Preventing burn injuries

Yesterday, one of my contacts on LinkedIn reminded me that this week - February 4 - 10 - is National Burn Awareness Week, so I made myself a reminder to blog on it today. Then, last night, I heard about the latest video "challenge" -- being videotaped with your arm/hand resting on the lit eye of an electric stove. That made my topic for this blog a no-brainer.

Electrical burns

Go through each room of your home and cover (inserted into the socket) outlets to ensure that children can't insert coins or other objects which could cause an electrical shock or start a fire. Additionally, be extremely careful when using an electrical appliance near water such as the kitchen sink or the shower.

Kitchen burn injuries 

Never, I repeat, never leave food unattended and cooking on the stove. During my 25 years with the fire service, I have lost count of how many fires we responded to that were a direct result of food left unattended on the stove. You can prevent potentially hazardous spill (and burns) by turning pot handles where they are facing toward the back of the stove and using the back eyelet from foods the poise a spill hazard. (Kitchen fire video [YouTube]).

Preventing scald burn

A scald is a burn that result from exposure to - or coming in contact with - hot liquids or steam. Studies have shown that sixty-five percent (65%) of children hospitalized for treatment of a burn injury, suffered it as a result of coming into contact with a scalding liquid -- particularly bath water than was too hot. That being said, check your water heater and make sure that it's set no higher that 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.8 degrees Celsius). Also, safety experts recommend when drawing bath water for a child, run the cold water first and add the warm water in when the tub is approximately half-full.

Adults are not exempt from scald injuries. One of the most common such injury's results from the dishwasher. Use EXTREME caution when opening it at the end of the drying cycle. It's also a good rule of thumb to be careful when removing food cooked or heated in the microwave since it doesn't heat evenly.

My sources:

Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation (GFBF)
Safety smart 911

Sometimes . . .

. . . You are ask to do something and you don't realize how much it is going to affect other people. Such was the case earlier this month when I agreed to go to Washington, D.C. for the Hydrcephalus Association's Rally for Medical Research. This is important to me because there has been no significant research (emphasis added) involving hydrocephalus in fifty (50) years. Hopefully, by the time the rally ends on the evening of September 14th, we will have convinced our elected officials to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health by 2 billion dollars during FY 2018.

About a week or so after I committed to the trip, my wife took ill and I had second thoughts about making the trip. In preparation for the trip, I had been updating my Hydrocephalus education blog and posted the link to a new entry on my Facebook page. At the same time, I ask if I should consider cancelling my trip due to Marylou's health issues. The answer I got was a resounding "no"! I think my sister Darlene's response summed it up best:

"I love you and I'm ecstatic that this opportunity is given to you...Nothing selfish about it...you have earned this trip and I hope you go...probably once in a lifetime thing that most people don't get the chance...take it and let doctors take care of Marylou...love you"

Her comment along with those made by two other long-time friends helped me to realize that this trip was more than just raising awareness about hydrocephalus, I would be a voice for others who have a disability and can't make the journey to Washington. Not only that, but it would send a loud and clear message that those of us with a disability are like a "normal" person if we are given the opportunity to prove ourselves.

What is hoarding disorder?

Here of late, I have began watching Hoarders on Arts and Entertainment channel (Channel 38 on Comcast here in Atlanta) and was under the misconception that it was something of a new phenomenon. Turns out I was wrong -- I had been hearing about it for years, but knew it by another name -- Collyer's Mansion Conditions. It was originally coined by the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) to describe a residential dwelling (either a single-family dwelling or an apartment building) that is cluttered either by a collector or a "pack rat". I also learned the original name for such a situation was Collyer's Mansion Syndrome.

New York Police officers investigate conditions inside of the
Collyer mansion

What causes Hoarding Disorder? The exact cause is unknown, however, researchers have identified a number of risk factors including having a family member who also suffers from a problem with hoarding. Genetic research has recently shown that there are certain gene variants that might convey the risk of becoming a hoarder. There is also a confirmed correlation between brain injuries and acquired or secondary hoarding symptoms in some patients.

The symptoms of hoarding disorder - such as difficulty in discarding items - is usually first seen during the teen years. If these symptoms are not treated, the hoarding disorder tends to become chronic often becoming more severe over the decades. Interestingly, the Collyer brothers were an exception to this rule as both were in their early to mid-twenties when they began hoarding.

Is hoarding disorder treatable? The answer is yes. According to the American Psychiatric Association it can be treated using either medication or cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Patients treated with CBT gradually learn to discard the unecessary items while, at the same time, experiencing less stress and diminishing their exaggerated perceived need (or desire) to save these possessions. They also learn to improve their organizational, decision-making, and relaxation skills.

To find help with hoarding disorder in the Atlanta area, contact.The Anxiety and Stress Management Institute

It has been a while . . .

I realized this morning that I hadn't blogged for a while, but I didn't realize it had been almost a year. Such is life when you are a college student, husband, and dedicated American Red Cross volunteer. That being said I decided, if I got nothing else done today, I was going to update atleast this blog. Of course I have done other things including: making the bed, taking out the garbage, checking the mail, and, later this evening cooking supper. Here's what's gone on in my (and MaryLou's) life:

I am a television star! A while back I was contacted by Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasting about providing assistance for segments on a new show they were putting together called Life Plus. The producer and I got to talking and she did this Life Plus interview (YouTube video) that aired on the premiere episode. It was interesting to be able to sit back and watch myself because I had never realized I am so animated when I talk.

It's almost over. It's hard to believe, but I start my senior year at Kaplan University in October. It seems like just yesterday I started my first quarter as a freshman! Even before I receive my diploma next fall, I will re-register to go back and begin work on my Master's degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. There are probably those who don't understand why I am putting so much effort into education since I am retired and could enjoy life. It is because this has always been my dream and now it is about to become a reality!

I am shrinking! Not my entire body just my head. About four (4) months ago I realized I had sight in my right eye which had basically "been for looks" because inner-cranial pressure from my Hydrocephalus made the optic nerve in that eye non-functional. On a Friday evening I was sitting here working on my laptop when I saw the hard-drive light flash with that eye. An emergency appointment with my opthamologist and he confirmed that I had what he referred to as "minimal vision" in that eye. Not only that, but comparing pictures of me from, say, nine years, to pictures of me today, there is a marked decrease in the height of my forehead. Thank you Lord!

Finding the strength to press on

Press On (Selah)

Over this past five months or so as I have suffered with sick sinus - a form of heart trouble - and eventually had to have a pacemaker implanted, I've learned that family isn't always related by blood. I say that because my biological family just did not seem to care. It was my friends that "circled the wagons" and visited MaryLou and I, prayed for us, and weren't too busy to check on me during that time and since I got home.

From a blood-family standpoint, I have two-sisters - Darlene and Patricia - but I have at least nine who have "adopted" me as their brother. I know I am going to leave someone out, but here goes: Kat, Renay, Terri, Nancy, Carol, Page, Genora, Amy, and Beth. They check on me everyday, encourage me, and do anything a biological center would do . . . we're just not biologically related. The important part is that we love each just as if we were related by blood.

By now, I'm sure you're wondering what the link to the Selah video has to do with getting a pacemaker and adopted family. The connection is, during my illness and surgery, my adopted family taught me the importance of pressing on and being strong. Thank you family . . . I love you! 

Interesting . . .

Judge: NYC Doesn't Protect Disabled in Emergencies

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By: Larry Neumeister

Published: November 8, 2013

NEW YORK -- A judge cited disabled Superstorm Sandy victims stranded in high-rise towers to illustrate his conclusion that New York City violated laws designed to protect the disabled - about 11 percent of the city's more than 8 million residents - as it created evacuation plans for emergencies ranging from storms to terrorist attacks.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman issued his written opinion Thursday, saying the city violated the American's with Disabilities Act and the New York City Human Rights Law despite emergency efforts that he sometimes praised. He said the city's emergency preparedness plans fail to ensure that people with disabilities can evacuate before or during an emergency and fail to provide accessible shelters.

Julia Pinover, the senior staff attorney for Disability Rights Advocates who argued the case, said the "ramifications nationwide are huge" if New York City sets the standard for helping the disabled during emergencies and inspires "municipalities country-wide to think through the sufficiency of their own plans."

In a statement, Michael A. Cardozo, who heads the city's law office, said lawyers were "continuing to review this decision and assess our next steps."

He added: "While we are disappointed with the court's conclusions, we are gratified it recognized that the city's extensive planning is impressive, and the efforts and valor of those responding to emergencies have been `extraordinary.' Planning for the needs of people with disabilities has always been and remains a priority for the city."

Furman questioned the city's planning priorities in his 119-page ruling, noting that the Special Needs Coordinator within the city's Office of Emergency Management has no staff and is on the lowest rung of the office's organizational chart. And he said there was no evidence that the police or fire departments employ anyone to ensure the departments' emergency plans and policies accommodate the disabled.

His ruling came in a class-action lawsuit brought by two nonprofit groups - the Center for the Independence of the Disabled and the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled - and two disabled individuals.

He wrote that evacuation plans intended to apply to all residents "plainly - and unlawfully - fail to take into account the special needs of people with disabilities."

"Hurricane Sandy dramatically demonstrated the consequences of this failure. Plaintiffs provided substantial evidence that people with disabilities ... remained trapped in high-rise buildings for days after the storm," he said.

Furman said there was no evidence the city intentionally discriminated against people with disabilities. But he said that laws protecting the disabled "seek to prevent not only intentional discrimination against people with disabilities, but also - indeed, primarily - discrimination that results from `benign neglect.'"

He highlighted several areas of concern, saying the city's evacuation plans do not meet the needs of disabled people in high-rise buildings and its shelters are not required to be sufficiently accessible to the disabled. He also said the city has no plan for canvassing or otherwise ensuring that people with disabilities are able to access emergency city services after a disaster.

However, he also noted that the city took several actions in response to Superstorm Sandy that are not included in its emergency plans, including canvassing buildings after a prolonged power outage and providing a sign language interpreter at the mayor's news conferences.

Furman's ruling came in a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of a population that the city estimates comprises about 890,000 of its more than 8 million residents. He said his ruling was limited to the question of liability, and he will decide remedies separately unless the parties reach a settlement.

His ruling came after he reviewed 25,000 pages of exhibits, more than 20 city emergency plans, hundreds of pages of legal papers from the U.S. Department of Justice and the testimony of at least 35 witnesses during a six-day bench trial in March.

"This mountain of evidence and argument confirms that planning for, and responding to, emergencies and disasters is a Herculean task, and that, in many - perhaps most - respects, the city has done an outstanding job," Furman said. "But it also reveals that while the city's emergency preparedness program adequately accommodates the needs of people with disabilities in some respects, it fails to do so in others."

Tania Morales, a 26-year-old plaintiff who has used a wheelchair for more than a decade, said the ruling was "such a relief." She said she got to a shelter during Hurricane Irene in 2011 only to find a locked gate surrounding the wheelchair entrance. "I was terrified and forced to return home in the storm."

Plaintiff Gregory Bell, who is blind and has diabetes, said the ruling will help people like himself with chronic health conditions.

"Knowing which shelters provide refrigeration for life-sustaining medications and diabetic meals is the difference between life and death for people with diabetes," he said.

****

FEMA and Red Cross volunteers at a shelter in Texas.

Being a Red Cross volunteer, I was appalled when I read this article. How could a major metropolis, where more than eleven percent (11%) of the population has a disability or a handicap which limits their mobility intentionally violate the laws designed to protect these people? Not only did they violated the ADA, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman found they also violated the city's own civil rights law. As I said in the title . . . interesting!

One point I found especially disturbing was the fact that the city's Special Needs Coordinator - a part of the city's Office of Emergency Management - has no staff and is on the lowest rung of the city's organizational chart. In addition, Judge Furman stated that there is no evidence that either the police or fire department employ anyone to ensure that the department's plans and/or policies accommodate the disabled.

In handing down his ruling, Judge Furman said there was no evidence the city intentionally discriminated against people with disabilities. But he said that laws protecting the disabled "seek to prevent not only intentional discrimination against people with disabilities, but also - indeed, primarily - discrimination that results from `benign neglect.'" Thank you Judge Furman!

Angels among us

Webster's on-line dictionary defines an angel as "A spiritual being that serves as a messenger from God or as a guardian of human beings". I agree completely, but I think some of them exist here on Earth in human form. Let me explain. Since elementary school I have been friends with a sweet lady by the name of Kathleen Collier (pictured at left with her husband Jeff). After we graduated from high school, we lost track of each other until we were reunited on Facebook. In September of this year, her and Jeff's world was flipped upside down after their daughter was involved in a near-fatal car accident. Thanks to a lot of prayers she survived and is well on her road to recovery. Here's the rub: while Kaitlin was hospitalized, Kat was laid off from her job for what her supervisors called "abandonment" (Don't get me started, I'll blow a gasket.)

Here's why I say Kat (as well as Jeff and Kaitlinn) are angels. As most of my regular readers know, my wife has diabetes and the combination of caring for her AND be a full-time student was taking a toll on me. I had the idea to ask Kat if she would help me care for my beloved wife. She accepted. Fast forward to about three weeks ago when I was prepping for my first ever colonoscopy. Kat said she, Jeff, and Kaitlin would come up that evening and keep us company. Based on what I had heard, I was dreading that night with a passion; thanks to the three of them (and the watch care of a loving Heavenly Father) it wasn't bad at all. The next day, after the colonoscopy was completed, they brought us home and said "We'll be back". When they came back they had bought us a 4' tall Christmas tree, lights and ornaments! I wanted to cry! It didn't end there . . . since they were going to spend the night and take care of MaryLou (who we've nicknamed the Princess) I offered to prepare supper for them. They wouldn't hear of it! They went to the store, bought the groceries, cooked supper, and cleaned up the kitchen.

See what I mean about angels in human form?

Angels among us (Alabama)

Origin of the biohazard symbol

Have you ever wondered how the bio-hazard symbol so prominent in today's society came into existence? Earlier today, a friend of mine - and retired firefighter - had posted a discussion on Facebook regarding holy books (Holy books: which are real?) and, included in the article he cited was a illustration of numerous holy images . . . one of which bore a striking resemblance to our modern bio-hazard symbol. Being the inquisitive type, he and I struck up a conversation about it and I told him I would search for the answer.

Turns out the bio-hazard symbol came from the mind of Charles Baldwin who, at the time he came up with the idea, worked at Dow Chemical (website: Dow Chemical) developing containment systems for the Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health (website: National Cancer Institute) (Origin of the bio-hazard symbol, 2008). Explains he: "it became obvious to us that there were a lot of so-called warning symbols in the various laboratories that we visited, but there was no standardization." Driven by this lack of standardization, Mr. Baldwin and his colleagues began work on what he termed "something unique and striking enough to be remembered". In addition to being memorable, Baldwin decided it needed to be meaningless so they could educate the public in its meaning. Sample symbols were tested across the country utilizing survey groups who were polled on two separate occasions. The symbol that stood out most - and was the most remembered - was the bio-hazard symbol pictured above right. Baldwin explains the logic behind the color - blaze orange - and why the three-sided figure was chosen: "Blaze orange was chosen because it had been proven under artic exploration to be the most visible under the most conditions. The three-sided figure was chosen if it were on a box containing bio-hazardous material and the box was moved around, transported, it might end up in different positions."

Bio-hazard label on my wife's sharps box

Baldwin said the next challenge was presenting it to the scientific community. To accomplish this, he wrote a paper on the new label that was published in the American Journal of Science (Journal of Science). "The next thing was to get the authorization from the various people who would be using it," he explained. It was soon formally adopted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Institute of Health (NIH). "That's pretty good acceptance," he said.

References

[Web log message]. (2008, October 31). Retrieved from http://markapocalypse.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/origin-of-the-biohazard-symbol/ Retrieved: August 28, 2013

Fetish-driven role-play?

                                                                        
By LARRY NEUMEISTER -- (c) 2013 Associated Press

The government has finished presenting evidence to a jury hearing the case against a New York City police officer accused of conspiring to kidnap, kill and eat women.

Prosecutors rested their case Monday after showing jurors Internet images of torture and abuse of women that a witness said was found on the computer of Officer Gilberto Valle (VAL'-ee). A judge sent the jury home a few minutes early after prosecutors announced they reached the end of their case.

Valle's lawyers have asked the judge to acquit their client before a Manhattan federal court jury gets the case.

Valle is accused of plotting on the Internet to kidnap and kill at least six women he knows, including his wife. Defense lawyers say Valle was merely engaging in fetish-driven Internet role-play.

 

 

****

Due to starting back to school - and other life obligations - I haven't been able to blog as much as I would have liked of late, but I had to chime in on this article. What caught my eye was the last line of the article, "Valle was merely engaging in fetish-driven Internet role-play".  I could be wrong, but I would venture to say that you could go to the kinkiest fetish site on the web and not find any mention of cannibalism. Thoughts? Opinions?

(Oh, and just for the record, the comment about fetish-driven role-play was made by his defense team.)



 

Two miracles

If you've kept up with my blog(s) for any length of time, you have no doubt read me saying that I'm a miracle from God due to the fact that I was born with Hydrocephalus and have survived to be 48-years old. Well, after yesterday, I feel that He has touched my life with a miracle - actually two of them - yet again. I say that because, about six weeks ago, I started having trouble with atrial fibrillation where the top two chambers of my heart don't really beat efficiently, they basically just quivered. The result was I stayed weak, tired, and had to seriously curtail my activities -- even my writing which I dearly enjoy. What made it even worse was the fact that, even though my cardiologist had put me on medication, I was still having episodes and still finding my self having to go to the ER at Emory Midtown Hospital. Based on this, he said he wanted to do a heart cath, and that was done yesterday. Therein lies the first miracle: NO BLOCKAGES WERE FOUND! As soon as I found out that I needed a heart cath, I put a message up on Facebook asking my family and friends to be in prayer and their prayers were answered! He did find one thing . . . I have a enlarged aorta which he thinks was the result of my having hypertension since I was a teenager. Even that, however, wasn't causing a problem, but he said we would continue to monitor it.

The second miracle took place while I was waiting to be taken down for the cath. My dad and my step mom had come up to be with us during the procedure and my step mom and I had the opportunity to have a long, heart-to-heart talk . . . something we hadn't done since I was little. My biggest question was "can I call you mom". We both teared up and she said she had been waiting for the day I would ask her that because, even though she's my "step", I've always felt for her like she was my mom. So, what had been a day that filled me with fear and dread, ending up being one of the best days I've had in a long time! Thank you Jesus!

-- Walter

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 -- James 5:16 (KJV)

Some people . . .

. . .

. . .are just so incredibly mean-spirited when it comes to persons with disabilities. For example, last night I was surfing around on YouTube when I came across this video of "Praise Him, Praise Him" by Fanny J. Crosby. For those who might not be familiar with Ms. Crosby, here is a link to her profile on Wikipedia: Fanny Crosby; she became blind during an infancy so, as many sightless people do, she wore dark glasses. Well, as I was enjoying the video, I was also reading the comments and came across one that said "they shouldn't post videos by people who don't have eyes". How could people be so dumb and mean-spirited? Granted you have to look due to the quality of the old sepia print, but you can make out the frames of her glasses.

I thought it ironic that I came across that comment now as September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month -- another condition where it's sufferer's are made fun of because of our larger-than-normal heads. I use the term "our" because I am an adult survivor of Hydrocephalus. Most of my life - including the adults years - has been marked by people who made fun of my appearance or made ugly, rude comments. I remember as a junior in high school, I had a freshmen who wanted me to headbutt him just to see if it would cause my head to "bust open" (apparently he compared my head to a ripe water melon). I urge you, if you want to learn more about hydro, just ask me and I'll be glad to explain it. Also, you can check on Facebook as there are a number of Hydrocephalus Support groups on there. Just get educated . . . learn the facts!

Me as a child

Friends tweet before dying in Md. train derailment | ajc.com

Friends tweet before dying in Md. train derailment  | ajc.com

Headlines like those above are why pictures like this scare me to death:

Yes, the railroad track makes for a scenic backdrop, but if a train comes along - particularly on a curved track like in the picture - it's not going to be able to stop in time. I did a little research - just to make sure improvements  in technology hadn't decrease the time it takes for a locomotive running at full track speed to stop - and it's going to take that train one (1) mile to stop once brakes are fully applied. But, being hit by a train isn't the only hazard posed by being on the tracks. According to the article above, the two girls in Maryland where apparently knocked from the trestle by the impact of the accident, fell to the street below, and were then buried by coal falling from the hopper cars. Personally, I don't care to fall from that height and then have - approximately - 150 TONS land on top of me!

Don't get me wrong, I like the old-style trestles too, but I would never put myself at risk by sitting on one. Despite their large appearance, they are actually very narrow along the rail bed -- usually just wide enough for the train to clear.

-- Walter

I completely agree with Chic-Fil-A

Henson Company breaks off relationship with Chick-Fil-A over gay marriage stance

12:02 am July 24, 2012, by Theresa Walsh Giarrusso

The Jim Henson Company has announced via it’s Facebook page that it no longer wishes to partner with Chick-Fil-A because Henson’s company supports gay marriage.
The Huffington Post:

“… on Friday, the Jim Henson Company posted the following statement to their Facebook page:”
“The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors. Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD. (http://www.glaad.org/)”
“With this, The Jim Henson Company joins the ranks of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who has vowed to block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in the city, office star Ed Helms who tweeted that the chain had “lost a loyal fan,” and the countless individuals who have taken to social media to voice disapproval, including those planning a National Same Sex Kiss Day on August 3, in condemning the Chick-Fil-A’s CEO’s opposition to same sex marriage. “

A fan site reports that Chick-Fil-A kids meals were featuring a Jim Henson Creature Shop make-your-own puppet toy from mid July to Aug. 18^th.

How do you feel about  Chick-Fil-A’s stance on gay marriage? Does it influence your decision to buy your food there either way? If you are offended, it is hard to give it up? (That is some yummy chicken.) Do you think the owners should stop talking about their views?

(I know this is a polarizing issue but please try to stay polite and discuss it like adults. No name calling please.)

****

Let me say up front, that I too am "guility as charged" because I support the Biblical definition of marriage. Throughout the Bible it states that marriage shall be between an man and a woman, not a man and a man . . . as a matter of fact, the latter is considered an abomination to God! Why then is there all of this furor when a Christian business owner states publicly that he supports it? Mr. Cathy didn't say that Chick-Fil-A wouldn't serve gay customers, only that it doesn't support them joining in a marital union.

All of the furor isn't going to change how God looks at homosexuality, so why do folks think think boycotting such a fine business is going to change the Cathy family's resolve to operate it based on Biblical principles. My wife and I have always enjoyed eating at the Chick-Fil-A after we get off work - as our finances allowed us to eat out - and we're going to do it again August 1st  to show our support on "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day"

Until next time . . .

This article has me seeing red!

Junior high students place garbage in 9/11 memorial

My wife and I had been running errands this afternoon and I read the above article when I sat down to catch my breath after we got home. According to the blog, written by George Mathis of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a group of junior high school students were on a summer field trip to the 9/11 memorial when they "tossed garbage" into the reflecting pool. That in its self was bad enough, but some of the respondents to the blog attempted to say that President Obama was responsible for the children's actions.  It seems like those who don't like the president will go to any extreme to place blame upon him, but these comments bordered on the ridiculous. I think my favorite comment - and one that was very appropriate - was made by a U.S. Marine returning from two (2) tours in Afghanistan, he suggested that they be sent for a two-week "vacation" at Paris Island. OORAH!

Until next time . . .

GBI Director has the right idea!

Georgia Bureau of Investigation director Vernon Keenan isn’t known for being soft on crime, but he is working to keep one class of “criminals” out of jail.

 

Keenan (pictured at left), like sheriffs statewide, contends law enforcement turns jails into asylums at huge human and financial costs. Now, a study in which the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is partnering with the Georgia chapter of the National Alliance of Mentally ill (NAMI), shows how to keep people with schizophrenia, bipolar and other mental diseases out of jail, Keenan said.

“The project is designed to prevent the acutely mentally ill from routinely being incarcerated,” he said. “It is a humane program, but one that also has significant taxpayer savings. The participants have been arrested dozens of times and been in and out of jail, usually for minor crimes.”

NAMI got a $2 million grant from the nonprofit Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and another $2.3 million from other donors recruited 100 mental patients from Georgia Regional Hospital in Savannah and assigned each patient to caseworkers who monitored medications and lifestyle. The two-year program ends next year.

The GBI flagged all the names in the law enforcement database so when an officer checks the database for any warrants, a message instructs the officer to call the caseworker before taking the patient to jail, usually for crimes such as criminal trespass, shoplifting, disturbing the peace or minor assaults, Keenan said.

The caseworker also gets an email about the arrest and contacts the officer at the scene. If the officer decides there is no public safety reason to take the person to jail, the offender will be handed over to the caseworker who will decide the most appropriate next move.

The project has had a few bumps, she said, especially when officers didn’t check the Georgia Crime Information Center. “Our patient No. 17 was totally psychotic several months ago and he went into a convenience store and started drinking a Coca-Cola and walked out of the store,” said Nora Haynes, who is overseeing the project. “That Coca-Cola ended up costing the taxpayers $1,160 because instead of checking the GCIC system, the officer just took him to the jail. It took us 21 days to get him out.”

Currently the project is only funded in 34 sparsely populated counties in southeast Georgia, but sheriffs across the state are paying close attention to its results. Last year, an investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported state jails house mentally ill inmates for months — even years — for minor crimes because they’re incompetent for trial.

“We’re doing absolutely the wrong thing by incarcerating people with mental illness,” said Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry, president of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association. “There has to be some community-based-response system that is set up not just in a few counties in Georgia but all of Georgia.

“It is not right to shackle a mentally ill person and throw them in the back of a patrol car. It is not humane.”

The costs also get extreme for both local tax dollars, which fund the jails, and state tax dollars, which fund psychiatric hospitals. Last year, metro Atlanta jails reported the mentally ill accounted for at least 20 percent to 30 percent of the inmates. Fulton County spent about $4 million on jailed mentally ill. Cobb County spent more than $1 million a year and DeKalb County officials said they spent $2.2 million in 2010.

State costs are even more dramatic. The 35 patients who have been in the study for at least six months have cost state taxpayers $2.5 million because of repeated stays — 458 in all — at Georgia Regional Hospital, 83 of the visits coming within six months before enrolling in the project, according to NAMI numbers.

Since joining the project, the 35 patients have only had 26 stays — with three patients being responsible for half that number.

Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves said the project sounded worth emulating. Local law enforcement has to move past jailing the mentally ill people, he said.

“There has to be a more effective and efficient means of dealing with this population,” he said. “If they are not a threat to society and their actions result from their mental illness, there should be a way of hooking them up with mental-health services.”

Haynes said legislators were impressed with the early results — at least enough to award $500,000 in state funding. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, a longtime advocate for the mentally ill, also endorsed the program. Mental health advocates are putting strong hopes on Gov. Nathan Deal, who voiced support for drug courts and mental health courts as mechanisms to reduce the prison population.

Marietta police Chief Dan Flynn questioned whether the state would ever fund enough mental health treatment alternatives to make the program viable statewide. Critics contend the Legislature doesn’t fund mental health programs in part because local law enforcement dollars end up directed at providing some level of treatment in the jails.

“Common sense tells you that these people aren’t going to do any better in a jail locked up with criminals,” he said. “My only skepticism is what is the end game here? Are we going to have new places to send them for treatment?”

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As someone who works with those with mental disorders, I can only say why didn't someone do this sooner?

-- Walter

What's happened to ethics and honesty?

Celestine Sibley

I've been writing now for just shy of thirty (30) years so I was influenced by what I considered some of the best editors / authors / writers to come out of the south. Names like Reg Murphy, Lewis Grizzard, and Celestine Sibley (pictured at left). I've always done my best to follow their example and be as down-to-earth and honest in my writing as is humanly possible. For that reason, this story from today's New York Times was disconcerting to me:

Rise in number of retractions in scientific papers raises concerns

Simply put, what has happened to ethics and honesty among some writers? Please don't get me wrong, I don't mean to be holier-than-thou, because I've made errors in my writing too . . . but never an intentional misstatement of facts and never a factual error severe enough to warrant a full-blown retraction of what I wrote. I had what, at least one editor considered, a "bad habit" of double-checking and occasionally triple-checking my facts.  On more than one occasion, he and I locked horns because he changed my wording. (For some reason, I could never get him to grasp the concept that there's a legal difference between an incendiary fire and an arson fire and that they were terms that couldn't be used interchangeably. Of course this was also the man who thought nothing of going under yellow "Fire Line" tape to capture a picture he wanted.) Unfortunately it was actions such as his that lead to retractions like are discussed in the article above. I can only hope my unofficial mentors aren't spinning in their graves at what our beloved profession has become.

Until next time . . . 

The hoodie caused it?

For those who might not know him, the man pictured at left is television host Geraldo Rivera. Over the years he has hosted talk shows and what, very, very loosely, might be called "news shows". Apparently aging (he's 68) hasn't helped him because he has again stuck his foot in his mouth saying that "his (Trayvon Martin's) hoodie jacket killed him". I had been kind of following this case over the last few days  -- especially after several protests have been held here in Atlanta as a result of the killing.

The more that I read, the more I'm sure that Trayvon Martin was the innocent victim of a man who fancied himself as "the savior of his neighborhood" and attempted to prove that by following a young man - actually a child since he was only 17 - and then shooting him at point-blank range even though the only thing Trayvon was "armed" with was a bag of Skittles and a glass of ice tea. Consider these facts that have just come to light since Friday: 1) initial news reports has stated the perpetrator was the captain of his Neighborhood Watch. Turns out he wasn't . . .he had named himself "captain"; and 2) He had been in contact with 911 on his cell phone and been told "Do not chase this person". Because of that "savior" mentality I mentioned, he disregarded what constituted a lawful order and did chase the young man, knocking him to the ground, and shooting him at point-blank range.

I can only hope that Geraldo - and others - who think "his hoodie killed him", will take note of the quote from Pastor Raphael Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta who stated "As the church of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the church of non-violent struggle on behalf of justice, we thought it important for us to say that a hoodie is not weapon." Amen!

Until next time . . . 

Geraldo's comments

It's almost time for a haircut again

Blog author Walter Little, Jr. at the St. Baldrick's event.

It's hard to believe it's been almost a year since I was introduced to a wonderful organization called the St. Baldrick's Foundation (website). For those of you who might not be familiar with them, they are one of the leaders in the field of childhood cancer research. Their primary means of funding this research is by recruiting volunteers - such as myself - who don't have cancer to have their head shaved. This serves two key purposes: 1) it shows support for the kids who have lost their hair to cancer; and 2) It raises $$$. Last year, for example, we raised $23,000 -- more than four times the original goal our team had set!

For the second consecutive year, I will be part of the Barrow County Emergency Services team headed by Firefighter Rob Nowakowski. This year we're going to gather at Dakota's Grill and Bar in Auburn, Georgia (Direction below) on Saturday, May 17, 2012. Join us as we raise money for the kids and have a little fun, food, and fellowship all at the same time!

Directions to Dakota's Grill & Bar

Hope to see you on the 17th!

If you insist on saying something stupid . . .

Kelly: Glut of war wagons?

Sunday, February 14, 2010    Last updated: Monday February 15, 2010, 6:38 AM

By MIKE KELLY
RECORD COLUMNIST

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One evening last week police rushed to a Carlstadt warehouse where five gunmen were reportedly taking hostages and stealing $50,000 in perfume.

JOE EPSTEIN/SPECIAL TO THE RECORD

Members of the Passaic County Sheriff's Department SWAT team taking part in a drill with their armored response vehicle recently. The usual phalanx of light-flashing patrol cruisers sped to the scene. But also showing up was a sleek armored truck from the Bergen County Police Department that seemed more suited to the bullet-riddled roads of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Welcome to the newest and perhaps most controversial piece of local crime-fighting equipment — a military-like war wagon that can stop a .50-caliber bullet and keep fighting through a radiation haze from a terrorist's dirty nuclear bomb. Do cops really need this? In the suburbs?

Critics call these trucks a waste. And with a price tag of $300,000 to $400,000, they make a good argument. But police say local tax payers aren't footing the bill — most trucks are bought with federal Homeland Security anti-terror funds. And what's more, cops say they have to be prepared for a local version of the Columbine and Virginia Tech school killings — or worse.

So far, police are getting their way. Eleven police agencies across New Jersey have purchased armored trucks in recent years. The state police have three. Along with the truck operated by the Bergen County Police SWAT team, the Passaic, Morris and Hudson county sheriff's departments each have their own armored vehicles. The good news is that not one of these trucks has had to stop a bullet. But that good news also raises a troubling question: Are police preparing for gunfights or other emergencies that almost never happen?

****

. . .How about do us all a favor and don't say it?  I had woke up early the other morning so I decided to get up and look at the news headlines on the Web. Wouldn't you know, one of the first things I can across was this Op/Ed piece - at least that's how I would categorize it - and my first thought was "this guy is an idiot". I can only wonder if, maybe as a young reporter, he covered a barricaded person incident or a hostage situation? If he did, he would surely realize that his argument is flawed and that these specialized units justify their costs (which I think is somewhat lower than the figures he quoted) after just one operation.

Until next time . . .



Cleveland, OH Police SWAT unit



World Prematurity Day (November 17, 2011)

Editor's note:

"Preemies" have a special place in my heart because that's how my life started -- one (1) month premature and weighing in at a whopping four (4) pounds. I was one of the fortunate ones because I survived those early days and went on to thrive and become a healthy adult.

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In humans, "pre-term birth" refers to the birth of a baby at less than the thirty-seven (37) weeks gestational age. Currently the cause for pre-term birth - at least in many cases - remains unknown. Research has shown that many factors appear to be associated with the development of pre-term birth -- making its reduction a difficult proposition.

"Premature birth", commonly used as a synonym for pre-term birth, refers to the birth of a baby before its organs have matured enough to allow normal post-natal survival, growth, and development. Generally, premature infants are at a greater risk for both short-term and long-term complications including disabilities and impediments in growth and mental development. While great progress has been made in the care of premature infants, but not in reducing the prevalence of pre-term birth.

Most children, even if they are born pre-term, tend to adjust very well during childhood and adolescence. As improvements in the survival rate has improved, the focus of interventions directed at the newborn has shifted to reducing long-term disabilities -- particularly those related to brain injury. It should be noted, however, that some of the complications associated with pre-term birth may not become evident until years after birth.  Some of these include: cerebral palsy, mental retardation, disorders in psychological development, problems with vision and/or hearing, and epilepsy. Even with all that has been learned, additional long-term studies are necessary to get a better picture regarding the sequalae associated with pre-term birth.