IEEE Consultants' Network of Long Island

Monoclonal Antibodies and A Happy Note - John Dunn, Consultant, Ambertec, P.E.

On Friday, July 15th, symptoms began to show themselves so I ran an at-home test which came out positive for COVID. The first thought by our doctor for treatment was a medication called Paxlovid but because that stuff would interact with other medications I am already taking and must not diminish, Paxlovid was quickly ruled out of consideration.

Instead, I was instructed to report to a Northwell facility in New Hyde Park for an infusion of monoclonal antibodies. This afternoon, I did exactly that.

I was taken care of there by Elianora Safiev and Jassy Alabre. The care that I received was marked by professioniallism, efficiency and fluid communication skills which put all together come to a final descriptor of competence!!

I could not have been in better hands.

I have now and then heard people express at least some level of distrust of those in the medical professions. Even some of my own family have expressed such sentiments but my experiences have largely belied that.

The possible outcomes of COVID have been well publicized. To risk one's actual demise on the basis of anecdotes or even certain past personal experiences is unwarranted.

It is my exhortation to everyone to avail yourself of every medical resource you can. Kindred spirits of Elianora and Jassy are waiting for you.

Lithium-Ion Fire Traps? - John Dunn, Consultant, Ambertec, P.E., P.C.

Several news items which I recently found as follows in which I have highlighted certain key words to which I hope to direct your attention:

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/05/tesla-megapack-fire-highlights-early-stage-issues-with-big-batteries.html

From a recent local newspaper:

From a Google search result:

Further Google searches will yield many more of these kind of search results.

Some writers are sounding alarms about lithium-ion battery fire dangers in electric vehicles (EVs). Other writers are publishing reassuring write-ups about the issue. My personal sentiment is that there are very many writers who espouse alarm and that there are lithium-ion chemistries in such wide use that there are more-than-I-am-able-to-tolerate risks of catastrophic fires.

Another issue is that fire fighting staff have in many locales, not been trained about dealing with lithium-ion battery fires. In one EV fire in Tennessee, I read where an entire burning vehicle had to be submerged in water in a hastily dug pit because every time fire fighters thought they had extinguished the blaze, it would start up all over again.

Imagine a scene like that happening in Manhattan, in front of Macy's on 34th Street. Where would they dig a pit? Conventional fire fighting methods in Tennessee were ineffective.

What's inside my cell phone, what's inside my laptop or what's inside anything that I can carry around by hand is irrelevant to me versus what I or my loved ones could be physically riding inside of along with lithium-ion devices.

Massive dollar investments have been made in lithium-ion battery technologies which means to me that those things are going to be used despite any associated fire issues. I am personally convinced that there are no intentions of letting that investment and inventory go to waste, lives potentially to be lost not withstanding.

I am very uncomfortable having noticed that a nearby neighbor is the proud owner a new EV.

Personally, I will NOT take a seat in any such vehicle and it is my fervent hope that my loved ones will not do so either.

July Fourth Epilogue - John Dunn, Consultant, Ambertec, P.E., P.C.

All kinds of h...ll broke loose in this area in explosive observances of the holiday. Our local bulletin board has some choice postings about that. With some freely admitted cherry picking (The 'shut up' was not in response to me.) and some highlighting, this was and still is, there to be seen

This stuff is sort of self explanatory.

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