HOUMedGal
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About to go volunteer at the Astrodome...
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Kaleigh
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icekid
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good luck, HMG!
my best med school buddy has a friend who is a 2nd year at Tulane. She is in Baton Rouge helping now. Apparently they are so short that they are letting the 2nd years give orders
I can''t imagine! And the (barely) 1st years are in charge of taking the histories. Sounds like she is having quite the experience from what I am hearing! I hope yours will be a good one too, and I can''t wait to hear how you evening goes
my best med school buddy has a friend who is a 2nd year at Tulane. She is in Baton Rouge helping now. Apparently they are so short that they are letting the 2nd years give orders
thebanjodog
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gingerBcookie
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I''ve been down in the trenches. I''m on psychiatry at the county hospital and worked the Psych ER overnight this past friday. It is devastating to see what stress does to a person''s mind, especially if they already have an underlying illness. We''ve seen thingsfrom medication withdrawal from ppl unable to access their medications, to alcohol withdrawal from ppl unable to access their alcohol, to just plain old acute traumatic stress disorder. It is sad and scary to witness at the same time. My heart so goes out to these survivors.
Currently there is actually an overflow of volunteers (30 docs,nurses,students for 4 patients) over the weekend, but the critical times are during the week and later on as the initial empathy wears off. I know that they''re not even accepting clothing doantions now because there is such an overflow from the ppl of Houston that they haven''t figured out a way to deal with it yet.
Currently there is actually an overflow of volunteers (30 docs,nurses,students for 4 patients) over the weekend, but the critical times are during the week and later on as the initial empathy wears off. I know that they''re not even accepting clothing doantions now because there is such an overflow from the ppl of Houston that they haven''t figured out a way to deal with it yet.
sevens one
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AndyRosse
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Sundial
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widget
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appletini
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I am in Houston also.
I have donated 8 bags of clothing. Tomorrow I am going with a friends and buying rubber flip flops in all sizes. We were told by a volunteer at the Dome that they would be welcome as flip flops are easy to wear and easy to fit. And if they cannot be used there, the flip flops can easily be distributed at other shelters. I was at a clothing donation site earlier today and there were lots of evacuees picking through the clothing. While many were happy to get anything, I overheard one woman exclaim she only wanted new clothing. I guess that left more for the others.
My heart aches for all those affected by this disaster. In my neighborhood today I saw numerous cars with Louisianna plates, people who apparently got out.
The news is so full of blame and shame it makes me sick. At this point we just have to help.
I have donated 8 bags of clothing. Tomorrow I am going with a friends and buying rubber flip flops in all sizes. We were told by a volunteer at the Dome that they would be welcome as flip flops are easy to wear and easy to fit. And if they cannot be used there, the flip flops can easily be distributed at other shelters. I was at a clothing donation site earlier today and there were lots of evacuees picking through the clothing. While many were happy to get anything, I overheard one woman exclaim she only wanted new clothing. I guess that left more for the others.
My heart aches for all those affected by this disaster. In my neighborhood today I saw numerous cars with Louisianna plates, people who apparently got out.
The news is so full of blame and shame it makes me sick. At this point we just have to help.
Blue824
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HOUMedGal
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Ginger, going along with what you mentioned, was talking to my dad over the weekend about the aftermath that was gonna start happening, and he''s a (retired) mental health and addiction professsional who does a lot of personal ministry through Alcoholics Anonymous...he brought up the very valid point that there have got to be tons of psych patients who can''t get their meds, or alcoholics/addicts who can''t get their next fix, etc....not a pretty picture. I can''t imagine what the Taub (county hospital) psych unit looks like right now!
Well, I''m back home and I must say that I was super impressed with how well everything seemed to be running. The medical facility is basically a field hospital, complete with 70 exam rooms, X-ray capabilities, on-site laboratory testing, and a full pharmacy. There are also lines set up between the Astrodome and Baylor College of Medicine to allow BCM radiologists to review immediately images of patients in the clinic. And, contrary to rumors I have been hearing the past few days, things didn''t look very "dangerous and chaotic" (although I''m sure that they were much more chaotic in the beginning hours and days, when the evacuees first started arriving).
I spent my time tonight in the Pediatric section of the medical facility, seeing lots of sick kiddos, mostly with diarrhea/vomiting. They say there''s a Norwalk-type virus that''s spreading around the facility, so it wasn''t surprising. And yes, I have just showered and the scrubs I was wearing are in the washer in HOT water right now.
My friend who is also a 2nd year med student and I were able to get histories and do physical exams on the kids as they came in, and then report the findings to the docs, so I''d like to think we were useful in saving them some time.
On a somewhat unrelated note, I got to see some of my old work colleagues tonight as well! I used to work as an EMT for Scott and White Hospital''s EMS (located in Temple, TX) when I was in college, and I happened to see a Scott and White ambulance up there tonight. Got to talk to some of my old work buddies for awhile, which was fun. They, like many other EMS''s, were there doing transfers and the like to help out the HFD EMS folks.
Anyway, I plan on going back in the near future, and hopefully keeping it up in the coming weeks and months when the novelty of the situation wears off and continuing volunteers are few and far between. It was quite humbling to interact with these people who have been torn from their homes and their lives, especially those like the one grandmother I spoke with tonight; she was there with her grandkids who were running fevers, and when I asked how she was doing, she just smiled and said, "I''m feeling fine. I''m blessed, that''s all there is to it. Just blessed."
Well, I''m back home and I must say that I was super impressed with how well everything seemed to be running. The medical facility is basically a field hospital, complete with 70 exam rooms, X-ray capabilities, on-site laboratory testing, and a full pharmacy. There are also lines set up between the Astrodome and Baylor College of Medicine to allow BCM radiologists to review immediately images of patients in the clinic. And, contrary to rumors I have been hearing the past few days, things didn''t look very "dangerous and chaotic" (although I''m sure that they were much more chaotic in the beginning hours and days, when the evacuees first started arriving).
I spent my time tonight in the Pediatric section of the medical facility, seeing lots of sick kiddos, mostly with diarrhea/vomiting. They say there''s a Norwalk-type virus that''s spreading around the facility, so it wasn''t surprising. And yes, I have just showered and the scrubs I was wearing are in the washer in HOT water right now.
My friend who is also a 2nd year med student and I were able to get histories and do physical exams on the kids as they came in, and then report the findings to the docs, so I''d like to think we were useful in saving them some time.On a somewhat unrelated note, I got to see some of my old work colleagues tonight as well! I used to work as an EMT for Scott and White Hospital''s EMS (located in Temple, TX) when I was in college, and I happened to see a Scott and White ambulance up there tonight. Got to talk to some of my old work buddies for awhile, which was fun.
They, like many other EMS''s, were there doing transfers and the like to help out the HFD EMS folks.Anyway, I plan on going back in the near future, and hopefully keeping it up in the coming weeks and months when the novelty of the situation wears off and continuing volunteers are few and far between. It was quite humbling to interact with these people who have been torn from their homes and their lives, especially those like the one grandmother I spoke with tonight; she was there with her grandkids who were running fevers, and when I asked how she was doing, she just smiled and said, "I''m feeling fine. I''m blessed, that''s all there is to it. Just blessed."
MissAva
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On a selfish note - dang, did I need to hear this. You are a credit to a generation that I am gaining so much respect for. You go and you do instead of wasting precious energies crabbing or complaining. You don''t find excuses. You find opportunities.
You are like an oasis in a sea of inhumanity. People like you make a difference. You are part of the solution. *YOU*, the collective you of who are actually *doing* something, make a difference.
As the Grandmother has touched you, please understand how you touched her with your caring. The power of a simple exchange between humans is enormous in healing.
I am in awe of you.
You are like an oasis in a sea of inhumanity. People like you make a difference. You are part of the solution. *YOU*, the collective you of who are actually *doing* something, make a difference.
As the Grandmother has touched you, please understand how you touched her with your caring. The power of a simple exchange between humans is enormous in healing.
I am in awe of you.
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I hate to agree with fire&ice on anything (except Georg Jensen jewelry), but she is right. And R/A (with whom I hate to agree even more than I hate to agree with fire&ice) is right when he says, in another thread, that the outpouring of generosity in this country-from the people-is making a difference in how the aftermath of the catastrophe plays out.
Deborah
PS-When you do return to the Astrodome, whenever that is, I hope you will keep us posted.
Angel7
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MINE!!
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HOUMedGal
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memsy
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icekid
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just thought this should be repeated! so well said F&IDate: 9/7/2005 10:05:04 AM
Author: fire&ice
On a selfish note - dang, did I need to hear this. You are a credit to a generation that I am gaining so much respect for. You go and you do instead of wasting precious energies crabbing or complaining. You don''t find excuses. You find opportunities.
You are like an oasis in a sea of inhumanity. People like you make a difference. You are part of the solution. *YOU*, the collective you of who are actually *doing* something, make a difference.
As the Grandmother has touched you, please understand how you touched her with your caring. The power of a simple exchange between humans is enormous in healing.
I am in awe of you.
appletini
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appletini
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I''m back. We got there around 10:30 and signed in. Then we went to a brief orientation, where they told us about safety, wearing gloves and the optional face mask, and not picking up children to preven the spread of disease on both sides. Also we are treating and referring to them as guests. After that we went over to an area to get our job assignments. Everyone moved through the chairs like musical chairs, when work orders came in and were assigned. There were so many people there, we thought they might not get to us, but about 30 minutes later we got our assigment and lots more people were showing up.
Our first job was to help people who were residing on the 2nd floor of the dome, move to the first floor. According to the fire marshall there shoudln''t be any people on the second floor. We helped several families move their cots and belonging. There were a lot of abondoned beds where people were out and about for the day, so we left those, so they could be moved later when the people came back. SBC had lots of telephone stations set up for people to use the phone. Also people had hairdryers, curling irons, there was a lady the other day volunteering to style poeple''s hair for them. Of course there were lots of children running around...very sad, but they all seemed happy. They started school on Thursday.
Even though the Reliant complex population has dramatically decreased, there are still thousands of people there.
After helping people move, we then went to help out in the toiletries section and distribute towels, wipes, diapers, etc.
I''m so glad that I went and had a chance to help. The good news was that we did meet a few families that were actually moving out.
Our first job was to help people who were residing on the 2nd floor of the dome, move to the first floor. According to the fire marshall there shoudln''t be any people on the second floor. We helped several families move their cots and belonging. There were a lot of abondoned beds where people were out and about for the day, so we left those, so they could be moved later when the people came back. SBC had lots of telephone stations set up for people to use the phone. Also people had hairdryers, curling irons, there was a lady the other day volunteering to style poeple''s hair for them. Of course there were lots of children running around...very sad, but they all seemed happy. They started school on Thursday.
Even though the Reliant complex population has dramatically decreased, there are still thousands of people there.
After helping people move, we then went to help out in the toiletries section and distribute towels, wipes, diapers, etc.
I''m so glad that I went and had a chance to help. The good news was that we did meet a few families that were actually moving out.
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