6 A
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016
No, you’re not seeing things; I’m wearing glasses now
don’t even want to think
Ned
about.
Hickson
“When’s the last time you
It all started a few weeks
ago when my wife and I were
watching a Japanese movie
with subtitles. Being that I’m
the only one in the family
who doesn't wear glasses, I
gladly explained to her that
Lord Yushido had demanded,
“A ferret army be dropped by
helicopter upon my enima
lesions!”
I’m no expert on early
1700s Japanese history, but
I’m pretty sure Shoguns did-
n’t travel by helicopter. And
the rest of that statement... I
had an eye exam?” my wife
asked, pressing pause and
donning her glasses. “And by
the way, it says, ‘A fierce
army be delivered on horse-
back to break my enemy’s
legions.’”
“Yeah, that makes more
sense,” I said, and admitted I
hadn’t had an eye exam since
middle school. Did I mention
I’ll be 50 in a few months?
I’ve always prided myself
on still having a full head of
hair, being in relatively good
shape and not needing glass-
es. Thanks to Lord Yushido
and his lesions, it seemed I
might have to settle for two-
out-of-three.
As we arrived at the
optometrist's office the fol-
lowing weekend, I was still
hopeful my eyes had just
been tired lately.
“Can you read the first line
for me, Mr. Hickson?”
“Sure, G... 6... 8... 1...”
“Mr. Hickson, there aren’t
any numbers on this chart.”
“Oh.”
While I don’t need glasses
to function, there’s no arguing
that wearing them allows me
to see certain things more
clearly. This bothered me at
first. While it’s true I have
some grey in my hair and
beard that wasn’t there a few
years ago — coincidentally
around the time our kids
became teenagers — I saw
the need for glasses as the
first real sign of aging. Was
this the initial step toward
turning in my rocker Tees for
a rocking chair? Would I soon
be eating dinner at 3 p.m.
How long until I didn’t care
about ear hair? Or basic driv-
ing rules?
I spent a few days in a
slight funk until I realized
something important: I’ve
demanded a lot from my eyes
over the years.
As a writer staring at words
all day, every day.
As a photographer compos-
ing images and judging light
Know the signs of a potential heart attack
Western Lane Ambulance
District (WLAD) responds to
hundreds of heart attack calls
annually, but fortunately most
of those don’t lead directly into
a cardiac arrest incident. When
they do however, WLAD para-
medics and EMTs are trained
and experienced to respond
rapidly; using the current up to
date cardiac arrest life saving
procedures.
Oftentimes a heart attack
will be the prelude to a cardiac
arrest. A heart attack is when
blood flow to the heart is
blocked. If the blocked artery is
not reopened quickly, the
region of the heart normally
nourished by that artery begins
to die. The longer a person
goes without treatment, the
greater the damage.
A cardiac arrest is when the
heart malfunctions and sudden-
ly stops beating. Often, cardiac
arrest occurs suddenly and
without warning. It is triggered
by an electrical malfunction in
the heart that causes a lethal
irregular heartbeat.
With its pumping action dis-
rupted, the heart cannot pump
blood to the brain, lungs and
other organs. Seconds later, a
person loses consciousness and
has no pulse, and without treat-
ment death follows within min-
utes.
WLAD Manager Brian
Burright encourages members
of the general public to educate
themselves to “be aware and
recognize the signs and symp-
toms of a heart attack, which
can quickly lead into cardiac
arrest.”
Once a person lapses into
cardiac arrest, early CPR is of
the upmost importance. A new
type of CPR has come into play
and it’s called cardio cerebral
resuscitation (CCR).
What makes it different from
standard CPR is that it basical-
ly eliminates the need for
mouth to mouth, and decreases
the role of ventilation by
Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) providers. The empha-
sis is on chest compressions
prior to and after electrical
shocks from heart defibrillators
by EMS personnel.
Survival beyond the first
five minutes of cardiac arrest is
predominantly dependent on
chest compressions, until EMS
can arrive with a cardiac moni-
tor and defibrillator.
The sooner EMS crews
arrive on scene the better
chances for patient survival.
“I can’t stress enough the
importance of calling 911 in a
cardiac emergency,” Burright
said. “The sooner we get there
the better. The American Heart
Association says that 6 to 10
minutes without oxygen to the
brain in a cardiac arrest, then
there will be irreversible dam-
age and mortality will follow.”
In addition to early defibril-
lation, EMS providers also start
intravenous access (IVs) in
order to deliver emergency car-
diac medications into the
patients system to attempt to
revive the heart.
Paramedics also are able to
better facilitate ventilations
using an endotracheal tube
which is introduced into the
patient's airway. This also pre-
vents vomit from entering the
airway.
If EMS is able to restore a
heartbeat again, the patient
will be taken to the nearest
appropriate medical facility
for follow up cardiac specialty
care. This may involve trans-
port to a regional medical cen-
ter such as PeaceHealth
Sacred Heart Medical Center
at Riverbend, which provides
advanced cardiac procedures,
such as cardiac stents and
heart bypass surgery.
Again, the key to preventing
a patient from suffering cata-
strophic cardiac arrest is early
intervention.
“The bottom line is, don’t
be afraid to call 911 for an
evaluation even if you’re not
sure if you’re having a heart
attack,” Burright says. “There
is no charge or hassle if we
just evaluate and don’t trans-
port.”
–Submitted by Al Kreitz,
Western Lane Ambulance
conditions for more than 20
years.
As a chef for 10 years fine-
ly slicing and chopping
everything but my fingers.
Usually.
And as a firefighter for the
last five years, searching for
potential dangers in order to
remain situationally aware.
After nearly 50 years, my
eyes have earned the right to
ask for a little help.
The other night, I was in
the kitchen cooking when I
looked to see my wife sitting
at the dining room table,
reading something that made
her laugh. I reached for my
glasses and slid them on,
watching her come into per-
fect focus. Though I could see
her pretty well from the
counter without my glasses,
with a little extra help I could
make out every detail of her
smile. The curve of her face.
The way her cheeks rise the
bigger she smiles. The way
her nose crinkles when it’s
questionably appropriate.
I could get used to this, I
thought.
Now, if I could just unsee
Lord Yushido’s enima
lesions...
Ned is a syndicated columnist
with News Media Corporation.
His book, “Humor at the Speed of
Life,” is available online at Port
Hole Publications, Amazon Books
and Barnes & Noble. Write to him
at nedhickson@icloud.com
Florence Habitat to break
new ground tomorrow
The Florence affiliate of
Habitat for Humanity will host
the groundbreaking of its 28th
new home tomorrow, April 7,
at 2:30 p.m., at 1875 37th St.
Future homeowners, Nathan
and Amber Fuller and their
family, will invest “sweat
equity” through working on
their own home. Volunteer
members of the Florence com-
munity will provide labor and
expertise during construction.
Habitat for Humanity is a
testimony to the vision and
hard work of many as the com-
munity comes together to
build decent, affordable places
to live.
The community is invited to
the dedication. Come learn
more about the mission and
volunteer opportunities of Flo-
rence Habitat for Humanity.
DENTURE SERVICES INC.
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Financing: Citi Health Card
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524 Laurel St.
541-997-6054
(541)997-6000
www.RealEstateFlorence.com
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Charming home on large corner
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Single wide on spacious .19 acre
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2 Bdrm, 1 Ba 840 sq ft
$90,000 BH7205 ML#16619658
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home-move in ready. New upgrades
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5 Bdrm, 3 Ba 1756 sq ft
$219,900 BH7197 ML#16567076
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Build the home of your dreams on
this great corner lot in beautiful
subdivision of upscale homes
.3 care
$49,900 BH7209 ML#16157646
NEW LISTING
Beautiful corner lot in subdivision of
fi ne homes, underground services
available. Hiking trail to the beach
close by
.28 acre
$52,500 BH7208 ML#16421407
NEW LISTING
Come and be a part of coastal living,
enjoy the sounds of the Ocean from
this .58 acre lot in neighborhood of
fi ne homes
$99,900 BH7207 ML#16055116
NEW LISTING
Siuslaw riverfront .36 acre lot
located in gated community of
Shelter Cove. City water, sewer &
power available. Minutes to town &
all services
$169,000 BH7201 ML#16476715
NEW LISTING
Siuslaw riverfront .39 acre lot at
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water, sewer & power available.
Minutes to town & all services
$249,000 BH7202 ML#16052417
FEATURED LISTING
Country Beautiful! 5.48 acre fenced,
8+ horse stalls, arenas, 40x40 shop,
plus garage/shop. Remodeled home
w/Hickory cabinets & Oak wood fl oors
3 Bdrm, 2 Ba 2404 sq ft
$499,900 BH7086 ML#15676288
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Florence Branch | 1875 Hwy 101 | Florence, OR | (541) 997-6000 | www.RealEstateFlorence.com
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