COUNTY TO STUDY DEFIBRILLATORS GOLF COURSES, PARKS WOULD GET DEVICES.Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer Realizing that golf courses are among the top five public places where people suffer cardiac arrest cardiac arrest n. Abbr. CA A sudden cessation of cardiac function, resulting in loss of effective circulation. Cardiac arrest A condition in which the heart stops functioning. , the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to study placing mobile defibrillators at county golf courses, senior centers, parks and other county facilities. Supervisor Don Knabe Donald R. Knabe (born October 15, 1943 in Illinois) is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, serving the Fourth District, a crescent shaped district that covers the coastline from Marina Del Rey southward to Long Beach, and southeastern Los Angeles County to said more than 100 visitors have gone into cardiac arrest at golf courses countywide in the past 18 months. Having mobile defibrillators on those courses and other county facilities would save lives, he said. ``Many private country clubs have begun purchasing mobile defibrillators for the benefit of those using their golf courses and have already saved a number of lives by having the device and trained personnel on hand to help in the case of such emergencies where they are needed,'' Knabe said. The city of Los Angeles
In stressing the need for the mobile defibrillators, Knabe cited a recent study by the American Heart Association American Heart Association (AHA), n.pr a national voluntary health agency that has the goal of increasing public and medical awareness of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, and thereby reducing the number of associated deaths and disabilities. that found the top five public places for cardiac arrest are airports, county jails, shopping malls, sports stadiums and golf courses. Steven J. Gallegos, spokesman for the heart association, said people suffer cardiac arrest on golf courses for several reasons. ``A lot of people on the courses are probably seniors,'' he said. ``Second of all, they live mostly sedentary lifestyles until they get out on the golf course, where they are exerting themselves and putting their heart at risk.'' The board voted unanimously to direct the county Department of Parks and Recreation to check into the costs of purchasing defibrillators and training employees on how to use them at golf courses, senior centers, child day care centers, county pools and parks. The board also directed the County Counsel's Office to examine liability issues involving the use of defibrillators and to research the idea of placing a defibrillator defibrillator, device that delivers an electrical shock to the heart in order to stop certain forms of rapid heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias). The shock changes a fibrillation to an organized rhythm or changes a very rapid and ineffective cardiac rhythm to a in the supervisors' board room. In other actions Tuesday, the board voted: --To give the county Department of Mental Health $2.6 million to enhance mental health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract to the poor. --To approve a $2.6 million agreement between The Newhall Land and Farming Company The Newhall Land and Farming Company is a land management company based in Valencia, California, United States. The company is responsible for the master community planning of Valencia, as well as the management of farm land elsewhere in the state. and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to improve traffic flow along Magic Mountain Parkway by widening the road to six lanes. --To send letters to President George W. Bush and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft urging them to deputize dep·u·tize tr. & intr.v. dep·u·tized, dep·u·tiz·ing, dep·u·tiz·es To appoint or serve as a deputy. dep local police so the officers can make federal arrests of airline passengers for unruly behavior as part of an effort to curb ``air rage.'' |
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