• Do vaccinate
• Follow at a safe distance
• Wake up, Kaua‘i
• What a swift rescue
Do vaccinate
The article in the Archives of Adolescent and Pediatric Medicine by Sziagyi, et al. (October 2008) mentioned by Bob Swiryn (“Flu vaccine: Hope or hype?” Letters, Nov. 13) concerns children between 6 and 59 months of age, and covers two years during which the flu vaccine was a poor match for the virus that surfaced during those years. They caution that data from years with a good vaccine/flu match needs to be done. One study is not enough to base decisions on your child’s health. Mr. Swiryn seems to generalize the results of this single study to all children, which is not argued by the authors or supported by the study.
When a child gets the flu, vomiting and diarrhea may cause dehydration. Their parents bring them to the emergency department, where we put an IV needle into the child’s arm, hand, or foot and give them intravenous fluids to keep them hydrated. We may admit the child to the hospital, or transfer them to O‘ahu. Even without hospitalization, the child will miss school, and one parent will miss work to care for them. A child with the flu is more than grandparents or a babysitter can handle. In fact a grandparent may contract the flu from the child, who brought it home from school or pre-school. It is the old and frail for whom the flu is most lethal. My personal opinion: If the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommends vaccination, do it.
Who am I?
I’m an emergency room nurse at Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
• Kurt Rutter, Kapa‘a
Follow at a safe distance
Recently I read the news regarding two motorcycle accidents along with data and projected research but no mention of how they could have been prevented (“Two-wheel transpo on the rise; More accidents as a result,” A1, Nov. 9).
The problem seems obvious. Following too close. The rule is one car length for every 10 mph. 50 mph means a minimum of five car lengths behind the vehicle in front.
Rarely do I see anyone follow this rule. Many times I see someone following two cars or even one car behind the vehicle in front. Following too close is the biggest problem causing most accidents here on Kaua‘i and no one addresses it.
I’m not sure if there’s even a law against it. We spend money on cute signs saying “Click it or ticket” but where’s the prevention education regarding following too close?
It’s just common sense. Think about it. If you follow a car going 50 mph and your at least five or more car lengths behind the vehicle in front, you not only see, anticipate and brake in time for any possible situation but you can also see the brake lights of several cars ahead.
I see people constantly on their brakes. Following too close prevents you from braking in time for any sudden emergency ahead, consequently a rear end crash. Save your life and your brakes. Use common sense and patience. Follow at a safe distance behind.
• Lawrence Dolan, Kalaheo
Wake up, Kaua‘i
I used to live on O‘ahu. I have seen the natural resources of that island stripped without concern for the future of the life and the ‘aina.
I saw groups of 10 or more people systematically dig out every native orchid and saleable plant into gunny sacks on their backs like a full-time job. This was done inside a park preserve.
Marine resources are basically gone on O‘ahu. It’s no surprise that environmental exploiters have been caught pillaging resources from Maui, to be sold in Honolulu, by way of the Superferry. Dump trucks full of beach stones, fish, limu, etcetera are being strip-mined from Maui. Invasive pests could easily be transported here and we need our farms protected from them.
Many Kauaians rely on catching fish to survive. Do you think crowds of fishermen joining you on the pier will allow you to still get enough to eat? Do you want carloads of surfers crowding out our surf spots along with overcrowded roads with hundreds of cars arriving each day? What about overcrowded parks, more homeless people and the ease of transporting more drugs like ice?
Now the whale season approaches. These poor creatures have already suffered sonar blastings, must they now run the risk of being run down like the Anini turtle that I knew for over 20 years.
Wake up, Kaua‘i. Once it is gone, it is lost forever.
What’s Koloa without its monkeypod trees? I hope our new mayor will have mercy on our environment and the lifestyle that is unique to Kaua‘i.
Please rethink bringing the Superferry back to Kaua‘i.
Ua mau ke ea o ka ‘aina e i ka pono o Hawai‘i.
• Celeste Harvel, Hanalei
What a swift rescue
We witnessed the swift, heroic rescue of a swimmer in distress at Kapa‘a Beach Park Veterans Day morning. One minute the swimmer was close to shore, shortly after, the swimmer was out to sea.
A county lifeguard arrived on a JetSki while fire rescue paddled out on a surfboard in windy, choppy water, past the channel markers to save another life.
It was very impressive to watch how swift the entire rescue process was.
Kaua‘i has come a long way with water safety but our lifeguards still need more support.
• Jessica and Jeanne Amas, Hanama‘ulu
