CAI-NJ July 2019UPDATED

EMERGENCY RESPONSES IN SENIOR COMMUNITIES By Hillary Harding, Residents of Canal Walk Homeowner Association

J ersey City is a leader in adopting vital programs for our times. Not only did they recently adopt a resolution to make it easier to own and run electric vehicles, but in 2016 they also adopted a community-centered approach to saving lives — community-based emergency caregivers (CBECs). After 60 hours of emergency medical responder (EMR) training and armed with defibrillators, oxygen, and rudimentary medical supplies, these CEBCs are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide lifesaving care before the ambulance arrives. The program is called United Rescue and focuses on two significant gaps: disaster surge and remote areas. Senior communities could definitely benefit from such emergency services in the following ways.

Emergency Training The Red Cross offers CPR training, as well as Heimlich Maneuver and defibrillator training to groups. In senior communities, various clubs might be convinced to provide this training. A big issue is how to alert trained caregivers to an emergency. One solution might be to have one rotat- ing list of people on call at all times to take the emergency information and initiate the appropriate response. File of Life These are often available from local police departments, or if not, they can provide information on where to get them. Seniors fill in their medical history, list of medications and emergency contact information and hang the file on

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6/26/19 11:39 AM