EDITOR’S CORNER
n case you haven’t noticed, we’ve changed the inside back cover. Most of the material that was there was already in the CI & IS information page, or in President Best’s "Policies To Remember." The material that wasn’t duplicated will be placed somewhere in each issue.
Fred Chamberlain’s California Sunrise on page 12 was written nearly 20 years ago, but the conflict and emotions expressed there could have easily come out of the Schaivo case. After all the tumult of that situation, it’s not hard to imagine the scenario in California Sunrise being a reality sometime in the near future.
The announcement of the contract between CI and Suspended Animation is good news for cryonicists. However there is a gap in the coverages detailed in the announcement. And that is for someone who dies without warning. The chances of dying suddenly are relatively low, according to EndLink
http://www.endoflife.northwestern.edu/index.cfm less than 10% of us will die suddenly. According to President Best’s Membership Report in this issue, there are 201 members who have signed contracts, that translates into possibly 18-19 members who may die suddenly. So, for most of us, the odds are that we’ll die with sufficient advance notice that a suspension team could be standing by. But still there should be some answers for the survivor of a cryonicist who dies suddenly and alone. For instance:Mike Darwin once said that no one should touch a body until death has been pronounced. Is this correct? If not are there any limits to what can be done with a body before pronouncement? (Aside from fully immersing it in water.) Could it be placed in an ice bath? Lacking an ice bath, is there any kind of container that could be used or adapted, to use as an ice bath for the head? Would it be practical to use zip lock bags with ice, placing them around the head and neck, at the same time applying manual CPR? Is there a more efficient way? If one were using an ice bath would it be practical/safe to place some dry ice in it? Just wondering while we’re still warm!