Minutes can make the difference
On Jan. 27, Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue responded to a call for a cardiac arrest with CPR in progress in Division 64, on Grover Lane.
Station 64 had career staffing on this day and units were available and in quarters.
The call was dispatched at 5:30 p.m. and Station 64 crews were en route at 5:31 p.m. Aid 64 was on scene at 5:34 p.m., and quickly took over CPR from the patient’s daughter.
A defibrillator was placed on the patient, as she was in ventricular fibrillation (VFIB). She was defibrillated successfully, regained a pulse, and supportive measures were initiated until the arrival of Medic 51, coming from Silverdale. On Medic 51’s arrival, the patient was further stabilized and transported. Early reports are that she will survive.
This call illustrates the importance of early 911 activation, rapid response, and effective CPR and early defibrillation in patient survival.
Other fire department units, one from the Navy arrived at 5:38 p.m. and one from CKFR in Silverdale was on scene seven minutes after Station 64.
While one can speculate on whether or not patient outcome would have been compromised had Station 64 been “browned out” on this day, the four paramedics on the scene ultimately concluded that the four minute delay until Station 63 arrived would have likely cost this patient her life.
Also of note, at about 6:07 the next morning, another critical call was dispatched in Station 64’s response area, with an elderly male experiencing respiratory failure. It is likely that the five minute difference between Station 64 and Station 56 arrival would have precipitated respiratory and subsequent cardiac arrest prior to Station 56 arriving.
As it turned out, personnel from Station 64 were able to assist the patient’s respiratory status until stabilizing medications could be administered by a medic from Station 56.
Increases in response times to some areas could be terribly detrimental to those residents that are experiencing emergencies where seconds count.
Ronny Smith
CKFR Firefighter
IAFF Local 2819
Vice president
City of Bremerton is Wi-Fi stingy
Why is the city of Bremerton so stingy with Wi-Fi access?
The sixth floor of the Norm Dicks Building has Wi-Fi available. It is just not accessible for volunteers, taxpayers, reporters or people interested in conducting business. It is not like the public is or has requested access to restricted networks or servers.
They are simply asking to make use of a rather easy tool that will assist with their education and efforts during the nearly endless layers of meetings, committees and presentations. A couple of wireless AC or N routers with guest passwords for internet access would do.
The city of Bremerton prides itself in the very fact that it asks for and solicits volunteers to augment assistance in decision making and add some important perspective that may have not been realized otherwise. Volunteer participation and service assists in stretching valuable city resources. So why are these same contributing volunteers denied a very basic service that could stretch those efforts even further?
Right now participants without existing Wi-Fi access must bring cellular activated devices if they should need to access the internet, the city’s antiquated relic of a website or even to look up a city ordinance while they are on the sixth floor.
Try following along during a city council study session without the supporting documents being discussed. It is extremely frustrating, especially in light of the fact that most of the documents used for the actual meeting have been amended at times right up to the last minute.
If the city wants to keep holding open public meetings on the sixth floor, then it needs to provide the vehicle necessary for participants to openly access the information and documentation they need.
Robert Parker
Bremerton Advocate
