HEART OF THE MATTER COURT STAFF, LAWYERS BUY DEFIBRILLATORS.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - Two heart defibrillators purchased for $5,000 by local judges, attorneys and the court staff have made the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Courthouse a bit safer or the public. Thirty-five courthouse staffers have gone through training to use the automated devices, which will hang in cases on the first and third floors in hallways. ``With CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Definition Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a procedure to support and maintain breathing and circulation for a person who has stopped breathing (respiratory arrest) and/or whose heart has stopped (cardiac alone, it's only 5 percent successful. This unit along with CPR is 80 percent successful. It's a huge difference,'' said sheriff's Deputy Daniel Pakizer, who is part of the court security force and whose idea it was to procure the devices. No heart attacks have occurred since the four-story building opened in October 2003, but attorney Nancy Kelso said she has a client whose fiancee had a heart attack at the old Lancaster courthouse three or four years ago. ``She is in a coma still. Her heart stopped. They don't have time for the paramedics to come,'' said Kelso, who contributed money for the defibrillators. Unlike the twin paddles seen in countless television hospital scenes shocking heart attack victims, the automated devices use a flat plastic panel that lies on the victim's chest. A recorded voice gives directions, and tells the moment when to press a button that administers the shock. Pakizer, who is trained in using the devices, approached supervising Judge Thomas White Thomas White can refer to:
Pakizer then approached judicial officers and attorneys, who contributed the money to purchase the two defibrillators plus a training unit and mannequin. The Antelope Valley courthouse is the only one in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County to have such devices in place, Pakizer said. Thirteen judicial officers, seven attorneys and one court clerk A court clerk, in British English clerk to the court or in American English clerk of the court is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to swear in witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors. donated the funds, said attorney Steve Fox Steve Fox may refer to:
``There's no cost to saving a life. You can't put a price tag on tag on Verb to add at the end of something: a throwaway remark, tagged on at the end of a casual conversation Verb 1. it,'' Fox said. Attorney Lawrence G. Hales contributed the funds to buy the training unit. ``I lost several loved ones to heart attacks. It's always useful to have these devices,'' Hales said. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) From left, sheriff's Deputy Daniel Pakizer and attorneys Steve Fox and Lawrence G. Hales demonstrate a heart 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 and training equipment they helped purchase for the Lancaster Courthouse. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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