TODAY news - August 28, 2003

Thursday, August 28, 2003 TODAY

Loma Linda University Children's Hospital news

Olympic gold medalist Derek Parra helps raise funds for LLUCH

Olympic gold medalist Derek Parra is interviewed by KFGR on-air personality Doug Vincent at the Inland Empire 66ers golf tournament held at Arrowhead Country Club in San Bernardino. In addition to about 100 Inland Empire residents, Mr. Parra was joined by nine other Olympians.

Olympic speedskater gold medalist Derek Parra and nine of his Olympic friends teamed up on Monday, August 11, to participate in the Inland Empire 66ers golf tournament held at Arrowhead Country Club in San Bernardino.

The tournament, put together by the Inland Empire 66ers baseball team, Q Sports (the agency representing many of the athletes at the gold tournament), and Mr. Parra. Big Bear Mountain Premium Spring Water was the major sponsor for the event.

“ This is the first of what

will be at least a three-year event,” says Patrick Quinn, owner and president of Q Sports. “We hope that this will become an annual event.”

Proceeds from the event benefited Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and KVCR public broadcasting based at San Bernardino Valley College.

Mr. Parra has a special interest in Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. His cousin, Joyce, had cancer as a child and spent time at LLUCH.

“ She has been cancer-free for 10 years now, and I felt this was a chance for me to give back and say thank you,” Mr. Parra said. “It’s a great facility and they did great things for her. To be involved with them through this event is a great thing. When I found out that I could be part of raising money for Children’s Hospital, I was all for it.”

In addition to many Inland Empire residents who participated in the event, Mr. Parra was joined by nine of his Olympic friends. They included Bonnie Blair Cruickshank, a five-time speedskating gold medalist; mogul skier Shannon Bahrke; two-time swimming gold medalist Brian Goodell; cyclist Connie Pareskevin-Young; bobsledders Billy Schuffenhauer, Toddy Hayes, and Mike Kohn; short-track speedskater Rusty Smith; and lugers Chris Thorpe and Courtney Zablocki.

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Advanced pediatric life support program helps first responders gain life-saving skills

Thomas Sherwin, MD, an attending physician at LLUCH emergency department helps a participant hone her skills on the tracheotomy technique to provide an airway in emergency situations .

On July 20 and 21, 38 emergency department staff and first responders attended the advanced pediatric life support (apls, pronounced “apples”) program to develop their skills in emergency situations. The two-day course is taught by pediatric physician specialists affiliated with the pediatric emergency medicine department of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

Developments in the field now emphasize the importance of highly specialized first-response techniques to account for differences in the anatomy and physiology of children. The apls program is designed to address those needs. It covers cardiorespiratory emergencies, traumatic emergencies, environmental emergencies, altered levels of consciousness, and pediatric emergency management issues.

The program, designed jointly by the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics, aims to provide skills in rapid recognition and correction of life-threatening physiologic abnormalities. The course emphasizes an ongoing cycle of critical questions and actions, guided by a continuous assessment and reassessment of the child’s vital functions.

The apls program equips first-responders with the skills and confidence to provide excellent care quickly when the unthinkable happens requiring a child to receive emergency medical intervention.

More than 150 professionals have been trained through the apls program at LLUCH, which receives sponsorship from Bank of America and the Marriott’s Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, and Palm Springs Area Marriot Business Council.

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Thursday, August 28, 2003 TODAY