Schools, gyms, hospitals, locker rooms, day care facilities, firehouses, the average home.
Just a few of the places superbugs like MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylycocous aureus) has been found lurking in significant quantities. What's the big deal with MRSA? Perhaps you've heard of something called a STAPH infection. Well, MRSA is an antibiotic-resistant STAPH bug, which can lead to an antibiotic-resistant STAPH infection. Many of these are life-threatening.
Besides MRSA there are many other superbugs. Take the contagious, antibiotic-resistant CRE for example. A recent study published in the medical journal, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, revealed that cases of CRE increased five-fold in community hospitals from 2008 to 2012 in the Southeastern U.S. And often times, hospitals aren't required to report infection-related deaths. However, the last CDC Study revealed that 18,000 people in the US were killed by infections in 2005. Today, that number is probably much higher.
Superbugs truly are a silent killer. Not just because they're on a microscopic scale and thus it's easy to pick up an infection, but because a large number of people in the world don't know they exist. If you asked a random person on the street, they probably have never heard of it. But they probably saw what Iggy Azalea last tweeted.
And that is part of the problem. The less that people know about it, the less pressure there is on leading figures to lay down an action plan to address it. It also means that people aren't taking steps to protect themselves against this unknown danger. Washing hands can sure lower your risk, but hand soap isn't going to do much against antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
However, there are proven killers of these superbugs and other serious viruses. The same journal that published the report mentioned above, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, confirmed in a separate study that ozone is an effective killer of MRSA, as well as a host of other fungi, viruses, and bacterium. In hotels, schools, daycares, and hospitals, ozone can be used to disinfect entire rooms. Athletes can use ozone to disinfect their hockey, football, lacrosse, and motocross gear. And firefighters can disinfect their bunker gear, or police can disinfect Kevlar vests and tactical suits.
Police officers have a pretty tough gig. They face all kinds of unpredictable situations every single day on the job. That includes your antics, you lil' multi-tasker, you.
And police officers really are to be commended for their hard work. They perform many good deeds every day while serving the community; deeds we rarely get to witness. But sometimes we are able to catch them in the lovable act on camera, so that we can Tweet about it and YouTube and MySpace it or whatever the kids do these days. Below are just a few for your enjoyment.
5. Canadian Cop Comes Across Campers Rocking Out In The Woods, Joins Them
Some people go camping to enjoy the fresh air, see the natural beauty of this world we rarely get to see, maybe roast a couple marshmallows over a crackling fire. Others go camping to let loose, and rock out half-naked to Pink Floydd.
When Const. Doug Sokoloski from Pincher Creek, Alberta was doing just another routine patrol, he came across a group of campers jamming out on their guitars and drums in the woods, because hippies. So, without a moments hesitation, Doug read them their rights and slapped on the cuffs.
Not really. Because you see, like most other cops out there, Doug is just your average human being. And as it turns out, Doug used to play in a band. So instead of chastising them for disturbing the beavers or something silly, Doug hopped on the drums and jammed out with them.
The video went viral, and he got another chance to jam with his fellow officers on a float at a community parade, much to the crowd's enjoyment. He used the opportunity to tell people that there really are good deeds like this that go unnoticed every day. Thanks for being awesome, Doug!
4. NYPD Cop Buys New Boots For Homeless Man
In case you didn't know, New York City gets real cold in the winter. Not Manitoba cold, but ya know, it's up there. An Arizona policewoman by the name of Jennifer Foster was visiting NYC when she saw a homeless man with no shoes. His tootsies were soon going to board a one-way train to magical Frostbiteville, population 10. But then, this happened:
“Right when I was about to approach, one of your officers came up behind him. The officer said, ‘I have these size 12 boots for you, they are all-weather. Let’s put them on and take care of you.’ The officer squatted down on the ground and proceeded to put socks and the new boots on this man. The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching. I have been in law enforcement for 17 years. I was never so impressed in my life. I did not get the officer’s name."
For all you flip-flop wearing people down South, all-weather boots ain't cheap. He probably just dropped $100 of his own cash, anonymously. And we wouldn't have even known about it had there not been an admirer taking a picture. One thing is for sure, those boots will need a good ozone treatment soon.
3. Officer Pushes Man in Wheelchair Home
The picture above was snapped by a passing college student and quickly went viral. First Precinct Officer Jordan Clark of the RPD in Richmond, Virgina responded to a call about a man in a wheelchair stuck on the street. When Officer Clark arrived on scene, he found that the battery in the man's chair had died. The man said he had no friends or family that could help him... So Clark said, "Cool, see ya!"
Actually, Clark proceeded to push the man 3 blocks through the cold to the nearest bus stop. But he didn't stop there! He then followed the bus to the man's stop near his house, then pushed him another 2 blocks to his home. Officer Clark earned high praise, receiving the elusive Officer Of The Month Award, and having his job title changed to "Flippin' Coolest Cop Everz". (citation needed)
2. Cops Save Deer From Highway, Walk Him To Safety
Raise your hand if you've ever walked a deer like a dog. If you just raised your hand, then a) You look silly sitting at your computer with your hand in the air and b) you are a filthy liar.
Not all of us have had the satisfaction of saving wildlife from the jaws of death, and many certainly have not experienced the privilege of walking a majestic deer like a puppy. Sgt. Steven Sandusky has done both of these things.
It began when Officer Jason Rains came across a frightened deer caught on a highway near Kansas City. In the amazing dashcam video below, we can see the panicked doe repeatedly ramming itself into the barrier. Little does she know that it's a 100-ft drop into a river below. Soon Sgt. Sandusky arrived, and the two officers jumped into action.
As they approached, they realized her leg had become caught in a drain. So after they freed her, Sgt. Sandusky decided to just walk her to safety like a dog, and the grateful doe followed him off the bridge until they reached a wooded area, where she bounded away to reunite with all her forest buddies. This one kind act pretty much makes up for all the times we hit deer with our cars.
1. Officer's Good Deed Towards Boy Is His Last
I saved the saddest one for last, because I didn't want you blubbering your way through the whole article. In San Diego, California in August 2011, Officer Jeremy Henwood was ordering his food at McDonald's when 13 year-old Davian Tinsley asked him for a dime so he'd have enough for some cookies. Officer Henwood bought the cookies for him.
As they talked, Davian said he wanted to play in the NBA. Henwood replied that it takes "hard work." They took their food, walked outside, and waved goodbye.
But this world soon demonstrated its hatred for heartwarming moments. Just mere minutes after this, Officer Henwood drove off and stopped at a red light, where he was then gunned down in an unprovoked attack. Davian saw the dozens of police cars that arrived down the street, but he didn't know until the next day what happened. Even though this moment was short, Davian says he has a role model for life now, and that "if he says I gotta work hard, I'm gonna work hard."
So there you have it. We applaud you, Boys In Blue! They are pulling off stuff like this every day, the majority we don't even see. So the next time you get pulled over while trading stocks and talking on the phone and watching Netflix at the same time, give that cop a high-five and tell him you love him.
by James Antinozzi
James Antinozzi has been in the ozone sanitizing business since 2005, when Ozone Nation Inc. was founded and launched it's flagship product, Fresh Gear.