The Charbonneau Villager Newspaper 2019 February Villager Newspaper | Page 14

14 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER
February 2019
You can be a vital link in the chain of survival for cardiac patients
By CHRISTINA LENT, TVF&R PUBLIC AFFAIRS COORDINATOR
A
s part of Tualatin Valley Fire &
Rescue’s commitment to create
safer communities, our team con-
tinues to work with community
partners to strengthen the chain of
survival for cardiac patients.
TVF&R remains dedicated in its
efforts to work with community groups
to teach hands-only CPR, encourage law
enforcement partners to respond to
cardiac emergencies equipped with
automated external defibrillators and
invite community members willing to
perform CPR to download TVF&R’s free
PulsePoint smartphone app so that they
can be alerted when someone is in need
of this lifesaving assistance.
We believe that the strength of an
entire community fighting side by side
will ultimately prove to be more
powerful than the nation’s No. 1 killer
— heart disease.
Now is the time to learn about your
risks for heart disease and stay “heart
healthy” for yourself and your loved
ones.
During American Heart Month,
TVF&R invites you to join us in raising
The need to stay
tuned
By BOB HARLAND
A significant part of the work of
your Civic Affairs Committee in
recent months has been related to
the grant application developed by
the Oregon
Department of
Aviation and
submitted to the
Federal Aviation Administration.
That grant, if approved for federal
funding, would provide
approximately $37 million to extend
the runway at the Aurora State
Airport and, presumably, to expand
the airport in other ways. The City
of Wilsonville, Clackamas County
and other groups attempted to
persuade the state’s legislative
CIVIC
AFFAIRS
awareness of the signs and symptoms
of a heart attack and the importance of
immediately calling 911 in the event you
or someone nearby experiences
symptoms.
Unlike a sudden cardiac arrest that
strikes suddenly and includes a loss of
consciousness, a heart attack can
develop slow enough that you are not
aware you are having a medical
emergency. A heart attack occurs when
the blood flow that brings oxygen to the
heart muscle is severely reduced or cut
off completely.
Symptoms typically include:
■ Chest discomfort in the center of
the chest that lasts for more than a few
minutes or goes away and returns. It
can feel like uncomfortable pressure,
squeezing, fullness or pain.
■ Upper body discomfort, such as
pain or discomfort in one or both arms,
the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
■ Shortness of breath before, during
or after other discomforts.
■ Other signs, including breaking out
in a cold sweat, nausea or
lightheadedness.
emergency board not to approve and
advance the application, but it did so
anyway.
What does this mean? That’s hard
to tell. It may mean that the grant
request will be approved and that
funding will eventually be
forthcoming. At the same time, the
Aurora State Airport does not
appear to meet FAA requirements
for “priority consideration” to
receive grant funds. The Eugene,
North Bend, Medford and Redmond
airports are “primary” airports that
meet those criteria while 10 other
airports are non-primary airports
that meet the criteria. The Aurora
Airport does not meet the published
criteria. But exceptions are
sometimes made. According to
Wilsonville Mayor Tim Knapp,
“Though the E-Board’s decision was
a setback in Wilsonville’s push to
See CIVIC AFFAIRS / Page 18
The most common heart attack
symptom for women and men is chest
pain or discomfort. However, women
are more likely to experience other
symptoms, particularly shortness of
breath, nausea or vomiting, back or jaw
pain, pressure in the lower chest or
upper abdomen, dizziness, fainting or
extreme fatigue.
The heart is a muscle. It can
deteriorate with each passing minute
you delay medical treatment. Don’t
ignore your symptoms, and don’t drive
yourself to the hospital.
Firefighters often hear heart attack
patients say, “I wasn’t sure it was a
heart attack,” or “I didn’t want to bother
anyone.”
Remember, TVF&R crews are here
for you. Our highly trained firefighter
paramedics can diagnose a heart attack
and start treatment right away. Crews
can also relay your EKG information to
the hospital, enabling its staff to
activate special heart teams and
prepare for your arrival.
A heart attack can cause sudden
cardiac arrest, when the heart
malfunctions and stops beating
unexpectedly. Sudden cardiac arrest
leads to death when the heart stops
working properly. This can be reversed
if CPR is performed and a defibrillator is
used to shock the heart and restore a
normal heart rhythm.
Studies show that CPR can double or
triple a cardiac arrest patient’s chance
of survival, but only 46 percent of those
who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a
hospital get bystander help, according
to the American Heart Association.
Every minute CPR is delayed, the
chance of survival decreases by 10
percent. Your assistance in performing
hands-only CPR until crews arrive can
make a difference. Hands-only CPR has
just two easy steps: Call 911 and push
hard and fast in the center of the chest to
the beat of the disco song “Stayin’ Alive.”
For more information about
PulsePoint, symptoms of cardiac
emergencies, and CPR training, visit
www.tvfr.com. Thank you for your
willingness to team up with our crews
to save more lives and create a safer
community. ■
Bookshop” by NINA GEORGE. The author
lives in Germany and France and this novel
was a hit in Europe and was translated in
2015 for the American reader. Monsieur
Perdue has a floating bookshop on the Seine
where he serves up just the right book that
By DOROTHY HOCHHALTER
the reader needs to heal the soul. He is also
tormented by a lost love and impulsively
decides to set sail down the river to the
February is the month of Valentines Day, south of France to resolve the mystery of
hearts and flowers so our books this month why his lover left him.
are love stories. The first book takes us to
Along the way he picks up other people
New York City during and we are treated to a story about books,
the 1930s. “Rules of
wine and love. One reviewer stated “this is
Civility” by AMOR
the next best thing to booking a trip to
TOWLES introduces us to the life of a
France.” I know you will enjoy this
young Brooklyn-born typist, Katey, who
charming novel. We welcome you to join
falls into a friendship with Tinker Grey, a
our discussion Feb. 26.
young man from high society. With him she
We meet regularly on the 2nd and 4th
meets a group of young people who are
Tuesday of each month at Charbonneau
used to the privileges of their families but
Country Club from 1 to 2:30 p.m. We read
behind the facade is a different situation.
both fiction and nonfiction and everyone
Towles uses Katey’s voice to tell this story
has the opportunity to join in choosing our
of class, luck and love with snappy dialogue. selections. Any questions? Feel free to call
We will be reviewing this novel on Feb. 12.
me at 503-694-5651 or e-mail dostsmyname@
Our next book is “The Little Paris
comcast.net. ■
Book club
celebrates love
in February
BOOK CLUB