|
TODAY'S
ISSUE
Defibrillators for
schools would be wonderful addition
By Jim Dumond
Buford
Special to GwinnettForum.com
JULY 8, 2003 -- The Coweta County School system recently approved
the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for all
of their Middle and High Schools. It was a move that I hope will
soon be followed by other school districts.
AEDs are portable devices that deliver an electric shock to the
heart to halt sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) -- the onset of chaotic
and unproductive heart activity -- and restore a normal heart rhythm.
Published studies have proven that defibrillation within the first
few minutes of cardiac arrest can save up to 50 percent of victims.
Today, only an estimated five percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims
in the United States survive. Sudden cardiac arrest claims more
than 350,000 lives outside the hospital in the United States annually.
On November 16, 2000, then President Clinton signed into law the
Cardiac Arrest Survival Act (HR 2498). The law directs placing AEDs
in federal buildings and provides nationwide "Good Samaritan"
protection that exempts from liability anyone who renders emergency
treatment with a defibrillator to save someone's life.
Also signed into law was the Rural Access to Emergency Devices
Act (SF 2528), which authorizes $25 million in federal funds to
help rural communities purchase AEDs and train lay rescuers. Five
years ago on July 1, 1998 a Georgia law (SB 566) became effective
providing additional protection from liability for first responders.
Private grants for purchasing AEDs are available though many sources.
Yet there is not as many as one AED in any of the Gwinnett County
schools. Our school system has recently gone on record as saying
they would not purchase them.
In these days of reduced federal and state funding coupled with
attempting to operate the school system on a balanced budget, one
can understand the reluctance of the school system to make a purchase
of this nature. However, I for one fail to understand why, with
a plea to the community it serves, the school system hasn't asked
for public assistance in providing what could truly be considered
a life saving device.
Parents, individually and through organizations such as our PTA's,
alongside our local businesses in Gwinnett County, have always supported
our schools. They only need to be made aware of the need in order
to fill it. They have always put the welfare of our children first.
I would like to believe that this letter is only the first step
in the community stepping up to provide AEDs in every school in
Gwinnett County.
With our schools becoming more and more a community center for
young and old alike, AEDs could very well save a life.
That life could be yours or mine...or that of your child.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
From
Loganville to Lumpkin, Fourth proved colorful
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JULY 8, 2003 -- Did you enjoy your Fourth?
Ours was quite different, entertained as we were by fireworks across
five counties. It snuck up on us, as we drove to the North Georgia
mountains on Friday night.
The night started in Loganville, as the Gwinnett-Walton Music Society
produced a real "extravaganza" of a musical program at
the American Legion there.
Some 75 tables were sold for people to bring guests. More than
300 people were in attendance, munching away on holiday meals prior
to the program.
Then the program itself: a combination of patriotic music via solos
and chorus, all highlighted by a four piece band. Gary Menzies led
the accompaniment on keyboard.
But mainly: the music was stirring, and well-chosen. The local
talent was superb, put together by James Scott Berry of Monroe.
We heard from 12 year old Justin Webb, a local talent, who sings
with the Vienna, Austria, Boys Choir; Natalie Reeder, Rebecca Dabney
and Lauren Larson, all young sopranos; a crowd favorite, Paulette
Washington, in her best gospel tradition; and others.
Mainly, it was the spirit of the show that generated the excitement.
The talent was superb, yes, yet it was also the capturing of the
moment in patriotic expression that often had the audience on its
feet clapping. It also helped that the focus of the event was very
much local, as veterans of military service were honored. It very
much felt "right" to be there sharing the moment with
people from both Gwinnett and Walton Counties.
* * * * *
What happened following the performance was also awe-inspiring,
though in a totally unexpected way.
Being in Loganville around dusk that night, and heading for Lumpkin
County, we determined there was no way to get easily back through
Lawrenceville, what with 60,000 people expected for the fireworks
show. Couple that with a Mall of Georgia fireworks, and there was
nothing but problems with heading up Georgia Highway 20.
So we headed north toward Bold Springs. That's when we saw our
first shower of fireworks, near a home in Walton County, just at
dusk. It somewhat surprised us
Soon we were on Harbins Road, seeing more bundles of stars exploding
ahead of us. We even wondered if fireworks on the southwestern horizon
were not those at the Courthouse. At several locations in Dacula
and at Hamilton Mill,we also saw bursts of fireworks.
Yet the biggest show of the night, we soon learned, for us was
going on near Chateau Elan. From about five miles away, we could
see big, bright explosions as we drove up I-85. Along with many
others, we pulled off I-85 near the Highway 211 exit, and watched
the show for about five minutes.
Then we slowly crawled to the 211 exit, turned left, and found
that the show was coming from a field in the northwest corner. People
were everywhere, on the exit ramps, on the bridge itself (cars parked;
people sitting on hoods, etc.), and along the road and nearby strip
mall for a mile or more. Had we been five minutes later, as the
show ended, we would have been dead-still in traffic.
It told us that in many places throughout the county, people came
together to watch fireworks on our country's birthday.
As we drove northwestern on Highway 211, fireworks were not over.
At random locations in Hall, there would be another boomer, and
a burst of bright stars. It was a good feeling, to see the many
fireworks demonstrations. We caught our last glimpse of fireworks
just after 10:30 in White County, near Skitts Mountain.
It had been quite a good night for patriotism...and a moving fireworks
show!
ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. The Forum Development Group presents
a new concept in retail at The Forum on Peachtree Parkway at
Peachtree Corners Circle. An elite collection of more than 50
merchants provide a glittering array of retail opportunities
in an atmosphere where you can stroll the streets of style,
while enjoying a great selection of shopping, dining and the
life the area has to offer. For more information, go to www.forumdevgroup.com.
FEEDBACK
7/8: Still waiting
Editor, the Forum:
We now have a branch of Government Homeland Security whose
job is to "alert" the public of all kinds of possibilities.
I read an article where there has been 209 major alerts and
not a one has happened.
The latest, 10 days ago, is "unknown people" are
going to "mess up" a "lot of data." Of course,
Homeland Security does not know any of these people, or what
or how they will do this. Homeland Security has a perfect record
of being wrong every time.
Homeland sent out 9,120 e-mails and letters to every news media
they could locate. I got one. I deleted it. I am waiting on
the letter.
The Augusta paper printed it. If Ridge is running for vice
president in 2004 he should resign now...not get name recognition
with these phony press releases.
Why on a Sunday? Mr. Ridge, why refer to the villians as "people"?
It would be interesting to see if I eat my words.
-- Jim Boyd, Duluth
7/8: Likes piece
written about school resource officers
Editor, the Forum:
Your position that school resource officers should not work
for the Gwinnett Board of Education is correct.
I've seen first-hand what happens, and doesn't happen, when
a school policeman works for an unprincipled school principal.
The same would happen if another unprincipled "educrat"
in a county system were substituted for a principal of my experience.
Under a closed system, the incentive for job retention lies
with the school officer doing nothing---like reporting a student
crime or other serious incident- which might make his/her supervisor
look bad.
Yours is the best piece I've read as to why public schools
don't need to be in the police business. Your early June piece
on GCBOE disciplinary reporting deserves dissemination. So doing
could save a lot of kids and teachers a lot of heartache----and
that's an opinion founded upon 32 years of school work.
-- Dr. Craig Spinks, Augusta
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Questioning things
which are certain and which are not
"When one admits that nothing is certain one must, I think,
also admit that some things are much more nearly certain than
others. "
-- Philosopher Bertrand Russell, "Am I An Atheist Or
An Agnostic?", 1947
SEND
YOUR FEEDBACK
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
or comments on any issue to Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
===========================================
MORE: Contact Gwinnett Forum at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com
© 2003, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum
is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
County, Ga. USA.
|
