The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the need for collaboration between two areas of research: classical psychological helping behaviours and emergency warnings. A large-scale disaster (i.e., the Chicago Heat Wave) is used throughout the paper as an example in which knowledge of the helping behaviour literature could have assisted emergency responders. The emergency warning literature is reviewed within the context of people heeding the warnings and deciding to share the information with others. Developments in the helping literature are reviewed, along with a final summary of key lessons from this area of experimental research that can help answer questions for future emergency responders. With a better understanding of experimental findings in the area of prosocial behaviours, emergency managers may be better able to assist their communities. Likewise, a greater collaboration between these two fields may lead to more research with the intent of improving emergency response.

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Background Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are currently recommended for liver transplant candidates. We hypothesized that PFTs may not provide added clinical value to the evaluation of liver transplant patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult cadaveric liver transplants from 2012 to 2018. Abnormal PFTs were defined as restrictive disease of diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) <80% or obstructive disease of ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first 1 second to the first vital capacity of the lungs (FEV1/FVC) <70%. Results We analyzed data on 415 liver transplant patients (358 abnormal PFT results and 57 normal results). The liver transplant patients with abnormal PFTs had no difference in number of intensive care unit (ICU) days ( P = .68), length of stay ( P = .24), or intubation days ( P = .33). There were no differences in pulmonary complications including pleural effusion ( P = .30), hemo/pneumothorax ( P = .74), pneumonia ( P = .66), acute respiratory distress syndrome ( P = .57), or pulmonary edema ( P = .73). The significant finding between groups was a higher rate of reintubation in liver transplant patients with normal PFTs ( P = .02). There was no difference in graft survival ( P = .53) or patient survival ( P = .42). Discussion Abnormal PFTs, found in 86% of liver transplant patients, did not correlate with complications, graft failure, or mortality. PFTs contribute to the high cost of liver transplants but do not help predict which patients are at risk of postoperative complications.

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