Memorial Day 2016

 This is a repeat of a 2011 post that well bears repeating:

Memorial Day has traditionally been celebrated as the beginning of Summer. No, not the actual date summer begins, but the official day when the seasonal holidays start and the barbecues begin, beaches open, playgrounds are filled with children, parks, lakes and pools ring with the laughter and mirth of kids and adults alike. The sweet smoky smell of hot dogs, hamburgers and even marshmallows over a fire waft through the air, an odor that beckons each and every one of us to childhood memories no matter our age.

But wait, somehow, in all of the fun and frivolity, many seem to have forgotten the solemnity and sacred meaning of Memorial Day. What it should mean to every American. Memorial Day is a day set aside each year to remember the fallen warriors of our country; those who made the ultimate sacrifice to give each of us freedom, and the ability to reach out for the American Dream. No, they didn't give you the American Dream, you have to work for that yourself. But they gave their lives to assure you had the freedom to reach out for it, free from oppression, tyranny and grave injustice as is the case in so many other countries.

It doesn't matter whether you call it a war, police action, or what name you pin on combat. Or any other action that places our military men and women in harms way to defend freedom. Men and women gave all so that we might live free. They didn't do it for fame or glory, or a medal to pin on their uniform. Medals usually came too late to shine in a parade; many were laid on rows of caskets at ceremonies in such places as Arlington and Fort Rosecrans. The Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Coast Guardsman, Air Forceman or Merchant Marine never saw the glint of the Silver Star or Purple Heart or other medal in the sun as it laid upon his casket. But the family knew the bravery that he or she displayed many days or weeks or months before this day came to pass.

Most of our fallen warriors did come home, to be interred in their beloved country near family and loved ones. But many didn't and are buried on foreign shores in huge cemeteries, marked by simple crosses and markers, the only remnants of fierce battles, where Americans shed their blood to give freedom to others in a foreign land. They didn't know the people, but knew freedom was as important to them as it is to us. Freedom, the one thing that is perhaps as much important as life itself.

In my humble opinion, the three most important things are life, love and freedom. Without them life is just a bleak and somewhat hopeless experience. With perseverance and luck, many find love, but it takes a very special person willing to lay it all on the line to fight for your freedom. When you realize the warrior doesn't know you, or the individuals they are fighting for in most cases, it makes it even more impressive that they are willing to sacrifice all for others, to give them a chance at a better life.

On this Memorial Day, I will remember my brothers who have fallen in Vietnam, as well as all those who have fallen before, and after, in every war and conflict. I will remember those who have been ravaged by the remnants of war, and who have died as a result of service-connected injuries and illnesses, those who never appear in casualty rolls, but who are casualties just the same.

And some special prayers to several brothers who are very close in my heart today and always will be. Rest well my brothers; we'll all be crossing the bar to join you some day.

And, just in case anyone ever forgets:

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

Seat Belts Save Lives

I know many have heard the above phrase, and most people believe in the value of seat belts. But there are still many who believe that a seat belt will not save them in case of an accident. I can tell you from experience on the job, and personal experience they are DEAD WRONG!

First, let me tell you of my own experience. I was struck broadside by a loaded one ton truck moving at 55 miles per hour that ran a stop light. I had just pulled away from a stop light, and had looked left and right, but never saw her coming. It appeared the driver was distracted and had run the light before this one as well. The collision was so violent that it drove me across two lanes of an off ramp and into a light pole that sheared my vehicle almost in half. My vehicle did not have airbags, but my seat belt was securely fastened.

The impact was so great that it knocked my knees together with bone jarring force, crushed my left shoulder, my head struck the side pillar all with an almost knockout blow (air bags would have minimized that) while the vehicle continued across the road to strike the pole. My actual forward speed when the impact occurred was less than 5 miles per hour so all the force was created by the other vehicle. My vehicle, then a new Explorer, was totaled. The engine sheet metal and parts were wrapped around the top of the engine. The vehicle sustained massive damage.

 But what about me?  I survived and when the paramedics arrived they could not believe my injuries were minimal in light of the overall damage. I underwent surgery for a crushed left shoulder and other non-life threatening injuries, but in just a few weeks I was back on the job, albeit on limited duty for about six weeks.  Had I not had on a seat belt, there is absolutely no question I would have died. The seat belt kept me within the protective "cage" of the vehicle and prevented me from flying out.

Some people think that if they were to end up in the water, they would survive better with no seat belt on. Not true. In my experience with actual crashes, people with seat belts on were far more likely to be able to get out of a vehicle that landed in the water than those who were not. A specific case comes to mind where four young people were riding in a vehicle at high speed and went off into a river. Three of the four were not wearing seat belts and perished. The only one who survived was the one passenger wearing a seat belt. After the vehicle hit the water he was able to remove his seat belt and exit the car through a broken window. The other three had been thrown around the vehicle so violently, we believe they were probably all unconscious after the vehicle hit the water.

Fire? Some people have the notion that in case of a fire following a collision they will be better able to escape without a seat belt. No, doesn't work that way since the likely injuries from not wearing your seat belt, unless you were ejected and died on the pavement, would render you unable to exit the vehicle yourself.

There is no good excuse for not wearing your seat belt. Air bags will not preclude you from being ejected, nor will it stop a rear seat passenger from being thrown so violently forward that they break the neck of the driver or front seat passenger. Or at minimum injure them to the extent they can not exit the vehicle after a crash.

And for those who think a seat belt is too confining, sit in a wheelchair for a few days and think again! You could spend the rest of your life in a confining situation.

Accidents happen and now, with more people ignoring safe driving, texting, talking on the phone or other distracted driving issues, they seem to occur more frequently and with more deaths.

Getting a traffic ticket for not wearing your seat belt might be the best wake up call you ever received.  And the cheapest reminder to buckle up. After the accident and perhaps disabled for life is too late. The "Click It or Ticket" campaign is now in effect and law enforcement will be looking for violations. And, hopefully you will be buckled in and enjoying life as it was intended, accident free and long!

Stay Alive. Click it every time you drive.

Big Pharma and the Opioid Problem

Everyone knows we have a huge drug addiction problem in this country. Millions of pills daily misused, causing hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars in healthcare costs, most not borne by the abuser. And, that pales in comparison to the toll taken by the number of deaths and disabilities caused by overuse and misuse of prescription medications.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, from 1999 to 2014, 165,000 people died from overdoses of prescription opiods. In 2014 alone, over 14,000 deaths were attributed to opioid prescription overdose. Today, at least half of all U.S. opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid.

The most common drugs involved in prescription opioid overdose deaths include:

• Methadone
• Oxycodone (such as OxyContin®)
• Hydrocodone (such as Vicodin®)³

 Some sobering facts:
 
Among those who died from prescription opioid overdose between 1999 and 2014:

• Overdose rates were highest among people aged 25 to 54 years.
• Overdose rates were higher among non-Hispanic whites and American Indian or Alaskan Natives, compared to non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics. 
• Men were more likely to die from overdose, but the mortality gap between men and women is closing.

Overdose is not the only risk related to prescription opioids. Misuse, abuse, and opioid use disorder (addiction) are also potential dangers.

• In 2014, almost 2 million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids.
• As many as 1 in 4 people who receive prescription opioids long term for non-cancer pain in primary care settings struggles with addiction.
• Every day, over 1,000 people are treated in emergency departments for misusing prescription opioids.    

So what constructively is being done to stem the growing problem? Not that much, really. Some things have helped a bit, such as the CURES system that allows providers to cross check those who "doctor shop" to obtain additional prescriptions for opiods. But, that only works if the provider actually checks. Sure, the law says they must check, but do they really? I know some that do but would guess many do not.

Stricter enforcement of illicit sale and distribution of opiods has again been marginally successful. Taking one seller or dealer off the street usually means there is an open spot for yet another dealer. And by dealers, I include those who receive legitimate prescriptions and then sell their pills. Grandma and granddad are not exempt from the drug trade it appears.

Big pharmaceutical companies have manufactured and promoted pain medications, including several companies who have been  prosecuted for selling narcotics without approval for non-cancer pain. That promotion of off-label use has resulted in thousands of deaths, as a result of a new, and more dangerous drug coming on the market, increasing demand by and fueling the illegal usage by abusers. 

That said, people who are actually in constant pain, especially where the pain is going uncontrolled, can have the propensity toward addiction as a result of their continuous use of the drug, and increased dosage to control the pain, as prescribed by a respected medical doctor. Those people will be addicted but not abusers unless they take more than prescribed. In my opinion, there needs to be some logic by the government in separating "addicts" who through no fault of their own are addicted to prescription pain medications due to unrelenting pain, and the "abusers" who simply take medications to get high or do it through illicit channels. Lumping the person who has to live with chronic pain and becomes an "addict" with the abusers is patently unfair. Go after the abusers and those with no real physical need for drugs other than the need they self-created by taking medications illegally, or more than prescribed.  

I don't have an answer but I suppose tighter controls is what we all pay for a system that has allowed doctors to sell prescriptions for massive quantities of medications with virtual impunity. Nothing happens until someone screams foul. And it looks like the government, God forbid, is now calling foul for everyone, including all of the legitimate users, while the illicit drug trade will remain unabated.

Remember, one of the worst things you can ever hear is "We're the government and we're here to help."