Updates – AED and Recycling

A few days ago I realized I needed to do something about the lack of CPR and AED training at work. As I’m not going to be in this position very long (last day is May 9th) I don’t have a whole lot of pull. Still, I felt I must do something to help – the more people that are trained and the availability of an AED in our office may well save someone’s life.

I decided the most appropriate intervention would be to send a letter to the project manager (the biggest big-wig we have locally) explaining the need that I perceived, citing a few facts and suggesting that we allow the Red Cross come in and train us in Adult CPR and AED and that we purchase appropriate equipment. I offered to do all of the footwork myself.

As of today, about twelve days later, I’ve heard nothing. Then again – this is typical of anyone’s communication attempts with our managers.

If someone dies when they could have potentially been saved, I wonder if she or the company is liable?

I’ll make an attempt at a face-to-face with her and see if I can get her into motion on this idea. I think I have a moral responsibility to do this, regardless of how icy my reception is likely to be.

On another note, last night while in my nursing ethics class I noticed that the trash bin was rapidly filling up with recyclable bottles of glass and plastic (and paper). As something of a recycling activist, at the end of class I began pulling all the bottles and cans out of trash and placing them on the table.

People looked at me oddly. Mind you, we all live in an area where recycling is mandatory. All of us recycle in our homes. Yet, somehow, (ironically, during ethics class) we find it reasonable to throw their recyclables into the trash simply because we had no recycling bin?

I don’t get it.

So I emailed the Dean of the school and mentioned the lack of recycling bins and questioned her on the policy the school was operating under. I freely admitted my ignorance of the rules – perhaps the school, like the hospital receives exemption from recycling (an exemption I don’t find reasonable) . I then offered that if there were no policy or if the school was exempted, to purchase a number of bottle, can and paper recycling bins ($350) and haul the junk to the recycling station once a week.

I’m hoping to get a few things out of this – by bringing attention to an obviously bad practice and by my willingness to take it into my own hands I hope to get the school to move forward on a more thoughtful recycling program. I also hope that my being unafraid to speak out about things that I see as needing improvement I encourage others to speak out about things they perceive as needing improvement or at least join me in helping making these small changes.

I hope.

I look forward to hearing what the Dean has to say.