Friday, June 15, 2012

Legislation For CPR Training In High Schools Passes Senate



NewsLI.com
June 14, 2012

“CPR in Schools” Legislation Would Arm Entire Generations of New Yorkers with CPR Training

(Long Island, NY) Senator Jim Alesi today announced that the Senate passed his bill (S.2491) to incorporate basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) into high school physical education or health classes.

“Having performed CPR twice in recent years, I have first-hand experience at how critical it is to start CPR as soon as possible to increase the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims,” said Senator Alesi. “Unquestionably, this legislation will increase awareness and knowledge of this important life-saving technique and provide students with valuable basic training.  As we continue to hear more stories about our state’s young people suffering from sudden cardiac arrest, I cannot think of a better combatant than arming entire generations of New Yorkers with basic CPR skills.”

“If you suffer sudden cardiac arrest, your best chance at survival is receiving bystander CPR until EMTs arrive,” said Dr. Stephen Cook of the Univ ersity of Rochester Medical Center and American Heart Association advocate.  “Eighty percent of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests happen in the home - so the life you save will likely be that of a loved one. We are so thrilled the Senate passed this bill, championed by our own Senator Alesi. CPR saves lives.”

While this legislation does not require students to become certified in CPR, the basic instruction will provide students with the valuable skills necessary to save lives.  Currently, CPR may be offered as a voluntary addition to the health curriculum.  Due to the increased awareness of heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest, CPR instruction can provide students with the knowledge necessary to act in the event of a cardiac emergency.  In 2010, the American Heart Association revised its CPR guidelines to place a greater emphasis on chest compressions – commonly known as the “hands-only” method.  Learning this simpler CPR technique can provide students with the knowledge necessary to save other students’ lives, or the lives of a sibling or parent.

Senator Alesi has been a strong advocate for CPR and AED instruction throughout his tenure in the Legislature.  Recently, Senator Alesi introduced a resolution memorializing Governor Cuomo to proclaim June 1-7, 2012, as CPR and AED Awareness Week in the State of New York – part of National CPR and AED Awareness Month.  Over the past few months, Senator Alesi has attended a number of CPR-related events including: visiting Averill Park High School outside Albany to celebrate the school’s efforts to train more than 1,000 studen ts being trained in CPR in the last three years; hosting the American Heart Association to Albany for its annual advocacy day; and discussing the merits of CPR instruction with members from Mercy Flight Central, an organization Senator Alesi helped to launch a decade ago.  In March of this year, as a first step in leading by example, Senator Alesi and his entire staff became certified in CPR and AED use, having taken an AHA course at the Penfield Community Center.  Continuing his grass-roots advocacy for CPR training, Senator Alesi encouraged the AHA to conduct a training seminar for his colleagues – and various Senate personnel – in Albany prior to the close of the 2012 Legislative Session; the training took place this morning in concert with the Senate’s push to pass Senator Alesi’s CPR in Schools Bill.

Passage of the CPR in Schools bill culminates an incredibly successful, twenty-year career by Senator Alesi as a strong advocate for increasing public awareness of CPR and AED use, and as a steadfast supporter of volunteer emergency service providers.  As a precursor to the CPR in Schools legislation, Senator Alesi championed another similarly significant piece of legislation that has saved lives: a bill in 2006 that requires public facilities with more than 1,000 people to be equipped with an AED and at least one trained employee.  Senator Alesi has also introduced bills to increase volunteerism in local emergency service organizations, such as providing a tuition benefit for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, that was negotiated and included in a previous budget, and legislation to reduce costs for volunteer service organizations, including a bill that would have required energy providers to offer services to ambulance organizations at residen tial rates.

The bill will be sent to the Assembly, where it is sponsored by Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D).

Senator Alesi has also been instrumental in securing millions of dollars for dozens of emergency service organizations in Rochester and Monroe County through the years, including Mercy Flight Central and RIT Student Ambulance, one of the few state-credited, all-volunteer student ambulance corps in New York State.  For his efforts on behalf of emergency organizations and volunteers, Senator Alesi has been named an honorary member of most fire departments in the 55th Senate District, and has previously served a member of the Board of Directors for Mercy Flight. Growing up in a family which served with volunteer fire and ambulance companies, Senator Alesi understands how vital these organizations are to New York State.

Recently, Senator Alesi received the inaugural Dr. David Satcher Honorary Community Health Improvement Award from the University of Rochester Medical Center for his unwavering commitment to the Center for Community Health.  Lastly, Senator Alesi is well-known in the State Capitol as the preeminent author of children’s health legislation.  Since joining the Senate, Senator Alesi has sponsored numerous bills aimed at protecting children from dangerous toxins, including legislation that would remove lead and cadmium from toys, novelty items and costume jewelry, and legislation that established a Children’s Environmental Health Advocacy Committee to assist state agenci es and schools in removing toxic cleaning agents from our schools.

Senator Alesi’s bill to prohibit the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) and other phthalates from baby bottles and pacifiers received national attention and has become the model for federal legislation.  Also, Senator Alesi previously introduced “Safe Playground” legislation that eliminated chromate copper arsenate (CCA) from pressure-treated lumber once commonly used for playgrounds.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Bayport Woman's Life Saved By Emergency Rescue Response


A Bayport woman went into cardiac arrest Wednesday evening while attending an event at the Bayport-Blue Point High School.
The following is a detailed description of the incident and emergency response actions that saved the woman's life from the Community Ambulance Company:
On Wednesday, just after 8 p.m., the Community Ambulance Company was dispatched to a reported “unknown problem” at the Bayport Blue Point High School.
A Community Ambulance unit was already in the town of Bayport, only blocks away from the school, and they immediately began responding to the scene along with an advanced life support provider.
En route to the alarm, the crew was advised by their dispatcher that the patient was in cardiac arrest, and that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was being preformed.

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Upon arrival, the crew found an adult female in cardiac arrest. Staff of the Bayport Blue Point High School, along with Suffolk County Police Officer Vanessa Logan, had initiated CPR and applied an automated external defibrillator (AED).
A total of three shocks had been delivered to the patient prior to EMS arrival. The Bayport Fire Department was also activated for the alarm and they responded to assist the ambulance crew.
When the ambulance crew arrived at the patient’s side they attached a cardiac monitor and determined the patient was in a shock-able rhythm called ventricular fibrillation, which occurs when the heart is no longer beating, but quivering, and unable to effectively pump blood.
The crew cleared the patient and administered one additional shock, after which a palpable pulse was felt and spontaneous respirations began. The patient was quickly prepared for transport. Her breathing continued to be assisted by members of the crew while advanced life support interventions were performed. These included establishing an intravenous (IV) line and cardiac medications.
The patient continued to improve while en route to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. Upon arrival at the emergency department the patient had a very strong pulse as well as an audible blood pressure. She continued to become more responsive in the hospital, (so much so that she was unable to tolerate any sort of advanced airway adjunct).
After being stabilized, she was transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital with an extremely positive prognosis. As of Thursday, June 7, the patient was awake, alert, and able to talk to her family. She is expected to make a full recovery.
This patient has a second chance at life thanks to the quick actions of the staff at Bayport Blue Point High School, bystanders, the Suffolk County Police Department, and the Community Ambulance crew.
This situation once again illustrates the importance of CPR training and defibrillator access, two links in the American Heart Association’s “Chain of Survival.” Fortunately for this patient, she was in a facility with several AEDs and personnel well trained in the operation of the equipment.
The patient’s outcome may have been drastically different if staff and bystanders did not jump into action with CPR and defibrillation.  For a patient in cardiac arrest, every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation, the chances of survival greatly diminish.  The early CPR and defibrillation, coupled with the advanced care provided by the EMS crew of Community Ambulance, have given this patient the opportunity to live on. All those involved should be commended for a job well done.
The crew consisted of Thomas Young-EMT-CC, James MacDonell-EMT, Eric Dulmovits-EMT, Paul Mastronardi-EMT, Holden Schoenig-EMT, Charlie Zigrosser-Driver, Trevor Golub-Youth Squad Member, and Barry Lipsky, Bayport Fire Department EMT. Additional emergency personnel on scene included Police Officer Vanessa Logan and members of the Bayport Fire Department.
Saving another persons life can be an unexpected and rewarding experience. Community Ambulance Company offers FREE CPR and AED training upon request.
The Community Ambulance Company of Sayville has been providing emergency medical services to the residents of Bayport, Bohemia, Oakdale, Sayville and West Sayville for the past 61 years. Made up of primarily volunteers, Community Ambulance Company answered over 4,100 calls for assistance in 2011.
If you are interested in joining and want to help your community, please contact us at (631) 567- 2586. No medical experience is necessary and all training is provided at no cost. You can also find more information and apply for membership by visiting our website at www.communityamb.org.
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PO Box 767
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-754-1091
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