Page 14 - PGA Community News- March '22

Page 14, PGA C.A.N.! March 2022 March 2022
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Fun Fact

Bagpipes In The Fire Service Becoming desperate to earn money to support their families, joyous occasion, just as the ever-present pride and overwhelming
they took the jobs that no one else wanted because it was a dirty, sorrow breaks the firefighter’s heart when hearing the wail of
By Steen Eriksson, Professional Firefighters dangerous and physically demanding way to earn very little Amazing Grace at the funeral for a fallen firefighter killed in the
and Paramedics of Palm Beach County pay and even less respect. They became firefighters and police line of duty.
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, I want to share a bit of the officers. Next time you hear a fire department pipes and drums band,
history of bagpipes in the Fire Service. One of the Irish traditions they brought with them was the please remember just how it came to be such a deep-rooted part
Parades featuring fire department honor guards and pipes and bagpipes. In an effort to keep their traditions alive, the firefighters of our tradition.
drums bands take place across the United States, and especially would play the bagpipes while at work, and over time it became Steen Eriksson,
in the Northeast as part of St. Patrick’s Day festivities. part of the firefighter culture. Community Relations-HOA North,
This often piques the curiosity about the relationship Few things evoke a firefighter’s emotions like the sounds of Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County,
firefighters and police officers have with the bagpipes, and how pipes and drums. Feelings of pride and joy swell a firefighter’s IAFF Local 2928,
it has become part of our tradition. heart when listening to up-tempo Irish and Scottish tunes at a HOAN@iaff2928.com
In the mid-1800s, there was a massive migration of Irish to
the United States, mainly to cities in the Northeast. This was due
largely in part to the potato famine in Ireland prompting people Cardiac Achievements At
to search for a better life.
Initially, the Irish were not welcomed here, and as they Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
searched for jobs, they were usually greeted by signs stating,
“Irish need not apply.”
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, part of the Palm their risk of stroke. Dr. Nishant Patel and Dr. Matthew
Beach Health Network, celebrates a major milestone in the Kolek were the first two physicians to perform this type
Gardens GreenMarket from page 13 history of its cardiac program, as the hospital has completed of procedure.
over 19,000 open-heart surgeries. As the first hospital in One in four adults over the age of 40 will develop A-Fib
Palm Beach County to start an open-heart surgery program, in their lifetime, but this new hybrid procedure is now giving
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center continues to provide people an opportunity to no longer suffer with this disease
innovative, top quality cardiac care to the community. and be able to resume their daily activities. This hospital is
Experience counts, and that is what this achievement at the forefront of new procedures for cardiac care, and our
represents as an important part of the growth of our cardiac community has access to them right here in our backyard.
program for almost 40 years. When it comes to the heart, we Unlike traditional surgical treatments, the LARIAT
remain focused on advancing the level of care we provide to procedure is completed through small punctures in the
our patients by adding some of the newest and latest cardiac skin, so in addition to less pain, the patient benefits from
procedures to our program. a shorter recovery time and less risk of complications.
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center started its open- The Convergent procedure effectively treats patients
heart program in 1983, with cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. with chronic atrial fibrillation. It utilizes radiofrequency
Richard Faro performing the first procedure. Since then, the to block irregular electrical signals by producing lesions,
Artist Steven Swartz with his handmade birdhouses hospital has been recognized nationally for its cardiac care, or scar tissue, on the heart.
and continues to be at the forefront of pioneering some of As the first hospital in Florida to combine these two
the latest medical procedures in the area for heart patients. procedures, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center is
This isn’t just our 1,000th, 5,000th, or even 10,000th invested in making sure patients in our community have
heart surgery. It is our 19,000th, and the success of this access to the very best, and most sophisticated cardiac
program was built upon the experience, skill and dedication treatment in the state. As one of just a handful of centers
of our team to provide the latest cardiac treatments for our performing this new procedure, this treatment will give
patients. We are proud of what we have accomplished so far, people, who in the past have had unsuccessful A-Fib
and we will continue to be here to bring many more firsts to therapies, a new lease on life, and reduce their chance of
the communities we serve. suffering a stroke.
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center is also the first Other cardiac achievements of the hospital include:
Hand-crafted wooden products hospital in the state of Florida to now offer the new • More than 100,000 cardiac catheterizations
LARIAT/Convergent Hybrid AF procedure for patients • Over 700 TAVRs
™
who have atrial fibrillation, or A-Fib. This technique • Over 275 Mitraclips
combines left atrial appendage closure with the LARIAT • Over 50 Convergent procedures
and the Convergent procedure to ablate both the inside and • Over 50 minimally invasive cardiac surgeries
outside part of the heart tissue causing A-Fib. This gives For more information about our cardiac services and
patients a better chance of curing their A-Fib, and reduce programs, go to www.pbgmc.com or call (561) 622-1411.
Paid Advertisement

Mother Nature’s Pantry

Beef, chicken, eggs and pasta

Serving The Community For 40 Years

Everything you need for a healthier lifestyle

H Sandwiches & Wraps
H Homemade Soups

H Garden Fresh Salads
Beef, chicken, turkey and more
H Smoothies

H Healthy Shakes
H Energy Drinks - Juices

We carry a complete line of Solgar,

New Chapter, Garden of Life, Natures Plus,

Raw honey
and many more

We Will Meet Any Competitor’s Price

4513 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, FL
On the corner of PGA and Military Trail
561.626.4461

Jams, marmalades, and elderberry syrup