Friday, March 13, 1998

High tech, high cost

A "Primetime Live" program last year featured thermal imaging technology, which has a myriad of uses that could revolutionize rescue and firefighting operations.

The downside to high tech is, of course, high cost. With elected officials, city administrators and taxpayers all struggling to meet the day-to-day needs of a community, fire departments are reluctant to request such expensive equipment through the budget process.

After viewing the "Primetime" show, the public's reaction across America has been nothing short of phenomenal. Grassroots fund-raising efforts sprang up, initiated by concerned citizens who wanted to give something back to their fire departments and to their communities.

With Abilene's reputation as a caring city, we were not surprised when Diane Sutter (KTAB) and Andrea Zamora (Mall of Abilene) approached us with the idea of raising funds to purchase TI devices for our community (Rescue-Cam).

A recent letter to the editor suggested our city leaders are unresponsive to department needs because we do not yet have this equipment. I wish to put that misconception to rest by saying our mayor, city council and city manager have continuously been supportive in meeting our needs.

I thank the writer for his support and appreciate his desire to see that our firefighters are properly equipped. However, everyone should understand there is a very good reason the city has not purchased this equipment. We simply have never asked for it.

BOB PUTNAM

Fire Chief

City of Abilene

Behind the times

I would like to echo Fred Owens' March 10 views.

We moved here because we wanted to raise a family in a good community. Abilene is that place. But as a professional firefighter-paramedic in the Dallas area, I am amazed at some of the ways the city of Abilene is behind the times.

There are plenty of fire departments half the size of Abilene or less that have these lifesaving thermal imaging devices and provide other services such as advanced EMS care. Do some comparison shopping, compare the price of one life saved to, let's say, a downtown trolley car. Is there really a comparison?

The administration needs to wake up. Support your fire department and promote progress. The life this device saves just may be yours or your family's.

LEE RICHARDSON

Abilene

Via e-mail

Political priorities

What's wrong with this picture: Firefighters soliciting donations for equipment?

Someone please tell Fred Owens (March 10) that there is no shame among politicians. If the firefighters need new equipment, they need to get a candidate elected to the city council.

Politicians have priorities. Judging from what we are experiencing from the current group, the library gets top billing.

MIKE MURPHY

Abilene

Via e-mail

Free organ donating

When I read articles like the one on March 10 by Ellen Goodman on the subject of organ donations, I keep wondering why the obvious doesn't occur to them.

Human nature being what it is, this could be easily resolved by making it a law that no one can receive an organ unless they are an organ donor in the first place, before they need an organ. Most people would not want to be on a list where they can't receive an organ, so they would sign a donor card. End of problem.

Why not go a step further and make organs free to recipients? I have never understood why organs should be donated while everyone else charges.

JEAN BAUGH

Old Glory

Via e-mail