• A better name for water safety officer is lifesaver • Two ideas • Get smart and vote • Can I say no to KIUC? A better name for water safety officer is lifesaver In county budget matters, the official
• A better name for water safety officer is lifesaver • Two ideas • Get smart and vote • Can I say no to KIUC?
A better name for water safety officer is lifesaver
In county budget matters, the official name for a lifeguard is water safety officer (WSO). The following anecdote shows why the name lifesaver might be the best one of all.
A few days ago, a man in his 60s came off the Kalalau Trail at the Ke’e trailhead, sat down on a bench, had a heart attack and arrhythmia, and died.
The WSOs in the tower heard the commotion and scrambled over to the scene.
Greg (Stutze) Stutzer and (Bob) Dylan James determined that the man had no pulse and no respiratory effort, and they immediately started CPR.
They had, of course, grabbed their AED and they hooked it up and the signal said “shock advised.” So they fired off the AED and gave the man the shock, continued CPR, rechecked his pulse after a minute . . . . and his pulse was back.
And by the time Fire and Paramedics arrived on scene 15 minutes later, the man was awake and smiling — and a bit dazed, having just visited The Void face to face.
This is a textbook lifesaving technique. Not a lot of swimming expertise involved in this rescue, but we are blessed by having WSOs who are well-trained in all aspects of saving lives.
This fabulous incident takes place right while the Legislature is debating whether to sunset Act 170, the liability law which is the underpinning for county lifeguards guarding state beach parks, of which Ke’e is one.
Our Kaua‘i legislators are all working hard to get rid of the sunset and to have Act 170 continue on in perpetuity.
Many other legislators are supporting this, also. Let us hope that their efforts will carry the day.
Monty Downs, M.D., Lihu‘e
Two ideas
I have found many of Mr. James “Kimo” Rosen’s observations and thoughts most interesting.
I agree with his recent letter. We too often shoot down ideas without full investigation.
I have two ideas that may or not be worth pursuing on our island.
The first is wave-generated electricity as a renewable energy source.
The second is, we have numerous worn out tires. They could be shredded and recycled into the asphalt used to surface our roads.
Just a couple of ideas to be explored, or shot down.
Guy Ambrose, Kalaheo
Get smart and vote
A lack of communication from KIUC breeds uncertainty.
Transparency and a more timely dialogue with members of KIUC on important issues is a key request of the “minority” of the current board of directors.
We need to vote in March for three new board members.
The FERC debacle and probably this smart meter debacle could have been avoided with information and communication before the fact, rather than after. There are five events around the island this month.
You can meet the candidates and listen to the many questions being answered.
Our island is moving admirably to using more renewable energy sources.
Having attended several energy conferences on the island. I understand that smart grid technology is the best solution to move us to a renewable energy future.
These technologies are less predictable than the fossil fuel generators they are replacing.
Smart grid technology is essential for managing the real-time fluctuations in supply and demand.
These technologies can eventually give you the tools to control and monitor your own energy use, hence demanding less and saving you money.
There is no conspiracy about when you do your laundry.
This information could simply make you want to do laundry at another time of day because the rates are lower.
Smart meter frequencies occur less than one minute a day. Should you be able to opt out? Probably.
I, however, opt in. Vote for the KIUC board of directors. Open up the conversation. Get smart. Get involved.
Pamela Burrell, Kilauea
Can I say no to KIUC?
Hold on. I’m scratching my head. Did I read in Friday’s The Garden Island (Letters: Feb. 10) that KIUC will only not install a smart meter at your house if the member happens to be home when the installer arrives and is able to tell them no?
So if I wrote letter in advance and told them we do not want one and saved the co-op money by not wasting the installer’s time, it would mean nothing?
Wait a minute. I forgot that what I have to say, whether in person or in writing, means nothing to KIUC because my husband’s name, not mine, is on the bill, so they don’t consider me a member.
Even though at the time the installer would come I am at work earning part of the money to pay outrageously high electric bills?
Even though my husband and I empowered each other 42 years ago to make decisions for our family?
As Butterfly McQueen said in “Gone With the Wind,” “It ain’t fittin,’ it just ain’t fittin’”
Janet Leopold, Hanapepe
