East Shreveport Rotary Donates Noiseless Cast Removal System
July 23, 2010
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East Shreveport Rotary members present Shreveport Hospital Administrator Kim Green (center, right) with a check for $8,765. The funds were raised during the club’s annual “Shredding for Shriners” fundraisers |
When the East Shreveport Rotary Club held their annual “Shredding for Shriners” event this spring, the constant roar of the shredding machine helped signify another successful year for the Shreveport Hospital fundraiser.
Now, the manifestation of the 2010 shredding event is simply silence – just what patients and staff of the Shreveport Hospital were hoping for.
Following the success of the third annual shredding fundraiser, the East Shreveport Rotary used proceeds raised from the event to purchase a quiet cast removal system for use in the Shreveport Hospital’s busy cast room. Valued at $4,000, the OrthoPediatrics cast removal device is specially designed to provide a safe, ultra-quiet cast cutting experience for patients.
Shreveport Hospital Outpatient Director Kim Blankenship said that not only will the device’s volume represent a vast departure from the current system, but will also help address anxiety often associated with cast removal.
“Cast removal can certainly be a stressful experience for patients,” she said. “Not only can a standard removal device be quite loud, but the heat generated has the potential to pose an issue. With our new cast remover, there is substantially reduced noise and absolutely no heat. Because of the efforts of the East Shreveport Rotary, we are thrilled to offer our patients an infinitely more comfortable cast removal process.”
Established in 2008, the East Shreveport Rotary’s “Shredding for Shriners” event invites area residents to bring personal and/or sensitive materials to the hospital for shredding in exchange for a donation to the hospital. The event is co-sponsored by Shred-it of Shreveport, with company representative Bruce Williams arranging the services of industrial grade mobile shredding vehicles.
Proceeds from the 2008 and 2009 shredding events resulted in the donation of a new Ms. Pac Man arcade table for the outpatient clinic and an air hockey table for the central activities area, respectively. Event co-founder and club president Fred Krieg said the fundraising event continues to grow, with exciting potential for future donations.
“Our third annual ‘Shredding for Shriners’ event proved to be our most successful yet, and we are proud to help supply the Shreveport Shriners Hospital with devices that help provide a pleasant overall patient experience,” he said. “We look forward to exploring fun and exciting new ways to benefit the patients here.”