Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Tuesday, November 10, 1998
Kokua Line
After they passed the "compassionate care only" law a few years ago, I started wearing a CCO bracelet. But at least twice when I was in pre-op getting ready for surgery, the nurses asked me to remove it. I refused. They then asked me what it was for. I am amazed that even pre-op nurses didn't know about this! Police will be informed
about CCO braceletsNow, with the proliferation of heart defibrillators being used by police and others, I wonder if they will be briefed on what CCO signifies, which is "compassionate care only." If I have another heart attack and someone calls an ambulance, the medics are not to resuscitate me and are only permitted to administer oxygen and painkillers.
Can you verify that police will be so advised of these provisions prior to using defibrillators on someone wearing the bracelet?
Yes, they will.
The Honolulu Police Department hopes to equip officers with about 90 portable defibrillators within a few months. Officers will be trained by a doctor who has been training firefighters, said Honolulu Fire Department administrative officer Edward Lee.
According to HFD's operating procedures, "Patients who are diagnosed terminally ill may be authorized by their physician to wear a CCO-DNR necklace or bracelet," Yee said.
CCO-DNR stands for Comfort Care Only-Do Not Resuscitate.
"If their breathing or heart stops or is about to stop, they will receive comfort care, such as oxygen, medication for pain, suctioning of oral secretions and other comfort measures, but will not receive resuscitation efforts."
What was a state car, a white Chevrolet station wagon, doing at a house on Pohakupuna Road in Ewa Beach at 3:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4.
The state worker driving the car was visiting a client in a house across the street from the address you provided. The case manager was checking in on a licensed foster home for adults and children, according to Patricia Heu, acting division chief for the state Developmental Disabilities Division, which investigated your complaint.
If you have any questions about a state vehicle, call the state Automotive Management Division, 586-0343.
As an Army retiree, I paid in blood during three wars for facilities such as Fort DeRussy. Why was half of it roped off for a private event on Oct. 28?
The area makai of Kalia Road, between the hotel and the Army Museum, was closed 5-10 p.m. Oct. 26 and Oct. 28 because it was being rented by the Oracle Group for a reception featuring the Steve Miller Band and the Manhattan Transfer, said Hale Koa general manager John Jefferis.
In the mid-1980s, Fort DeRussy was designated as the Armed Forces Recreation Center of the Pacific. That meant the hotel and adjacent area has to be maintained with money generated by the operation of the hotel, not with taxpayer dollars, Jefferis said.
The Oracle Group, a software company, paid the hotel $100,000 for the reception, which was attended by 3,400 people, he said. It was the biggest reception to date and was partly catered by the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
"It was a good venture for us, the City and County of Honolulu and Waikiki," Jefferis said.
Others interested in renting the grounds should call the hotel.
Tax volunteers needed
The American Association of Retired Persons is looking for people to volunteer four hours a week to help older people with their tax returns as part of the Tax-Aide Program. No experience necessary. Call Earle Gates at 396-4846 or John Renn, 623-1571 before Nov. 15.
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
