Alcor News Bulletin
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Number 6: January 21st, 2003
Training Sessions Commence March 1st.
Alcor is scheduling a comprehensive six-day training session
for any of our members who would like to learn the basics of
field work. This is an exceptional opportunity to receive
free state-of-the-art information about our current methods
of human cryopreservation. We urge all Alcor members to
consider taking a few days to learn how to intervene in a
health emergency, how to minimize postmortem brain damage,
and how to administer vital medications.
Since space is limited, we urge you to sign up as quickly as
possible. You don't have to sign up for the entire six days
of training, so long as you begin with the first session.
Prior experience is not required. Below is the preliminary
teaching schedule. Each day consists of three hours of
instruction, a one-hour lunch break, and three more hours of
instruction including a short written test. An exception is
the initial Saturday, when we will commence later to allow
people from distant locations time to arrive.
Students will receive one credit for each day they complete
successfully. The credits will entitle you to dues
reductions, and you will receive additional compensation if
you participate in a future standby. Dues reductions and
standby payments are tabulated below.
Proposed Teaching Schedule:
Saturday, March 1st.
Commencing 4 PM: Two sessions of two hours each, separated
by a one-hour break for dinner. Basic concepts in
standby/transport work. Methods for cooling the patient.
Medications sequence, medication purposes, cardiopulmonary
support, oxygen, blood washout, transportation. Recommended
contents for an overnight travel kit for transport team
members.
Sunday, March 2nd.
Commencing 9 AM: Two sessions of three hours each, separated
by a one-hour break for lunch. Assessing vital signs of a
patient before legal death. Interacting with family members
and hospital personnel. Blood saturation, pulse, blood
pressure, other indicators. Pronouncement of death. Ambu bag
application, CO2 detector, use of oxygen, use of Thumper
and/or Cardio-Pump. DuaLogR use and temperature probe
placement. Entering data on Alcor patient-data forms.
Monday, March 3rd.
Commencing 9 AM: Two sessions of three hours each, separated
by a one-hour break for lunch. Intubation, gastric tube
placement, IV placement (central and peripheral), blood
washout equipment (ATP).
Tuesday, March 4th.
Commencing 9 AM: Two sessions of three hours each, separated
by a one-hour break for lunch. Logistical and legal issues
regarding transport of human remains. Legal aspects of
anatomical donation. DNR orders and other medical issues.
Techniques for cooperation with hospitals and mortuaries.
Ischemic injury. Tradeoffs between time, temperature, and
medication. Decision-making in the field.
Wednesday, March 5th.
Commencing 9 AM: Two sessions of three hours each, separated
by a one-hour break for lunch. Fundamentals of infection
control. Mechanisms of disease transmission. First-aid
response to possible infection. Fundamentals of cryobiology
and cryoprotectants. Mechanisms of cell injury and cell
death.
Thursday, March 6th.
Commencing 9 AM: One session of four hours. Recent
developments--an itemized list of revisions and enhancements
which have been made during the past two years. Future
developments--a collaborative brainstorming session in which
students and staff will swap ideas in an effort to refine
and improve our procedures.
For Those who Took Previous Courses:
We are reverting to the old "Alcor Cryotransport Technician"
appelation (ACT). The term "Alcor Donor Recovery Team" was
never widely used and, while it was strictly accurate, it
had the potential to create a misleading impression among
health professionals.
If you took a previous training course you can receive free
credits without attending the new training sessions,
provided you have demonstrated and practiced your skills
during 2002. Please contact Charles Platt at
if you have ACT status which you want to maintain, and you
feel you should receive free credits.
If you are not eligible for free credits, you must receive
new training to maintain your ACT status. If you cannot
attend the course commencing March 1st, you will be given
an opportunity to attend another course later this year.
Discounts and Standby Participation Fees:
In the future, for each three-month period in which you have
been available as a transport technician, you will receive a
discount on your next three months of membership dues: 20%
basic discount plus an additional 10% discount for each
credit that you have earned. Thus, for any student who earns
credits on all six days of the training week, the total
cumulative discount would be 80%.
Any ACT who participates in a subsequent standby will
receive travel and lodging expenses plus daily participation
fees as follows: For the first day on standby, $120 plus an
additional $20 for each credit you have earned. For each
subsequent day on standby, $80 plus an additional $20 for
each credit you have earned.
Instructors:
Instructors will include Todd Soard, a paramedic who has
participated in cryonics cases and runs a teaching program
in Florida; Tanya Jones, a former team leader with almost
unmatched experience in field work; David Hayes, who played
an indispensable role in several cases during 2002; Larry
Johnson, a nationally licensed paramedic who is joining
Alcor as our future team leader; Jeff Kelling, a surgical
technician with 20 years of experience in the operating
room; Steve Rude, a mortician and former perfusionist; and
Charles Platt, director of suspension services at Alcor.
A Unique and Beautiful Location:
All the classes will be held at the Creekside Preserve,
owned and operated by former Alcor director David Pizer.
This beautiful retreat is located in wild country about one
hour north of Phoenix. We have negotiated exceptionally low
lodging rates with Dave, with all meals included.
For two people in one room, with two beds or with one
king-size bed: $49 each. (Some rooms also contain a jacuzzi.
These will be made available to couples on a first-come
first-served basis at no extra charge.)
For one person in one room with a king-size bed and no
jacuzzi: $75.
For one person in one room with a king-size bed plus a
jacuzzi: $85.
Remember, these rates include all meals! We will have low-
fat and vegetarian options for guests who require them, so
long as you let us know in advance.
Transport to Creekside Preserve will be via shuttle-bus
services that operate direct from Phoenix Sky Harbor
International Airport. These services run approximately
every hour. Alcor will reimburse you for the cost of the
service. The only cost to you is your air fare to Phoenix
and the per-day rate at Creekside Preserve. If you complete
all six days of training successfully, your subsequent
membership dues discounts will substantially offset the cost
of attending the course.
This announcement will be circulated by mail to the whole
Alcor membership in the near future. Subscribers to Alcor
News are receiving notification before anyone else. Please
take advantage of this information and register for the
training session as soon as possible.
How to register:
1. Reserve space by emailing Paula Lemler ()
or by calling her at Alcor: 480 905 1906 extension 101.
Specify which kind of room you want, and the the number of
people. If you are a single person who would like to share
a two-bed room with another guest, we can try to arrange
this for you. Reservations will be held until February 14th.
2. Before February 14th, you must confirm your reservation
with a $200 deposit (or equivalent amount in foreign
currency). This deposit will be refunded to you in full as
soon as you arrive for the training. We request a deposit
only because we need to be sure that each student definitely
intends to be at the training sessions. If you do not show
up for training, your deposit will not be refunded. Send
your deposit to Alcor Foundation, Attention Paula Lemler, at
7895 East Acoma Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
After you have made your initial reservation, you will
receive additional materials giving full details of the
training and the location.
Alcor is augmenting its standby team with professionally
qualified medical staff, but we will still depend on people
like you in an emergency. You can help other Alcor members,
and encourage them to help you, by taking this training
course. Please call Paula today to make your reservation.
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Alcor Realigns Southern California Rescue Team
from Dr. Jerry Lemler
Following a series of meetings on Friday, January 17th, 2003
in Torrance, California, Alcor management has decided to
realign its Southern California Project FutureBound Rescue
Unit.
Alcor Board Advisor and Ombudsman, Dr. Robert Newport,
chaired the deliberations, and participants included
President/CEO Dr. Jerry Lemler, Chairman of the Board Dr.
Michael Riskin, Board Member Hugh Hixon, and Southern
Califonia team members Russell Cheney and Todd Huffman.
The changes will take place immediately, as Bobby June and
Todd Huffman have accepted the role of Co-Coordinators for
the unit. Additionally, Alcor Southern California rescue
equipment has been relocated to Todd Huffman's secure
residence. This shift of responsibilities will allow Russell
Cheney to move into the role of Southern California Team
Training Officer.
It was reaffirmed that all Southern California personnel
will report directly to Director of Suspension Services,
Charles Platt.
The process of streamlining the collecting, transporting,
refurbishing, restocking, and redistributing equipment for
the Southern California Unit following a Standby Operation
was also discussed, and, in the future, Alcor Central
pledges to facilitate and implement a more expeditious
system.
Alcor News is written primarily by Charles Platt.
Contents are copyright 2003 by Alcor
Foundation but permission is granted to reprint any whole
news item, so long as Alcor is credited as the source and
the reprint includes our URL at http://www.alcornews.org.
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