seticat

I understand that the folks in Haiti needed medical care and troops on the ground hours after the quake happened - food and water and shelter and everything, basically. I really do.

But since most of the US deployable medical strength [troops, supplies, mobile medical units, etc] are currently deployed overseas, I don't see how we could have sent US military medical folks there faster.

I just needed to get that out because I'm getting frustrated with all the stuff coming out on the TV about how we [the US] 'should' have done things differently, gotten stuff there faster, etc. I've done disaster work and it can honestly take a fair amount of lead time to get the ball rolling, especially when the damage is as wide spread as this, the harbor is trashed, the airport is dinky and there's next to no fuel anywhere. You really want to try and help and get folks in to help, but please remember that for every person who lands to help, they will also require food and water and some sort of shelter for them along with whatever they can bring in for others.

And on another personal note, doctors and nurses are good, but what a disaster needs the first couple of days are all the paramedics and EMTs you can get your hands on. Folks who are more often trained to make due with less, to improvise and make something work. I love docs and nurses, don't get me wrong - hell, I've worn the nurses cap from time to time, but the skills of these folks require equipment most of the time: EKGs, lab work, suture kits, etc. Parameds and EMTs [both civ and military] are more likely to think 'outside of the box'. Their skills are more hands-on. They're more likely to grab a cardboard box right off the bat to make a makeshift splint that to spend time look for a real one. That certainly doesn't take away from the need for real supplies [Iv's and such], but I think field trained folks could be more useful.

I'm just frustrated, can you tell? I want to be *there*! Doing something to help and I know I'd be more of a impediment than a benefit. But that doesn't change the feelings...

'Nuff said.

The photos coming out of that area are, frankly, horrific. It's hard to get an actual perspective on the total amount of damage. When you start talking in numbers like 'hundreds of thousands of dead', my brain shorts out. I know I was taught mass cal triage and the like, but numbers like this makes all of that meaningless. When you have this much physical environment and building damage, all the medical care in the world means squat if you can't physically extricate the patients and get them to care. This is triage of the harshest sort: get the ones you can and than try for those more deeply trapped. And try to get medical care, clean water, food and some form of shelter to any and all who need it.

It's a heartbreaking situation.

Some will make it through being trapped. They may or may not be the lucky ones depending on what else is going on around them and to them and their family, if they have anyone left.

I know the economy is tight, but if you can spare even a little bit, we're talking an entire county devastated here. The "CNN Impact" website lists many different organizations where you can direct funds. Believe me, in a situation like this, money does a lot more than items. Unlike a local disaster where physically supplies can be put to use, in a long distance situation like this, the cost of two thrift shop blankets can be stretched to equal a lot more of the supplies actually needed on the ground.

If you can, put a donation can out at your church, your place of work, at a club or group meeting. Every little bit will help now and in the weeks to come.


EDIT: Just so you know I put my money where my mouth was, I already scrounged $10 for the Red Cross. I hope there are folks out there who can match me on this - to the charity of your choice.