Unethical practicesJuly 12, 2007Dear Sir,Ask any heavy PLP supporter about the BHC allegations and they’ll use the old “but they were exonerated” line. Investigations were carried out, no one was arrested and the best that people could come up with was that no illegal crime was committed. Of course, some actions could be deemed unethical and due to our antiquated laws, they could have been deemed illegal, but weren’t.

So that’s it. Wipe your hands, sweep it under the rug, clear your mind. Forget that BHC ever happened. It wasn’t illegal, unethical maybe, but that doesn’t matter. Only things that are illegal are worth pursuing. Only things that are illegal deserve admissions of guilt. Only things that are illegal deserve reparations. There’s no need to update our laws to make these things illegal now because they weren’t illegal before.

This is where I draw the very striking line between BHC and another “not illegal, but unethical” practice. Go back and reread the above paragraph replacing PLP with UBP and BHC with slavery.

It wasn’t illegal, only unethical. Does that make it right?

DENIS PITCHER

www.21square.com

A matter of respectJuly 10, 2007Dear Sir,Based on my professional knowledge of etiquette and protocol matters, the recent letter to the editor addressing the issue of standing for the Premier was correct in principle. There are many occasions when a person should stand and in the presence of the head of our country is certainly one of them. Understandably, in a small community like Bermuda we are very much influenced by the fact that we know people personally in addition to other positions they have assumed in life. How we treat them is often dependent on that fact.

It is important though, that we recognise there is a separation of the two and treat them accordingly. When we stand for the Premier we are recognising and showing respect for the office that he or she represents. It would be the same for the President of the United States, the Queen of England or any other person in a similar position. There are numerous others to whom we should extend this sign of respect though for the sake of simplicity I only address the topic of the letter in the July 10, 2007 Royal Gazette.

The ‘International Association of Protocol Consultants’ provides up to date and current information on such matters and they confirm that the precedent of standing for officials such as those mentioned has not changed. I sincerely doubt that it ever will. One of the ways we instil this lesson of respect for authority is at an early age by insisting children stand when adults enter the room.

Understanding and adhering to rules, be they rules of law, of our homes, or of protocol, serve to eliminate chaos by bringing order and civility to society>

TRUDY SNAITH

Somerset

Sign of disrespect?July 10, 2007Dear Sir,Perhaps Glenn Jones (Letters to the Editor, July 9) who appears so keen that people stand up for the Premier could explain why so many people choose not to stand for the National AntheB>

CHRISTOPHER LEACH

London, England <$>

Lifeguards defendedJuly 12, 2007

Response Royal Gazette Story: Tourist Dies after snorkelling, published Thursday, July 12, 2007Dear Sir,The Lifeguard Service, within the Department of Parks, under the Ministry of the Environment, Telecommunications and E-Commerce would like to respond to the allegations contained in the above referenced article as well as similar allegations that were broadcast on VSB radio today.

First, the entire Department would like to offer condolences to the victim’s family and convey their sadness at his untimely passing. Our thoughts and sympathies are with them.

Concerning the article, there are several inaccuracies that were reported based on the accounts of two visitors, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Nicholls, who were at John Smith’s Bay at the time of the incident.

The article states: When the man fell, Mr. Nicholls with the help of two other men, managed to pull him back from the water. Then Mr. Nicholls and a doctor on the beach began CPR. He said: “A doctor who is from the hospital was doing the CPR and I was working with the defibrillator. I’m an ex-cop so I have some training with these devices.”

Furthermore the article states: The Nicholls’ (sic) family praised the response by Emergency Services, but were upset by what they perceived as a lack of interest and training on behalf of the lifeguards. “That was quite a response with four Police cars and an ambulance. They came so quickly, basically when the lifeguards got there,” Mrs. Nicholls’ (sic) added.

“We were waving on the lifeguards and they just gave a sign saying one minute and then had to put on their t-shirts before they came down the beach. And then they didn’t know how to use the defibrillator.R<$>

Mr. Editor, these comments are false and misleading and serve only to sensationalise the story and call into doubt the qualifications and effectiveness of the Bermuda Lifeguard Service.

Mr. Editor, the facts of the incident that can be released at this time are as follows:

At approximately 2.10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2007, the two lifeguards on duty at John Smith’s Bay where alerted to a man on the beach complaining of a leg cramp. The guard in the tower at the time hoisted the out of tower flag and grabbed the medical bag and proceeded to where the man was on the beach. Upon arrival he was met by a gentleman identifying himself as an MD and some other onlookers.

At this point the victim had lain down and the MD had already begun chest compressions, the lifeguard began to check for a pulse, executed the head tilt chin lift and began rescue breathing in conjunction with the chest compressions in progress. The lifeguard issued 2 breaths per every 30 compressions. At the end of the first cycle it was observed that there was foam coming from his nose and around the mouth. The man was subsequently put into the recovery position to assist with clearing his airway. After checking his airway CPR was continued again with oxygen also administered.

Both the MD and the lifeguard continued 2-man CPR for another 3-4 cycles as well as administration of oxygen. The MD attempted to obtain a pulse from the victim’s femoral artery, but was unable to find a pulse.

The second lifeguard on duty retrieved the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) from the response kit and connected the pads for AED monitoring.

Once the AED was attached to the victim to analyse his cardiac rhythm, the device indicated no shock was required and to continue with CPR. CPR was continued and shortly after Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel from King Edward Memorial Hospital arrived on the scene. CPR was continued with EMS personnel administering nitrogen and they attached their defibrillator to the victim, at which time they got the same response as previously, that no shock should be administered and to continue CPR.

Once the AED was attached by EMS personnel, the device indicated that the victim’s heart had gone Asystole or flat lined and was absent of electrical activity. This is why the two separate AEDs used by the both the lifeguard and the EMS personnel advised that no shock should be administered, and to continue CPR.

It should also be noted that the AED used during this incident is brand new. New AEDs were purchased for all lifeguard towers from the Bermuda Red Cross to meet new standards.

The lifeguards and EMS personnel then put the individual on the stretcher and strapped him in, gathered additional assistance and took him across the beach to the waiting EMS Unit.

The EMS unit arrived back at King Edward, where the victim was sadly pronounced dead at approximately 3 p.m.

Mr. Editor, Mr. Nicholls did not aid in efforts to resuscitate the victim and contrary to the story in your newspaper, Mr. Nicholls did not operate the AED at any time. He did try to assist the lifeguard in taking the AED out of the lifeguard back pack.

Mr. Editor, contrary to the story in your newspaper, the lifeguards were attending to the victim before the Emergency Medical Services arrived on the scene, and did not arrive “—basically when the lifeguards got there,” as alleged by Mrs. Nicholls. The Lifeguards and the doctor were performing CPR, administering oxygen and had the AED attached to the victim’s chest before EMS arrived.

Further, when the initial report was made at the tower to the lifeguard on duty, the victim was identified as suffering from leg cramps and was fully conscious on the beach. The guard signalled to the person making the report that he acknowledged the report, proceeded inside the tower, placed on his shirt and collected the oxygen, AED back pack and the first aid bag and kicked the flag off the tower. The flag is rolled up on the platform and then drapes over the front side when kicked off which is a signal to the guard in the water that they have left the tower to deal with an incident. Sometime between the lifeguard leaving the tower and him arriving at the position of the victim, the victim had gone into cardiac arrest.

Mr. Editor, the allegation in your newspaper that: “they (the lifeguards) didn’t know how to use a defibrillator.”is simply untrue, and an insult to the entire lifeguard service in Bermuda. The lifeguards involved in this incident, and indeed all lifeguards working on Bermuda’s beaches where lifeguards are stationed, are fully trained and know how to properly use an AED.

The men and women who serve as lifeguards in the Bermuda Lifeguard Service are all required to undergo training and pass tests in lifeguard qualifications, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator, administration of oxygen and first aid before they can serve as a lifeguard in Bermuda.

What happened at John Smith’s Bay on Wednesday, July 11, was an unfortunate incident that took a very serious turn. There was nothing indicating the gentleman having any significant problems when the initial report of a complaint of a leg cramp was made. The gentleman was on the beach at the time his situation changed. Nobody could have predicted the final outcome. The lifeguards are all fully trained and responded appropriately to the information given and what they found upon arrival on sc.

LISA-DAWN JOHNSTON

Director of Parks<$>

Witness was accurateJuly 13, 2007Dear Sir,My sister and I were two of the tourists on John Smith Beach who witnessed the tragic event, which occurred on July 11. We were sitting on the beach very close to the victim as everything unfolded. In fact, we moved further back on the sand to give room to those directly involved in the rescue effort. After reading the article in The Royal Gate <$>(“Police identify dead American swimmer” July 13, 2007), I would like to comment on some of the facts that were presented.

Two individuals did everything possible to revive the man who had collapsed on the beach. One was a doctor and one was a retired police officer from New York.

Both men began CPR immediately once they realised what had happened.

One of them alerted someone to call 911 and at that point the two lifeguards came onto the scene. Both lifeguards were present and one did run back very quickly to the lifeguard station for equipment, however, it was the two gentlemen on the beach who did everything possible for the man in distress. It was very clear that these two individuals knew what needed to be done and proceeded to do so in a very professional manner.

Neither of the lifeguards did the compressions or the rescue breathing. The man was lying on the beach before the guards arrived. There was no flag set out at the station nor did I hear any comments about leg cramps.

The story as reported by the Nicolls was accurate according, to my recollection and that of my sister.<$>

Neither of us believe that their account was “sensationalised”. Although they noted that the ambulance arrived quickly, I thought the response time was slower than I would have expected.

Before I left the beach, I did tell both the doctor and the ex-police officer that they had done a good job. The lifeguards, although present, did not take a major role in the rescue operation as reported in The Royal Gtte <$>article.

My sister and I offer our sincere sympathies for the victim’s family.

BOB DRAGINDA AND BARBARA MAY HOWSE

Edmonton,berta<$>Make Southlands a parkJuly 10, 2007Dear Sir,When the Government made multi-million dollar commitments to cricket and soccer it was clear they were serious about investing in the future of Bermudians. I am wondering why they can’t take that same kind of logic and apply it to the current Southlands situation.

I, like most Bermudians, welcome the positive news regarding tourism and agree we need to make improvements to the product if the success is going to continue. However, there are enough projects in the works to meet the current forecasts. Hotel projects in the pipeline include the former Club Med, Tucker’s Point, Lantana, the Hilton project at Ariel Sands, the former Banana Beach site, just to name a few. Is one more really necessary?

I also understand the need for the current owners of the Southlands property to make a profit; after all we are a highly capitalistic country. Why can’t the Government, in partnership with the private sector if necessary, purchase the property at a fair price and turn the property into a national park. This would be an investment for countless generations of Bermudians.

Most of us know what happens when we supply more hotel rooms than demand dictates; properties such as the former Club Med, the former Banana Beach, the former Bermudiana Hotel, and Lantana lay derelict for years and become useless eyesores. If we go forward with the current Southlands, and it doesn’t work out (no business plan is guaranteed); we will not be able to reverse the process and return that area of Warwick to the pristine, untouched land that we have all taken for granted along that stretch of South Shore.

K. SMITH

St. George’sWhere’s the $11 million?July 11, 2007Dear Sir,Like most people I want to know ‘What happened to the $11 million for the Bridge?’

That Bridge is very, very important to the Airport and the rest of the island in more ways than one. It’s been a long time since we had that money and no NEW bridge? We have the moneso ...

DEVONSHIRETimely comments July 16, 2007Dear Sir,Some observations that seem timely!“Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary” — Robert Louis Stevenson.

“If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens,how incapable must man be of learning from experience!” George Bernard Shaw

“In our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either.” — Mark Twain

“I don’t make jokes; I just watch the government and report the facts.” — Will Rogers

“The wolf and the sheep understand the word ‘freedom’ differently.” — Abraham Lincoln

“If it were not for the government, we should have nothing left to laugh at in France.” — Nicholas Chamfort

“Thou shalt not be found out.” — Ajoculas eleventh commandment)HOW APT!

City oamilton<$>Health questionJuly 12, 2007Dear Sir,Since they aren’t digging up a national park, does that mean we aren’t getting a hospital that they said we urgently needed?

CURIOUS

Pembroke