Letters
Heart Association pleads for passage of mandatory defibrillator bill

As American Heart Association volunteers, board members, physicians and concerned New Jersey residents, we urge support and passage of New Jersey Senate Bill S-2567. If passed, this legislation could, over time, save untold numbers of New Jersey lives by requiring all health clubs and fitness centers to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on site and staff properly trained to use AEDs.

According to a study published in “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association,” health clubs and fitness centers are among the top 10 public places with the highest occurrence of sudden cardiac arrest (“sudden death”), which is different than a heart attack. In March 2002, a joint scientific statement from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association urged fitness clubs throughout the country to install defibrillators (AEDs) and train staff to use them.

The American Heart Association has called sudden cardiac arrest a major unresolved public health issue. Sudden cardiac arrest — sometimes referred to as sudden death — is the number one cause of death in this country. The American Heart Association estimates at least 250,000 people die every year from sudden cardiac arrest. Few victims of cardiac arrest survive after 10 minutes. The national survival rate from cardiac arrest is approximately 8 percent. Surviving cardiac arrest is all about “time.”

The number of Americans who exercise regularly at fitness clubs has increased steadily in recent years, as has their age. It’s time for all New Jersey health clubs and fitness centers to be better prepared for cardiac and other medical emergencies. The American Heart Association is aware of at least seven documented lives that have been saved in New Jersey during the past four years at health clubs and fitness centers equipped with an AED program. However, those health clubs/fitness center are in the minority in the Garden State. The vast majority of clubs are not prepared with defibrillator programs.

The cost to purchase a defibrillator — once $3,500 or more — has now dropped below $1,500, making AEDs affordable for nearly everyone. A commercial treadmill might cost $4,500-$8,000. Surely the cost of saving a life is worth the investment of an AED. New Jersey’s public access defibrillation legislation — signed into public law March 8, 1999 — features Good Samaritan immunity, which provides immunity from liability to individuals and organizations that act in good faith while using an AED or implementing an AED program in an attempt to save a life.

Surviving sudden cardiac arrest is all about time. The goal of the American Heart Association is that for anyone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, early 9-1-1, early CPR and early defibrillation will occur in the first five minutes before brain damage begins. Residents deserve proper safety and protection in their health clubs. We urge swift passage of Senate Bill S-2567. Help strengthen New Jersey’s chain of survival and improve the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest.

Dr. Poonam Alaigh and

Dr. Perry Weinstock

presidents

American Heart Association, North Jersey region

board of directors and

South Jersey region

board of directors, respectively

Elect O’Neil, Rhodes to council

After this year’s primary election, Democratic Councilman Carlo Socio said “I am glad this is over. It’s time to get back to business as a Democratic Party — we are going to do our best in the future and continue to be one party and work for the good of this party.” What about working for the good of the taxpayers of North Brunswick that pay your salary?

On Oct. 26, 2000, when Socio ran for Township Council, he said, “A one-party government is shortsighted and makes bad decisions. We have seen how one-party government works in North Brunswick. We need to balance to make sure history does not repeat itself.” Socio is absolutely right as far as a one-party system. We had a one-party Democratic-controlled, rubber-stamp mayor and council for many years in North Brunswick.

This November, the residents have a chance to change the one-party rule we now have by electing Republican candidates Thomas O’Neil and Claude Rhodes. They will bring balance to the council and make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, as Socio said when he ran for council.

In his retirement speech, Democrat Sen. Bill Bradley said, “Politics is broken, and people have lost faith in the political process.” North Brunswick residents can help to restore that faith by having a much-needed two-party government for North Brunswick. Remember what the all-Democratic council said when they ran for office. Give them what they asked for.

Mary Salva

North Brunswick

Fed cuts offset state’s efforts on affordable housing

I am writing concerning the affordability of housing in New Jersey. Homeowners in New Jersey have benefited from the real-estate boom, as skyrocketing home values have provided them with rising home equity. However, the flipside to this equation is that more and more families cannot find affordable housing in New Jersey, which is now the third most expensive state in which to live.

The National Low-Income Housing Coalition estimates that in New Jersey the average household requires a yearly salary of $42,000 to rent a “fair-market” apartment. But the state Department of Labor reports that more than one-third of New Jersey workers earn less than $25,000 a year. Most new jobs created here in the next 10 years will pay near or under that amount.

Unfortunately, the Bush administration has not only turned a blind eye to this problem, it has actually continued to cut Section 8 funding for affordable housing on a yearly basis. The federal government’s cuts have offset New Jersey’s attempts to address the need for affordable housing.

New Jersey is one of the few states that recognizes affordable housing as a constitutional right. Unfortunately, the need for affordable housing is not being met. New Jersey must address this problem so that the less fortunate are not left behind by our state’s rising property values. Concerned citizens can start by contacting their representatives in Congress and asking them to oppose continued cuts in Section 8 funding.

Eddie Konczal

Monroe

Let’s get politicians working for the people of the state

Oh, it is so easy to say, “cut state and local spending.” OK, let us cut 10 or 15 percent across the board. Education, roads, services to the poor, sick and elderly. Take away many benefits from the state employees and do not go after the millions upon millions that New Jersyans owe, or try to hide from the state and counties. By the way, do you know that in our state there are about 200 enclaves called boroughs? They are basically based on personal snobbery, costly in the millions and of little value.

Yes, there are many ways where we can either get more for the dollar spent, make changes in our spending by forcing joint large purchases, school designs, where deviations are paid by local taxpayers, greater purchase of hybrid cars, and to get more involved by government in the use and making of renewable energy.

There are so many ways that we can help ourselves, but one has to stop complaining, and stand up, speak loud and clear to the politicos, who usually have their hearing aid in the off position. Work as our representatives, not as a politico. Every day we see a few more in handcuffs. The time has arrived. Either you listen and do an honest job, or get out.

Milton M. Itell

Lakewood