San Bernardino Press MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2014 - AUGUST 17, 2014
sanbernardinopress.com
VOLUME 1, NO. 15
San Bernardino students ready for school Man killed in by Vickie Vértiz flash flood at Mount Baldy
-Photo by Terry Miller
While many Inland Empire students are still swimming in public or home pools and enjoying their summer vacation, schools in San Bernardino City Unified (SBCUSD) and other districts started their academic years Monday,
August 4. Hundreds of students showed up ready to learn with a renewed excitement about what the school year, new friends, and new teachers will have to offer. The San Bernardino Sun reported that SBCUSD opened
a new school, the H. Frank Dominguez Elementary, while it renamed Little Mountain Elementary to Bob Holcomb Elementary, named after the longest-serving Please see page 4
Audiojack: A breakthrough in education which takes our imagination to another level 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 semicircle 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
by Jennifer schlueter focus on our imagination so we could create a story along with the sound movie. As soon as the room got quiet, I listened to my first Audiojack - an “audio-based movie with no words, no music, no video, only sounds,” as the website describes it. I heard rain, doors squeaking, footsteps, horses trotting over cobble stones, someone running through grass, etc. - at least, these were images my mind produced according to these sounds. After a second play of the Audiojack,
we were asked to write down the story our imagination had sparked, and after the third, we had time to refine our stories. I had thought about a girl in 19th century France watching a guy running away from someone. Secretly, she followed him into a cave, where an unknown creature tried to harm the intruders; however, they got away. “Is anyone willing to share their story?” David wanted to Please see page 2
On Sunday the San Gabriel Mountains experienced heavy rainfall and created a “flash flood” condition that overflowed Bear Canyon Creek, Mt. Baldy. Joohwan Lee, a 48 yearold resident of El Segundo, was driving northbound on Bear Canyon Road when his vehicle was caught in the flash flood. The force of the mud and debris pushed his vehicle 200 feet south on Bear Canyon Road where it then came to rest against a tree. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies patrolling nearby located Joohwan Lee’s vehicle, and with the assistance of the San Bernardino County Fire Department, Joohwan Lee was extricated. However, Joohwan Lee succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department San Dimas Sheriff’s Station responded and assumed control of the investigation. The Los Angeles County Department of Coroner, who identified Joohwan Lee, is yet to determine the exact cause of death. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department San Dimas Sheriff’s Station, Sergeant Rodriquez, at (909) 450-2700. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
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Holden asks governor to declare state of emergency in LA and San Bernardino County Last Wednesday, assemblymember Chris Holden (DPasadena) asked Governor Jerry Brown to declare parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties disaster areas following a weekend of fierce storms that caused millions of dollars in damages in foothill and mountain communities. Preliminary reports indicate extensive damage to homes, roads and property across both counties. In the mountain communities of Mt. Baldy, ten to 15 homes were severely damaged by intense rain and mud that also left one motorist dead. Several businesses were also impacted. In his letter, Assemblymember Holden writes: “Communities in the San Gabriel Mountains were impacted by a once-in-500-year-
rain event that triggered deadly mudslides and millions of dollars in property damage. By issuing a Proclamation of Disaster, these Californians will be able to apply for thousands of dollars in state assistance under the California Disaster Assistance Act.” Assemblymember Holden’s request follows yesterday’s “state of emergency” declarations by both Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties paving the way for state and federal disaster relief. Assemblymember Holden represents the 4st AD communities of Altadena, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, La Verne, San Dimas, Claremont, Mt. Baldy, San Antonio Heights, Rancho Cucamonga and Upland.
Change lives. Make wishes come true.
Education breakthrough Audiojack Continued from page 1
know. Several people raised their hands. All of the sharers stories differed, but some similar aspects could be found. The variety of people’s accounts is the exact point of an Audiojack, according to David. Designing the sound movies, he has his own stories in mind, but always keeps them completely secret, even from his parents. Thus, there is no right or wrong answer, people are eager to share, and surprised how their creativity just flows. This method has proven especially valuable for students and the blind community. They are not afraid anymore to share their thoughts, and happily engage in class. Before Audiojack had become popular, its creator wanted to make sure it would 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 developed, 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.
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Audiojack event at Sonos Studio, Los Angeles. -Courtesy Photo
AUGUST 11, 2014 - AUGUST 17, 2014 | 3
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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 realtime 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.
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mayor of San Bernardino. Even though Inland Empire summers are typically extremely hot and dry, the area received a fair amount of rain earlier in the week, causing flash floods and dangerous conditions throughout the county. The weather was so bad that the state assemblyman whose district includes Mt. Baldy asked Governor
“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 contaminated 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.
The new school year begins Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency for parts of San Bernardino counties after flash flooding damaged homes, businesses, and killed an area man. The rain is much-needed, but the first day of school got an unusually wet start. There was so much rain in some places that Bonnie Oehl Elementary School, for instance, had to move five classrooms be-
cause of flooding, district spokeswoman Maria Garcia told the Sun. At Lankershim Elementary, one portable even flooded, she added. But school officials were thinking fast on their feet. “We swung quickly into action and relocated those students, and overall it was a good start to the school year,” Garcia said. From the Public Broadcasting Service website, here are a few tips for the first days of school: 1. Meet the new teacher: Breaking the ice early on is one of the best ways to get to know each other before the year begins. 2. Tour the school: If your school hosts an open house, be sure to go. 3. Connect with friends: A familiar friend can make all the difference when heading back to school. Refresh these relationships before school starts by scheduling a play date or a school carpool. 4. Tool up: Obtain the class supply list and take a special shopping trip with your child. 5. Avoid last-minute drilling: While it is important to support
learning throughout the summer, don’t spend the last weeks of summer vacation reviewing the curriculum from last year. 6. Ease into the routine: Avoid first-day-of-school mayhem by practicing your routine a few days in advance. Set the alarm clock, go through your morning rituals, and get in the car or to the bus. The following is a first day of school list for the San Bernardino area: •Monday, August 11: Central School District •Wednesday, August 13: Pomona Unified and Redlands •Thursday, August 14: Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified •Monday, August 18: Bonita Unified •Monday, August 25: Chino Valley Unified, Upland Unified. Riverside Unified •Wednesday, August 27: Claremont Unified •Tuesday, September 2: Mt. Baldy Joint School District Have a great first day of school!