SEE PAGE 3 for ER closures increase risk of death
ANAHEIM 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 4 after the third, we had time to Designing the sound movies,
Man charged for special circumstances drive-by shooting murder on 91 Freeway
Augustin Villegas -Courtesy Photo
ficials, and local crime survivors. The event was emceed by Eileen Frere of ABC7 Eyewitness News. Dominic Montalbano, a retired sergeant at Orange County Sheriff’s Department, was a presenter who affirmed that “victims have Please see page 2
Please see page 2
by Vickie Vértiz a survivor of attempted murder, Patricia Wenskunas. Crime Survivors is committed to making the rights of victims a top priority through its work in the area. Its annual awards luncheon was attended by about 150 people including sponsors, board members, law enforcement of-
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A man was charged today for the special circumstances drive-by murder that occurred on the 91 Freeway. David Arzate Cabrera, 45, Anaheim, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder by drive-by shooting, one felony count of possession for sale of a controlled substance, one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon, with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and a prior prison conviction in 1990 for possession for sale of a controlled substance. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole and is being held without bail. The scheduled arraignment was continued in court today to Aug. 20, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. At approximately 8:00 p.m. on July 14, 2014, Cabrera is accused of driving westbound on the 91 Freeway in Anaheim. He
Crime survivors and supporters recognized at awards ceremony On Wednesday, July 30, four survivors of violent crimes spoke at the Anaheim White House about their paths to coping and healing, reported Behind the Badge Orange County. They showed their gratitude for the support of Crime Survivors, Incorporated, a nonprofit in Irvine founded in 2003 by
SEE PAGE 4 for travel warning because of ebola virus outbreak
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Sheriff applauds decision of supervisors to reject civilian oversight With a 3-2 vote, the Board of Supervisors Tuesday prohibited a proposal to create a civilian oversight commission for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, urging advocates to give the inspector general a chance to do his job. In response to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors vote on Civilian Oversight , Sheriff John Scott issued the following statement to the press: “I concur with the Board’s decision regarding civilian
oversight of the Sheriff’s Department. As stated in my June 30, 2014 letter, the best way to respond to concerns of the Board and the public regarding the Department’s operation is to complete the plan and development of the Office of Inspector General before considering the creation and implementation of a potential Citizens’ Oversight Commission. “ Office of Inspector General concurred saying: “I support the Board’s approval of the Office of Inspec-
tor General ordinance, in substantial part. As stated in both my June 2, 2014 and August 1, 2014 letters, we will continue to work with Max Huntsman and his office in an effort to build a climate of trust and transparency within the organization and the public. To that end, we have formed a committee to establish working guidelines to ensure maximum cooperation and have requested a formal County Counsel opinion about legal access to confidential/privileged information.
91 shooting Continued from page 1
is accused of driving next to a pickup truck and shooting at the passenger side window of the truck, where victim 32-year-old Agustin Villegas was seated. Cabrera is accused of murdering the victim by shooting him in the head and then driving away from the scene. The victim and the defendant did not know each other. The Anaheim Police Department (APD) began investigating this case and followed up with leads, which led to the arrest of Cabrera on July 31, 2014. Cabrera is also accused of possessing cocaine at the time of his arrest. The investigation by APD is on-going.
Crime survivors and supporters recognized Continued from page 1
rights and we can work together to give them a voice.” Behind the Badge reported that, since Crime Survivors opened its doors, thousands of violent crime survivors have received help through their services, such as support groups, advocacy, and a place to turn to recover, seek justice and seek healing from those who know what it is like to go through serious trauma. Honorees included the Roosters Foundation for their support of Crime Survivors, law enforcement officials such as Justin Childers and Eric Barnard of the
California Highway Patrol, Karie Davies of Irvine Police Department, Eric Rivas of Santa Ana Police Department, Pam Hardacre of Tustin Police Department, the LA County Sheriffs and their advanced training unit who have exposed thousands to Crime Survivors programs. “I want to thank Patricia and Crime Survivors for honoring me today at this luncheon. I am asked several times by citizens and mostly by people who are in law enforcement why I do the job that I do,” said Hardacre, a 28-year veteran of the Tustin Po-
lice Department who served eight years in major crimes, according to Behind the Badge. “The people who are in law enforcement know the things we see, the people we deal with and the sometimes broken people we try to heal and put back together. It is because I truly love my job and try to give victims a voice when many times, they aren’t able to voice theirs.” Karie Davies told Behind the Badge that she strongly believes “sometimes the people with the worst past, end up with the best futures.” Perhaps the greatest recognition went to the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement for Victim Advocacy, which went to Yolanda Hernandez who despite serious health issues has dedicated her life to compassion and wisdom for victims of crime. At the event, Wenskunas thanked Crime Survivor clients for their courage to speak about being victims of crime. This is true especially for her, as she finds she still cannot speak at length about her experience because it is too painful to talk about. “It is really hard for me to share my story, even now I have days when I simply can’t get out
Wenskunas honors TPD’s Hardacre -Courtesy Photo
of bed,” said Wenskunas, “[...] but I do my part to fight and get my voice back.” Wenskunas also thanked Childers of the California Highway Patrol for his diligence, compassion, and listening patiently to victims. To support the work of the nonprofit, join the event, “Dine and Make a Difference” on Thursday, August 14th 2014, from 3 p.m. -8 p.m. The public can eat lunch or dinner to raise funds for survivors of Orange County. Twenty percent of sales generated (excluding tax and alcohol) will be donated from dine-in and to-go meal purchases to Crime Survivors. Just pop over to Boudin SF, 2803 Main Street, at Main and Jamboree, in Irvine, California.
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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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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 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 control •Improving health communication •Advising embassies •Coordinating with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners •Strengthening Ministries 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, symptomatic person or exposure to objects like needles that have been contami-
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nated 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 accidental 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 will spark your imagination 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 de-
veloped, 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