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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2016)
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon GRANT: Folk festival programs reach out to educate Quick action can save a life in a cardiac incident By Jim Cornelius News Editor When someone collapses in cardiac arrest, every second counts. Quick action can liter- ally bring a person back from the brink of death. Your knowing what to do, acting quickly and having access to an automatic exter- nal defibrillator can be the margin of survival for a victim of a sudden cardiac incident. Sisters Fire Chief Roger Johnson and Deputy Chief Tim Craig lined out the actions you should take in such an event: • If someone collapses in your presence, call 911 immediately. • Assess the victim’s condi- tion. If they are breathing DO NOT initiate CPR (cardiopul- monary resucitation). If the subject is NOT breathing and there are no signs of life, initi- ate CPR. If you do not know CPR, a 911 dispatcher can talk you through the procedure. It is better to act than to simply wait. “It’s good to have multi- ple people who can trade off, because it’s very tiring,” Chief Johnson notes. It is, of course, best if you have training to administer CPR. The Sisters-Camp Sher- man Fire Department offers regular three-hour classes (eight hours with a first aid component). Deep compres- sions are required to be effec- tive, and trained people will likely do a more effective job. “You’re going to be more efficient, certainly,” Chief Johnson said. “It’s really important, the quality of CPR people get. It’s far more effec- tive to have trained people and certified people. Having a community that is well-trained in CPR and willing to initiate CPR is critical.” Do not worry about liabil- ity. Again, it is critical to act. “The Oregon Good Samar- itan Act protects people who volunteer to provide medical aid like that,” Chief Johnson said. The next critical element is defibrillation, which is very specific electric shock to reset the action of the heart. Auto- matic External Defibrillators (AED) make defibrillating a very simple and straightfor- ward process for anyone to execute. The unit itself walks you through each step and the unit monitors the heart and determines on its own whether Continued from page 14 photo by Jim corNelius deputy Chief Tim Craig demonstrates an aed, Chief roger Johnson looks on. or not to deliver a shock. The value is incalculable. “Early access to defibrilla- tion is absolutely essential,” says Deputy Chief Craig. “We’re really hoping that these (AED) become as pro- lific as fire extinguishers.” The devices are entirely safe. “There’s absolutely no way for an untrained person to hurt someone else with an AED,” Craig said. The units cost $1,000 to $1,300 depending on acces- sories, and emergency per- sonnel would like to see them in businesses and gathering places from music venues to churches. “I think we have a need for more of these in the commu- nity,” Johnson said. Response times in the local community are very fast, but even if EMTs arrive within two or three minutes, a gap can be fatal. It’s up to citizens to have the training and equip- ment and, above all, the will- ingness to step up and save a life. For more information on CPR training, contact the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Protection District at 541-549-0771. “We’re so pleased to sup- port the Americana Project because we firmly believe the arts help children build critical problem-solving skills and help improve both literacy skills and math apti- tude,” said Kregg Arntson, executive director of the PGE Foundation. “We appreciate and applaud the Sisters com- munity for coming together to provide the arts education experiences that children need as part of a well-rounded education.” APAOS also funds visual arts and activities like dance and drumming. Local busi- nesses including Bald Eagle Music Education Station and the Sisters Dance Academy saw an increase in enrollment after the scholarships became available. The long-term les- sons benefit the local econ- omy, as well as the children. For more information on the Americana Project Arts Outreach Scholarship fund, or to make a donation, visit www.sistersfolk.org/apaos, or call Katy Yoder at the SFF office, 541-549-4979. The Center The Center is the premiere location throughout Central Oregon for diagnosis and treatment of prob- lems associated with the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves. Since 2012, Dr. Timothy Bollom, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, has been see- ing patients in Sisters at St. Charles Family Care. He treats patients of all ages and diverse backgrounds, with a focus on comprehensive diagnosis and treat- ment of knee and shoulder disorders. From simple arthroscopy to total joint replacement, he utilizes minimally invasive techniques and a sports medicine philosophy of returning patients to normal activity as quickly as possible. The Center is home to some of the region’s most highly skilled orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and specialists. From conservative measures to sophis- ticated, minimally invasive operative techniques, our dedicated doctors and staff offer the care you need for the best possible outcome. To make an appointment, go to www.thecenteroregon.com. 15 Absolute Serenity Senior Care Enriching the lives of those we serve, one day at a time. David & Leah Tolle, Owners Personalized, attentive care • Family setting Private rooms with half bath • Outings 541-848-3194 Helen’s House ~ 119 N. Rope St., Sisters Anna’s Home ~ 192 E. Tall Fir Ct., Sisters Pennington’s Place ~ 182 E. Tall Fir Ct., Sisters email: absoluteserenity@ymail.com