Increased Reality of Citizen’s Role

August 19, 2005

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Carol Spizzirri SALF Pres/Founder -
Daniel H. Winship M.D/CEO
J. Stoger Hosp. Chg. Cook County, IL
Commission Joseph Mario Moreno.

Cook County, Illinois Commissioner, Joseph Mario Moreno summoned a meeting between Cook County’s John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital CEO, Dr. Daniel Winship and Save A Life Foundation’s President and Founder, Carol Spizzirri to discuss the need for Cook County citizens, especially schoolchildren to be trained to assist and aid during life-threatening emergencies before EMS arrives.

During the meeting Spizzirri stated "Given that our nation's emergency responders per capita consists of 1 firefighter for every 280 people, 1 police officer for every 385 people, and 1 EMT/paramedic for every 325 people it is unlikely that 1% of emergency responders per capita during a large-scale catastrophic disaster, whether it is natural, accidental or man-made acts of terrorism would have the capability nor means to respond fast enough to accommodate the needs of all who were injured."

The meeting ended with suggestions on how to best prepare Cook County residents, including schoolchildren for emergencies using an approach that will support the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff’s National Preparedness Vision; to engage all members of the U.S. including Federal, State, local and tribal entities and private and non-governmental partners with a strong focus on the general public to achieve and sustain risk-based target levels of capability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from major events in order to minimize the impact on lives, property, and the economy.

Commissioner Moreno closed stating "Those who are Cook County vendors need to be an example by financially participating in arming our children and their workforce with life supporting skills."