DOUCHE OF THE DAY: Retirement Home Nurse Refuses to Perform CPR on Dying Woman

A nurse at a retirement facility refused to perform CPR on a woman who had collapsed and later died. The nurse called 911 around 11:00 a.m. on February 27 from Glenwood Gardens when the 87-year-old woman stopped breathing. The 911 dispatcher instructed the nurse to perform CPR, but she refused saying that it was against the retirement facility’s policy to perform CPR. The dispatcher asked the nurse to find someone else who would be willing, but no one came forward. Paramedics arrived several minutes after the call and took the woman to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The retirement facility released a statement extending its condolences to the family and said its “practice is to immediately call emergency medical personnel for assistance and to wait with the individual needing attention until such personnel arrives.” [KTLA]

SpaceX Dragon supply ship arrives at space station

(KABC photo)

A California based commercial cargo ship arrived at the International Space Station Sunday, loaded with a ton of supplies. Station astronauts used a robot arm to grab the SpaceX unmanned capsule nicknamed "Dragon" out of orbit and bolt it into place. The capsule's arrival came a day late, after a mechanical problem threatened the mission. A clogged pressure line prevented the timely release of the solar panels and the crucial firing of small maneuvering rockets Friday. SpaceX flight controllers struggled for several hours before regaining control of the capsule. Under contract, NASA is reportedly paying SpaceX $1.6 billion for 12 supply runs. The items on board the "Dragon" capsule included seeds of a flowering weed used for research, mouse stem cells, food and clothes for the six men on board the space station, trash bags, computer equipment, air purifiers, spacewalking tools, and batteries. The capsule is set to return to Earth in late March with pounds of scientific materials, empty food containers and old station equipment. [ABC]

Plans for Titanic replica set sail as Australian billionaire avoids sink jinx

It looks like the Titanic. It is meant to feel like the Titanic. But the Australian billionaire who on Tuesday unveiled blueprints for a successor ship to the doomed ocean liner is confident his dream project will not sink like the Titanic. At a news conference in New York, mining tycoon Clive Palmer said his ambitious plans to launch a copy of the Titanic and sail her across the Atlantic would be a tribute to those who built and backed the original. “We will complete the journey. We will sail into New York on the ship they designed,” he said at the event being held inside the Intrepid aircraft carrier that is now a museum in the city. Best of luck.  Titanic II is set for launch in 2016 and will mostly mimic the same route from Europe to Americas. [Guardian]

Caltrans Employee Saves Life of Baby Boy

Well, here’s something to refresh your palette from today’s douche of the day. A Caltrans employee is being hailed a hero after he saved the life of a baby boy. Joe Thomas had just finished up his day repairing potholes on February 27 and was headed back to the Department of Transportation depot when he came across a vehicle on the shoulder of a freeway. “I don’t know why I took that way, I usually use E Street but something told me to take the 54,” said Thomas. “I saw a woman crying, they were shocked and I was shocked too seeing this. So I pulled over to the right shoulder.” That detour Thomas decided to make ended up saving 13-month old Cesar Ortiz’s life. The boy’s grandmother said little Cesar had a seizure in the car and stopped breathing. “When I grabbed the child, he wasn’t moving and his eyes were rolled back,” said Thomas. He did what he could and performed CPR. After about five minutes, baby Cesar started gasping and tried to breathe on his own. When paramedics arrived, they took Cesar to Children’s Hospital. Doctors said the seizure was possibly brought on by the 103 degree fever he had been fighting. Cesar’s mother, Denise Ortiz is grateful Thomas saw them on the side of the road. She said if Thomas hadn’t shown up, she’s not sure if her son would be alive today. [KTLA]

 If you’re a middle-aged married couple with a sense of adventure… how about a trip to Mars?

NASA engineer turned multi-millionaire Dennis Tito has announced plans to send a couple on a privately-built spaceship to slingshot on a fly-by around the Red Planet. Tito says he hopes to make the launch within the next five years, at an estimated price tag of more than $1 billion. The trip will confine the couple in a cramped space capsule for an estimated 501 days. So why a married couple for the mission? Tito says they would be the best equipped to give each other emotional support for the long journey, and would already be used to living together. [KTLA]