+ Mote reminds visitors: lights out

According to researchers at Mote Marine Laboratory, as of July 28, 1,937 sea-turtle hatchlings have lost their way, or have become disoriented, during hatchings on local beaches this year. Mote researchers believe the disorietations are a result of artificial lighting along Sarasota County coastlines, and they urge visitors to keep beaches dark until sea-turtle-nesting season ends Oct. 31.

To date this season, 54% of the 44 Longboat nests that have hatched have resulted in disorientation events.

In total, 203 nests have been laid on Longboat so far this year.

In 2008, Sarasota County had 113 nest disorientations, which is the fourth-highest number in the state.

+ Fire-rescue volunteer uses CPR

Jorge Alvarez, Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department vice president of volunteers, was manager on duty Friday, July 17, at the Lido Beach Resort, where he works as chief engineer, when a 60-year-old woman collapsed. The woman went into cardiac arrest, and Alvarez administered CPR until a Fire Rescue team arrived.

The woman was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she died a week later.

Alvarez said the incident shows the importance of learning CPR.

“I wish everyone would learn CPR,” Alvarez said. “That gave her a chance, doing CPR right away.”

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