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medpundit |
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Thursday, June 10, 2004Now 19, Clark, her mother and other families struck by sudden cardiac arrest came to the state capital Tuesday to thank lawmakers and Gov. Bob Taft for a law that includes $2.5 million for schools to buy automatic external defibrillators. It's hard to say how many lives will saved each year for that $2.5 million dollars, since only 25 to 50 children die each year in the entire nation from cardiac arrest. But that's $2.5 million dollars less to be sent on textbooks, teachers, and basic building repairs, all of which many many Ohio schools need. At least one state Senator recognizes this: Sen. Ray Miller, a Columbus Democrat, questions the large expenditure without enough data on how many deaths could be prevented. He said there should be better health screening in school and efforts by coaches not to work athletes too hard. "I'm in schools all the time," he said. "I have yet to have anybody in a school say to me we need these electronic defibrillators that are being pushed so aggressively. What they do say is we need books, we need computers we need basic supplies for our classrooms." Legislation from the heart. Who wants to offend grieving parents advocating for defibrillators in the schools? Wouldn't be prudent. And, although the American Heart Association, which is at the frontline of advocating widespread placement of defibrillators, says that the devices can be used in children ages 1-8, only one model has adaptations that make it suitable for children that age. And it hasn't been tested for safety and efficacy. Seems like an awful lot of money to throw at something of marginal benefit. But then, that's government by special interests for you. posted by Sydney on 6/10/2004 09:33:00 PM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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