The Death of 13 year-old Marissa Kingery is an Urgent Cry to Heed the Work of RMBF
Cleveland, Ohio - January 5, 2011- After undergoing routine oral surgery at her dentist office, 13 year-old
Marissa Kingery was rushed to Lorain’s Mercy Regional Medical Center on Dec. 21, 2010. After two weeks
on life support, the young life ended. The Raven Maria Blanco Foundation, Inc. (RMBF) founded after the
2007 death of 8 year-old Virginian, Raven Blanco, has been fighting to bring awareness and action
regarding emergency medical preparedness to the nationwide dental community. In a one year period
alone, six deaths have occurred due simply to the lack of preparation. RMBF is committed to ending this
devastation.
Kingery’s lawyer, Michael Czack, echoes the atrocity that continues to plague American dental offices:
“Unfortunately for this family, it started off as a simple dental procedure and turned into a terrible tragedy.”
This is the exact scenario of all six deaths within the past year, which include Maddoux Cordova, Jacobi Hill,
Dylan Stewart, David Liddell, and Akasmse Rose Tecumseh. RMBF is emboldened in its efforts as the
evidence of the urgency of this problem continues to mount.
RMBF is a 501 (c) (3) charity driven to providing preventative education based on medical emergency
preparedness. Without this awareness and action, young lives are continually at risk and the integrity of the
entire dental community is threatened. The foundation has recently released a public service announcement
detailing the death of Raven and the paramount need for preparation, protection, and prevention, as well as
a direct solution. RMBF has adopted The Six Links of Survival™, developed by the Institute of Medical
Emergency Preparedness, as a convenient mechanism for dental offices to ensure that all areas of
appropriate preparation are adequately covered. The Six Links of Survival™ are as follows: doctor training,
staff training, mock drills, medical emergency manual creation, proper equipment maintenance, and
necessary medication accessibility. The RMBF Memorial Lecture on this topic is scheduled for April 9th,
2011 in Richmond, Virginia and will be led by nationally renowned speaker and RMBF Director of Medical
Emergency Preparedness, Dr. Larry J. Sangrik.
The American dental community is facing an urgent cry for help. The time is now. Marissa Kingery’s death
demands decisive action. RMBF is committed to honoring the short lives of these children by taking every
precaution necessary to ensure that every office and every staff member is trained and supported to best
handle the unexpected; in this way, patients and providers alike can rest assured in readiness.
Until then, Marissa’s classmates will gather in remembrance at Eastern Heights Middle School at 7 am on
Friday, January 7th, 2011, and parents will anxiously hope that the routine does not turn to crisis when their
children enter the dentist office.
For more information regarding RMBF’s objectives and initiatives, as well as to view the PSA and upcoming
events, please visit RMBFInc.org.
Cleveland, Ohio - January 5, 2011- After undergoing routine oral surgery at her dentist office, 13 year-old Marissa Kingery was rushed to Lorain’s Mercy Regional Medical Center on Dec. 21, 2010. After two weeks on life support, the young life ended. The Raven Maria Blanco Foundation, Inc. (RMBF) founded after the 2007 death of 8 year-old Virginian, Raven Blanco, has been fighting to bring awareness and action regarding emergency medical preparedness to the nationwide dental community. In a one year period alone, six deaths have occurred due simply to the lack of preparation. RMBF is committed to ending this devastation.
Kingery’s lawyer, Michael Czack, echoes the atrocity that continues to plague American dental offices: “Unfortunately for this family, it started off as a simple dental procedure and turned into a terrible tragedy.”
This is the exact scenario of all six deaths within the past year, which include Maddoux Cordova, Jacobi Hill, Dylan Stewart, David Liddell, and Akasmse Rose Tecumseh. RMBF is emboldened in its efforts as the evidence of the urgency of this problem continues to mount.
RMBF is a 501 (c) (3) charity driven to providing preventative education based on medical emergency preparedness. Without this awareness and action, young lives are continually at risk and the integrity of the entire dental community is threatened. The foundation has recently released a public service announcement detailing the death of Raven and the paramount need for preparation, protection, and prevention, as well as a direct solution. RMBF has adopted The Six Links of Survival™, developed by the Institute of Medical Emergency Preparedness, as a convenient mechanism for dental offices to ensure that all areas of appropriate preparation are adequately covered. The Six Links of Survival™ are as follows: doctor training, staff training, mock drills, medical emergency manual creation, proper equipment maintenance, and necessary medication accessibility. The RMBF Memorial Lecture on this topic is scheduled for April 9th, 2011 in Richmond, Virginia and will be led by nationally renowned speaker and RMBF Director of Medical Emergency Preparedness, Dr. Larry J. Sangrik.
The American dental community is facing an urgent cry for help. The time is now. Marissa Kingery’s death demands decisive action. RMBF is committed to honoring the short lives of these children by taking every precaution necessary to ensure that every office and every staff member is trained and supported to best handle the unexpected; in this way, patients and providers alike can rest assured in readiness.
Until then, Marissa’s classmates will gather in remembrance at Eastern Heights Middle School at 7 am on Friday, January 7th, 2011, and parents will anxiously hope that the routine does not turn to crisis when their children enter the dentist office.
For more information regarding RMBF’s objectives and initiatives, as well as to view the PSA and upcoming events, please visit RMBFInc.org.
Also following the same story:
The Morning Journal (Ohio): Ohio Girl Dies After Trip to Dentist
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