After hearing public concerns over slow emergency response times, the county Fire Commission on Tuesday launched a discussion on public versus private medical response services.
The seven-member appointed body also considered the potential advantage of the county’s having its own helicopter for emergencies rather than contracting mostly with island tour companies.
The Kaua‘i Fire Department provides first-responder [...]

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Includes Video
With the sudden death of Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste, who was recovering from bypass surgery, some may wonder what happens during this medical procedure. The thought of a surgeon cutting into your beating heart makes many people squirm. And some may think its a last resort to treat heart problems.
But this procedure is a [...]

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The mayor of Kauai has a heart bypass performed on Oahu
Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste is “his usual feisty self” after heart bypass surgery Friday, Kauai public information officer Mary Daubert said yesterday.
Baptiste, 52, went in for a routine checkup last week, and doctors apparently did not like what they saw.
“They recommended he go for surgery,” [...]

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Nationwide, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters each year. The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. This [...]

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Alcohol and marijuana still the substances of choice
Colin Mathews, the 15-year-old who died after taking an unconfirmed amount of OxyContin on March 28, was not the only one in his circle of friends misusing prescription medications.
From ‘friend’ entries on his MySpace page, it appears the pain killer morphine; attention deficit pills Adderall, Focalin and Dexedrine; [...]

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A visitor hiking the Na Pali Coast yesterday sustained injuries and had to be evacuated by Air 1 rescue helicopter.
“We received a call around 4 p.m. from a male hiker saying there was an injured female in the Hanakoa Valley,” said Mary Daubert, Kaua‘i County spokesperson.
Emergency personnel dispatched from Lihu‘e in the chopper to evacuate [...]

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