When do-gooders go wild

Thank goodness for folks like Kate Kerwin, who saw past the BS and pushed long and hard to get the law changed

February 28, 2012 07:17 AM •

Sometimes, it’s simply amazing how overboard we can go while being politically correct. This article is one beautiful example of do-gooders going wild. A quick summary:

1. A golf course has AEDs available on site. Check.
2. The golf course has many staffers trained in CPR and the use of an AED. Check.
3. The local EMS system knows that the golf course has AEDs and trained responders on site and can notify them if something happens on the property, so a prompt life-saving response can occur. Check.
4. Local laws prevented the 911 center to make that call because of privacy issues. What the foolishness?!

Thank goodness for folks like Kate Kerwin, who saw past the BS and pushed long and hard to get the law changed.

No doubt it made her a bit of a pain in some people’s eyes, but those folks really needed that poke to come to their senses.

I don’t know about you, but if I am having my sudden cardiac arrest, I want EVERYONE to come join my party. It’ll even be more fun if someone brought an AED that may literally only be a few yards from me.

I would imagine that most reasonable people would want that to happen, and privacy could take a back seat just for that moment.

Lesson learned? If it’s not right, fix it. No doubt folks could simply have sat around and complained about the problem.

Solving the issue seems much more satisfying. And the result of better outcomes from cardiac arrest is all the better.

Cardiac Care

Arthur Hsieh, MA, NRP

Art Hsieh, MA, NRP teaches in Northern California at the Public Safety Training Center, Santa Rosa Junior College in the Emergency Care Program. An EMS provider since 1982, Art has served as a line medic, supervisor and chief officer in the private, third service and fire-based EMS. He has directed both primary and EMS continuing education programs. Art is a textbook writer, author of “EMT Exam for Dummies,” has presented at conferences nationwide and continues to provide direct patient care regularly. Art is a member of the EMS1 Editorial Advisory Board.