthermia.association.us

About Malignant Hyperthermia and the Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS):
MHAUS was founded families who lost their children to MH or could not find information about MH. In 1981 they found each other - and a doctor performing MH testing – and agreed “to make current information about MH available to all who need it.”

MH is inherited genetic disorder found in an estimated 1 out of 2,000 people. MH is triggered by certain anesthesia and most often experienced in individuals undergoing routine surgery but in rare cases MH can happen without anesthesia. Symptoms include body temperature of up to 107 degrees, muscle rigidity, system-wide organ failure, and possible death.

Today MHAUS provides information and resources to medical and lay communities through conferences, educational materials, ID tags, 24-hour MH Hotline, MHAUS website, and with the help of chapter groups like the Geoff Keller Group http://my.mhaus.org/group/GeoffKeller.

The mission of MHAUS is to promote optimum care and scientific understanding of MH and related disorders. MH episodes can happen at any time. MHAUS can help you prepare before it’s too late.