More local trauma centers will save lives

The recent findings about our state’s inadequate emergency system are certainly difficult to read about (“Nevada ranks below national average in emergency preparedness, health security,” April 26 Review-Journal). However, it is equally troubling that there is not much in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study that we didn’t already know.

The trends surrounding Nevada’s emergency preparedness were also very apparent in 2014 when the American College of Emergency Physicians determined that we ranked last among all states in our ability to provide emergency care. Undoubtedly, Nevada must make changes to the way we prepare, respond to traumatic injuries and ultimately save lives.

One of the primary tools for enhancing emergency systems are trauma care facilities that have the resources to quickly and expertly treat patients who are critically injured. The Las Vegas Valley has three of these centers, yet it has not added one since 2004, which leaves the overall response system largely obsolete for today’s needs.

Our valley has grown in every which way we can measure — 30 percent growth in population, rising rates of tourism, growth in the outer-lying areas and retirement communities, and plenty of new business activity. To meet the growing challenges, it is critical for the Southern Nevada health board to approve the applications for Level III trauma centers in the northwest and the southwest parts of the valley. If these organizations have the wherewithal to invest their own money in the facilities for the benefit of our communities, it really makes sense to allow it.

Traumatic injuries such as car accidents, sports injuries, falls, firearm wounds, and many more can happen at any time and we must be ready to respond. For this reason, I hope the citizens of the valley join me in calling on the health board to approve the two new trauma centers.

Stavros Anthony

Las Vegas

The writer represents Ward 4 on the Las Vegas City Council.

Watch their lips

The only question left for the November presidential election: Which candidate is the biggest compulsive liar?

With just a little fact checking, you’ll find that neither candidate just fudges or twists the truth — they both compulsively lie, one after another.

Has America made some great choices?

David Jaronik

Pahrump

Move the airport?

And so it happens again …

In his Thursday letter to the editor, Michael Petersen complained about noise from the aircraft departing McCarran International Airport. When this airport was built, it was out in the boonies.

An airport requires workers and these workers require housing and businesses to supply them with everyday goods. The construction industry recognizes this and starts building houses and shopping centers close to the new airport to serve the employees. After time, people start to complain about airport noise.

Airplanes need to take off and land into the wind, especially the larger aircraft. The air traffic controllers select the runway that provides the most lift — wind — for safety.

Obviously some people didn’t take into consideration the proximity to McCarran when they selected their abode. The only options now are to live with the noise, move or move McCarran. Lots of luck on the latter.

Jack Oliver

Las Vegas