RECAP: Port Washington Crisis Relief Team's Annual Meeting

The Port Washington Crisis Relief Team (PWCRT) held an annual meeting on Wednesday, February 3 at the Port Washington Public Library.

Key discussion topics during the meeting were:
- Board president Rob Seiden’s summary of PWCRT’s accomplishments for the year, which include smoke detector installations, CPR training and a blood drive in conjunction with the Red Cross;
- NYS Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel discussion about LIPA’s Critical Care Program, which identifies residents with medical needs that require electricity (e.g., respirators, hemodialysis, apnea monitors, etc);
- Guest speaker, Joel Ziev, Ed.D, discussed the needs of the elderly and disabled (including vision and hearing) during emergencies. Although there are emergency messaging systems in place, the deaf, for example, cannot hear them. A community-based identification and follow up system would help, but much more is needed from government and community leaders;
- Leg. DeRiggi-Whitton announced that a Narcan training session has been confirmed for Port Washington on June 1 at Schreiber. Easily administered as a nasal mist, Narcan can save lives from heroin and other opiate overdoses.

For more information about the Port Washington Crisis Relief Team, including volunteer opportunities, visit pwcrisisrelief.org.

For information about LIPA’s Critical Care Program, visithttp://www.lipower.org/newscent…/…/2012/060412-critical.html.