moving to Barrow (College, Bethel, Hope: sale, credit card, hotel)

[Barkingowl]

Floyd, besides drunks, what sorts of cases can Sherry expect to see at the Barrow ER?

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

Floyd, besides drunks, what sorts of cases can Sherry expect to see at the Barrow ER?

Well, I had lunch with the Assistant Fire Chief and a retired Ambulance Captain, and I asked them about ambulance runs, but didn't indicate why I was asking, and said nothing about alcohol. The answer was that the entire NSB has about 2800 runs per year, and about 1200 of those are in Barrow. There are also about 400 medevacs, mostly to Anchorage but they do occasionally go to Fairbanks or Seattle. The Chief immediately said something to the effect of it isn't so much alcohol related today like once was. He said that most of their work now is transportation of elders. That is not just on an emergency basis, as they will pick them up for regular doctor visits too.

Then I asked about alcohol, and he said it is probably 30% at most. That would amount to just about 1 alcohol related case per day, with 2 on Friday night.

In addition, there is the regular outpatient clinic every working day, which lasts from 12:30 PM until 6:00 PM. That of course is everything from runny noses to whatever.

Despite what you might hear, alcohol abuse is significantly less of a problem here today than it has been at times in the past. I see a lot of reasons for that, but the main one is that children here today believe that they have a future ahead of them. 30+ years ago that simply wasn't true. They had teachers telling them they could never succeed, if for no other reason than that they were Native.

[ArcticPhoenix]

I just want to say... I'm sorry.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

Where do you buy a sense of humor at? Can we send one to Floyd?

Yeah, it is funny all right... how you thought what you said was serious until somebody points out it's just wrong. Then it's all just a joke that should have been laughed at.

It wouldn't be funny though, if I had not been serious about providing accurate information. Somebody looking for valid information might make bad decisions from the "funny" part of your articles...

Maybe I'm not the one that needs to loosen up, eh "stiffnecked"?

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by icu2rn

If you can think of anything in particular that I need to purchase or stock-up on please feel free to share.

If you were moving here next week, we'd have to think really hard about that. But getting here in the summer time makes it all easy, because you don't need anything special that you don't have. And before winter gets here you'll have time to actually look at what others have, and talk to lots of people, and either order what you need or buy it locally.

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Well, I had lunch with the Assistant Fire Chief and a retired Ambulance Captain, and I asked them about ambulance runs, but didn't indicate why I was asking, and said nothing about alcohol. The answer was that the entire NSB has about 2800 runs per year, and about 1200 of those are in Barrow. There are also about 400 medevacs, mostly to Anchorage but they do occasionally go to Fairbanks or Seattle. The Chief immediately said something to the effect of it isn't so much alcohol related today like once was. He said that most of their work now is transportation of elders. That is not just on an emergency basis, as they will pick them up for regular doctor visits too.

Then I asked about alcohol, and he said it is probably 30% at most. That would amount to just about 1 alcohol related case per day, with 2 on Friday night.

In addition, there is the regular outpatient clinic every working day, which lasts from 12:30 PM until 6:00 PM. That of course is everything from runny noses to whatever.

Despite what you might hear, alcohol abuse is significantly less of a problem here today than it has been at times in the past. I see a lot of reasons for that, but the main one is that children here today believe that they have a future ahead of them. 30+ years ago that simply wasn't true. They had teachers telling them they could never succeed, if for no other reason than that they were Native.

I recently watched a television show on Barrow and it said it was illegal to sell alcohol in that town. I am now confused on how there could possibly be an alcohol problem in Barrow.

[icu2rn]

I was planning on purchasing extra spices, bathroom stuff, etc. to ship up there since purchasing things in Barrow is so expensive.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by las vegas drunk

I recently watched a television show on Barrow and it said it was illegal to sell alcohol in that town. I am now confused on how there could possibly be an alcohol problem in Barrow.

Heh heh...

It is illegal to sell alcohol, but it is not illegal to possess it or to use it. It is also illegal to import it except in a specified manner, which is that you have to have a permit (no DUI's or domestic violence convictions) and it must be shipped to a processing center where you can pick it up. There is a limit on the amount per month, but I don't off hand know what it is.

However, I assure you that at 1 AM in the morning on any given day it is possible to buy a jug of rotgut whisky for somewhere between $150 and $200. Vodka, gin and everclear are also favorites. All the same price.

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by icu2rn

I was planning on purchasing extra spices, bathroom stuff, etc. to ship up there since purchasing things in Barrow is so expensive.

Maybe add to list...special condiments (canned, bottled, etc.)that you really like...For example, I liked Western dressing for salads, which I could easily find in MN, but had people coming from like CA that were originally from there that couldn't get it...certainly can't find here even where we are...Kraft nor anyone else does the same...kind of a cross between French (orange yuk) and Russian dressings...

It is so different in Barrow than where we are with availability of things, you need to go through and think what do you really need versus what I can replace when I get there, as that will not work for you in Barrow...

Canned goods such as tuna, hate to say, but veggies, I think I would pack food at cheaper cost and leave something else there to compensate...noodles, rice.....spices you use on a regular basis is good idea as Varmit had said, and I pretty much brought what we had when we moved...flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, if you bake and use...I think the list can grow, but even with living in Alaska, I am jealous of what your experience will be...

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by icu2rn

I was planning on purchasing extra spices, bathroom stuff, etc. to ship up there since purchasing things in Barrow is so expensive.

That's probably a really good idea!

The way to judge what you should buy is by weight. The heavier it is, the more it costs here. That's because the stores mark the price up on a percentage of what it costs them to get it, which includes the cost of freight. So, if the markup is 30% you'll pay 30% additional freight charges if you buy it in a store than if you ship it yourself.

Things that are light don't cost much to ship, so 30% for a pound is not much, but 30% of the shipping on 10 lb items is worth saving.