SEE PAGE 3 FOR ER closures increase risk of death
Pasadena Press
MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2014 - AUGUST 17, 2014
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Audiojack: A breakthrough in education which takes our imagination to another level by jennifer schlueter When my friend invited me to an event at the Sonos Studio in LA to experience a sound movie, I didn’t know what to expect. After some welcoming drinks and snacks, we, approximately 40(?) guests, chose our seats in a semi-circle around Audiojack creator and founder David Tobin. Each chair was equipped with a blindfold, a pen, and a notepad. David then gave us a short introduction of what was about to happen, asked us to turn our phones off, relax, put the blindfolds on, and focus on our imagination so we could create a story along Audiojack event at Sonos Studio, Los Angeles. -Courtesy Photo with the sound movie. refine our stories. I had thought he has his own stories in mind, As soon as the room got about a girl in 19th century but always keeps them comquiet, I listened to my first France watching a guy running pletely secret, even from his Audiojack - an “audio-based away from someone. Secretly, parents. Thus, there is no right movie with no words, no mu- she followed him into a cave, or wrong answer, people are sic, no video, only sounds,” as where an unknown creature eager to share, and surprised the website describes it. I heard tried to harm the intruders; how their creativity just flows. rain, doors squeaking, foot- however, they got away. This method has proven espesteps, horses trotting over cob“Is anyone willing to share cially valuable for students and ble stones, someone running their story?” David wanted to the blind community. They are through grass, etc. - at least, know. Several people raised not afraid anymore to share these were images my mind their hands. All of the sharers their thoughts, and happily enproduced according to these stories differed, but some simi- gage in class. sounds. After a second play of lar aspects could be found. Before Audiojack had the Audiojack, we were asked The variety of people’s ac- become popular, its creator to write down the story our counts is the exact point of an wanted to make sure it would imagination had sparked, and Audiojack, according to David. Please see page 2 after the third, we had time to Designing the sound movies,
its ongoing efforts in the three nations. CDC disease detectives and other staff are on the ground: •Tracking the epidemic including using real-time data to improve response •Improving case finding •Improving contact tracing •Improving infection con-
VOLUME 1, NO. 15
Digital billboard space encourages water conservation with ‘Lawn Dude’
•Improving health communication •Advising embassies •Coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners •Strengthening Ministries
Southern California Water Committee (SCWC) and Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO) were joined by state and regional water leaders last week as they announced a partnership to encourage Californians to save water during the ongoing drought. SCWC and CCO launched an advertising campaign featuring a water-saving character, @ Lawn_Dude, who will be gracing digital billboards across Southern California and sharing conservation tips with an integrated social media campaign. CCO donated space on 25 digital billboards throughout the Southland to help @Lawn_Dude get this important message across. “Some Californians haven’t been taking this drought seriously, so I’m here to make sure people take steps to save water,” said @Lawn_Dude, the newest spokesperson for conservation during California’s drought. “I’d be the first to admit that I love using lots of water, but I’m cutting back on my drinking because, take it from me, nobody likes a drunken lawn.” Governor Jerry Brown announced a drought emergency earlier this year and conditions have yet to improve. The State Water Resources Control Board enacted mandatory water conservation measures this week that impact all Californians, banning excessive watering, hosing of side-
Please see page 4
Please see page 4
West Africa Ebola outbreak worsens; CDC issues Level 3 Travel Warning The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Thursday issued a warning to avoid nonessential travel to the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This Level 3 travel warning is a reflection of the worsening Ebola outbreak in this region. CDC is rapidly increasing
SEE PAGE 4 for taco bell taste off challenge
trol
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Level 3 Travel Warning due to ebola outbreak Continued from page 1
of Health and helping them establish emergency management systems “This is the biggest and most complex Ebola outbreak in history. Far too many lives have been lost already,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “It will take many months, and it won’t be easy, but Ebola can be stopped. We know what needs to be done. CDC is surging our response, sending 50 additional disease control experts to the region in the next 30 days.” CDC expects its efforts not only to help bring the current outbreak under control, but to leave behind stronger systems to prevent, detect and stop Ebola and other outbreaks before they spread. In addition to warning travelers to avoid going to the region, CDC is also assisting with active screening and education efforts on the ground in West Africa to prevent sick travelers from getting on planes. On the
remote possibility that they do, CDC has protocols in place to protect against further spread of disease. These include notification to CDC of ill passengers on a plane before arrival, investigation of ill travelers, and, if necessary, quarantine. CDC also provides guidance to airlines for managing ill passengers and crew and for disinfecting aircraft. Earlier this week, CDC issued a Health Alert Notice reminding U.S. healthcare workers of the importance of taking steps to prevent the spread of this virus, how to test and isolate suspected patients and how they can protect themselves from infection. At this time, CDC and its partners at points of entry are not screening passengers traveling from the affected countries. It is important to note that Ebola is not contagious until symptoms appear, and that transmission is through direct contact of bodily fluids of an infected, symptomat-
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ic person or exposure to objects like needles that have been contaminated with infected secretions. Over the next five years the United States has committed to working with at least 30 partner countries (totaling at least 4 billion people) to improve their ability to prevent, detect, and effectively respond to infectious disease threats -- whether naturally occurring or caused by ac-
cidental or intentional release of pathogens. Improving these capabilities for each nation improves health security for all nations. Stopping outbreaks where they occur is the most effective and least expensive way to protect people’s health. The President’s FY 2015 budget includes a request of $45 million to fund this global health security effort.
Education breakthrough Audiojack Continued from page 1
have a lasting impact, and not just be something fun. Inspired by his mother, a teacher, education has always been of utmost importance for David. Audiojack lesson plans for different markets and countries were developed, and thoroughly tested for years. When this confirmed a huge success, David brought his company to the large scale where it is today: The website www.audiojack.com has been translated into 30 languages, and is also usable for the blind. Audiojack lessons adhere to Common Core Standards and are used in k-12 education. Because the sound movies have no language barrier, the whole world can access, use, and profit from them. Individuals, schools, and other organizations can subscribe to the program on the website. For the near future, David plans on launching a program with which people are able to create their own Audiojacks. It still stuns David that he created something that improves people’s quality of life,
stimulates their creativity and develops their critical thinking skills. He goes to schools and education conferences to introduce Audiojack and the positive feedback he is getting is incredible: “A blind girl told me that through Audiojack she felt as if she was able to see for the first time,” he recalled. On another occasion, at the renowned Perkins School of the Blind in Massachusetts, an official told David that he had cracked the code for the blind, that they had been waiting for something like Audiojack. David described this moment as “sobering,” because it charged him with even more responsibility. These events make him work harder and are his drive to continue his mission to give back to people. Audiojack is more than just a job to David; it’s his passion. For more information, i.e. on how you, your school, or your organization can subscribe and profit from Audiojacks, contact Audiojack on www.audiojack.com
AUGUST 11, 2014 - AUGUST 17, 2014 | 3
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ER closures increase risk of death at surrounding areas Washington, DC—Patients who were admitted to hospitals in the vicinity of a hospital that had closed its emergency department had 5 percent greater odds of inpatient mortality than patients admitted to unaffected hospitals. The risk of death was more pronounced for non-elderly patients and patients with time-sensitive conditions such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI or heart attack), stroke and sepsis. The results of the California study are published today in the August issue of Health Affairs (“California Emergency Department Closures Are Associated with Increased Inpatient Mortality at Nearby Hospitals”) http://content.healthaffairs. org/content/33/8/1323.abstract. “The shrinking number of emergency departments combined with a growth in emergency patients is having a demonstrably dangerous effect on the people of California,” said senior study author Renee Hsia, MD, FACEP of the University of California San Francisco in Calif. “Furthermore, emergency departments and trauma centers – which often experience greater financial pressures than their parents hospitals overall – are more likely to close at hospital with negative profit margins. Therefore, ER closures may widen disparities by further reducing access to care in communities that are already characterized by having vulnerable patients and underpaid hospitals.” Between 1999 and 2010, 48 emergency departments closed in California. During that time, 16,246.892 patients were admitted to California hospitals from the emergency department, onequarter of them near a recently closed ER. Patients admitted to the hospital in the geographic vicinity of other emergency department closures had 5 percent higher odds of inpatient mortality than patients who were admitted in areas where no emergency department had closed. Odds of morality increased by 10 percent for non-elderly adults, by 15 percent for patients
with AMI, by 10 percent for patients with stroke and by 8 percent for patients with sepsis. Researchers speculate that the closure of emergency departments increases pressure on surrounding emergency departments as well as on patients who depend on them. The increased mortality may be attributed to increased travel time to farther emergency departments as well as increased wait times or crowding in ERs with bigger populations dependent on them. “Emergency department closures have ripple effects on patient outcomes that should be considered when health systems and policy makers decide how to regulate ER closures,” said
Dr. Hsia. “As it stands now, the people who are most put at risk are those who are most vulnerable – the poor, the underinsured and the very sick.” ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.
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Join the Taco Bell taste off challenge; Help our kids win college scholarships In a hurry? On the go? Brunchito is the way to go! That's the tag line a group of our teen members devised for the winning menu item they created at the annual Taco Bell Camp at the company's headquarters in Irvine this summer. Ashely Aldridge, Michael Patton, Trinity Beserra, Joey Gonzalez, and Giovanni Fittipaldi competed against 21 other Boys and Girls Club teams to devise a new menu item for the Taco Bell chain, and were chosen as finalists along with a team from La Habra-earning them a chance for college scholarships. The two teams will compete at the Huntington Park Taco Bell from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
on Saturday, August 16, to see who can log the most sales of their creation. Members of the winning team will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship and a $2,500 grant for their club! Pasadena's entry, the Brunchito, is a tasty concoction of seasoned ground beef, fluffy egg, fresh pico de gallo, creamy pepper jack sauce, and cheddar cheese wrapped in a grilled flour tortilla. The Huntington Park Taco Bell (2543 E. Slauson Avenue) will be open for business on the day of the competition, so mark your calendars and head down to purchase some Brunchitos and help our kids win!
Woman arrested in Pasadena for leaving kids in sweltering car
Despite all the warnings and ad campaigns showing the dangers of heat and kids left in cars, Pasadena Fire E36 and RA36 responded to a report of children locked in a vehicle last Friday afternoon on Fair Oaks avenue. On arrival, Fire Department personnel found 2 children, ages 3 and 7, that had been left in the vehicle for an undetermined period of time. Pasadena Police were requested, and the children were
transported to HMH for evaluation. The mother was arrested by Pasadena Police for possible Child Endangerment. Department of Children Family Services is responding to investigate. The mother, Highland Park resident, was being held on $100,000 Bail. Firefighters estimate the car’s interior was 120 degrees at the time the children were rescued by Pasadena Firefighters.
‘Lawn Dude' to help encourage water conservation in Southern California Continued from page 1
walks and driveways, washing cars without a turnoff valve, and using fountains without recycled water. “During this time of unprecedented drought, we appreciate creative partnerships, like the one announced today, that utilize interesting and unique ways to spread the word about the importance of conserving water,” said State Water Resources Control Board Vice Chair Fran SpivyWeber. “Lawn Dude’s presence on digital billboards is going to be a great way to engage people and share water saving tips.” The digital billboard campaign partnership was announced at a press conference that brought together various water leaders to discuss the new regulations and the increasing need for informational campaigns to help Californians conserve, specifically reducing outdoor water use. “It is important that each and every Californian do their part to save water and limit outdoor watering,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Felipe Fuentes, Chair of the Energy & Environment Committee. “We’ve made great progress over the years here in Southern California and Los Angeles, but there is much more to be done. I applaud Clear Channel Outdoor and Southern California Water Committee for collaborating on this important education effort during this historic drought.” “We appreciate the generous donation of digital billboard space from Clear Channel Outdoor to help get the word out about the importance of reducing outdoor water use,” said Charles Wilson, chairman of the SCWC Board of Trustees. “Our partnership has allowed us to utilize this powerful platform to educate the public and will help move the dial on conservation efforts throughout Southern California.” CCO regularly donates space on its digital and traditional signs in Southern California and throughout the nation to display
public safety and public awareness messages. “As the statewide drought persists, it’s become increasingly important that Californians get serious about conservation and Clear Channel Outdoor is proud to be a part of this effort to encourage folks to listen up and reduce their personal water use,” said Layne Lawson, director of public affairs for Clear Channel Outdoor. “Everyone needs to make sure that conservation becomes a way of life, and we’re pleased to do our part in spreading that message via our digital signs in Southern California.” The unique ability of digital signs to reach a wide audience while displaying messages in realtime allows them to act as valuable resources for non-profit organizations, public safety agencies, law enforcement and a variety of others who need to effectively relay messages to the public. “The Southern California Water Committee and Clear Channel are stepping up to spread the word about conservation with an emphasis on cutting back on outdoor water use during this hottest time of the year,” said Jeffrey Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “This is an unprecedented drought that requires extraordinary efforts from all Californians.” The @Lawn_Dude ads will appear on digital billboards across Southern California throughout the summer. Southern Californians are encouraged to interact with @Lawn_Dude on Twitter and share billboard sightings and personal water saving practices. For more information on SCWC, please visit www.socalwater.org. For additional consumer tips on conservation, visit Save Our Water. For more information about the State Water Board’s emergency regulations, please review the fact sheet here. www.clearchanneloutdoor. com and http://www.clearchannelinternational.com.