Heroic efforts made at Charity hospital to save patients
07:14 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Associated Press
As floodwaters rose around Charity Hospital, nurses hand-pumped ventilators for patients who couldn't breathe. Helicopters landed on the garage to airlift critically ill babies. Doctors canoed supplies to and from Charity and three nearby hospitals.
Heroic efforts made at Charity hospital to save patients
07:14 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Associated Press
As floodwaters rose around Charity Hospital, nurses hand-pumped ventilators for patients who couldn't breathe. Helicopters landed on the garage to airlift critically ill babies. Doctors canoed supplies to and from Charity and three nearby hospitals.
cnn just phone interviewed kristen from icu at Charity. she was crying out for help. she said they have only moved out 4 patients. 2yesterday and today. the nurses are sick from lack of sleep and dehydration. she said they have had to start iv's on each other. they were told pts would transfer out Monday and it did not happen. called in trying to get the word out that they need help. They have a generator for the vents and they have to scrounge up gas about ever two hours and hand pump inbetween. She sounded at the end of her rope. I hope help comes soon.
I too want to go down there to help-but we need organization and guidance. We can't just hop on a plane and get there. Ideas anyone?
Where can we start calling and what can we do? I feel so helpless sitting here in MN where I am safe. All evening at work, I couldn't stop thinking of those who are fighting not only for their patient's lives, but for their own...
gosh guys, i've got chills reading all of this. i do not have t.v. at home so tonight was the 1st i really saw of it on the news. those nurses are so swamped and i sit here in my er with only 1 pt for the last hour-we finally cleared them out. i got into nursing to hopefully do disaster relief one day, maybe it is time for me to step up to the plate...not sure how to manage it with the 4 kiddos at home and no family but it can't hurt to make some calls and see if i am needed for a few days. my thoughts and well wishes go out to everyone, esp the broken hearts of my fellow nurses.
Well I have tried to call my local redcross and salvation army and a few churches in the area. They took my name and number and said they would get back to me (still no word). We have a big entertainment complex in our area that is being used as a shelter for evacuees flooding into the area from LA. So I can help there or I can travel further to help. My only problem is getting time off from work if needed to travel to the actual sites. I keep hearing they want people who can commit one week or more to go to NOLA and other places hit. I can go for 2 or 3 days at a time. I would go for longer but I don't know if work would permit that. I guess because the organizations transport the volunteers they can't have people coming and going?
I'm not sure of the one week or more requirement. I'll more than likely be doing my volunteering locally. I will also donate cash...but I don't have alot to donate, but I do have time. I'm just trying to get a hold of someone who can point me in the right direction. All I'm getting is "Donate Cash...we need cash, that's how you can help" or "We will get back to you..." but then I see pleas on the new stations for volunteers and vounteer medical personel. I feel so useless over here...I want to help and don't know how to go about it (besides donating...I'm doing that too) If I could get a good solid answer on volunteering at the actual disaster site...I would be more than willing and I could arrange to get the time off (I work in NICU and our census has been low...so it shouldn't be to hard to swap a few days with someone...or even just get them off) I'll keep looking around.
BTW: I don't mean for this post to sound like I'm dogging the people at these organizations for not answering me. I know they are flooded with these sorts of calls and are doing what they can. I'm thankful for them. I'm just frustrated because I really want to help and don't know what to do. But thanks for posting these numbers and websites...these are a great starting point.
the american nurses association sends its heartfelt thoughts and prayers to our colleagues and citizens in the states impacted by hurricane katrina coming ashore. we recognize that in this type of situation registered nurses and other health care providers are impacted as both responders and individuals with family and property. please know that we stand ready to assist in any way possible.
louisiana - volunteer nurses needed for hurricane emergency!
we hope that you and your family have weathered the hurricane safely! our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
many have not been as lucky as we have. the la-oep (louisiana office of emergency preparedness) is requesting healthcare volunteers. this includes all levels of nursing expertise. if you and your family are safe, please volunteer there is a tremendous need for nurses. call 225-389-2100 and ask for medical. they are expecting your call. if the line is busy, please keep calling.
heroic efforts made at charity hospital to save patients
07:14 pm cdt on tuesday, august 30, 2005
associated press
as floodwaters rose around charity hospital, nurses hand-pumped ventilators for patients who couldn't breathe. helicopters landed on the garage to airlift critically ill babies. doctors canoed supplies to and from charity and three nearby hospitals.
One of the recue workers trying to get people out of charity said last night that as they were trying to get in there with boats, they were being accosted by who were desperate to get out, and were trying to climb on hte boats and overturn them so they had to turn back. National Guard members are supposed to accompany them today.
Thunderdome comes to mind...
We can't really even imagine what this must be like there...
I got an email from my state org saying they have my name and I should hear something today or tomorrow. If I have to go for a week, I can clear my calendar. I am supposed to start clinicals this week for my FNP program, but I could put it off for a week. They need 380, they have 250 - so I know they need more. If you arent in Texas you might try responding on the texasnurses.org site and see if they get in touch with you - at this point I dont think they care where these nurses are coming from.
I called a LA number that was posted on here somewhere. They have my name and should be calling me back. If I have enough notice I can clear my calander. I'm also trying to see if I can help at the local shelter's they have set up here...but so far no word. I'm sure they need help though.
I keep reading reports that hospital staff are being attacked by armed looters! There was one article somewhere about a nurse who stepped outside her hospital just to get a breath of fresh air and was robbed at gunpoint. :angryfire How can people do that?!? I just don't understand. There is absolutely no justification for that. I am furious. We need to declare martial law, if it hasn't been declared already. This rampaging has got to stop!
The area is already under martial law...There is just overwhelming obstacles in place...
One problem is that even the police and army national guard are now out of batteries, fuel and even vehicles to get around! There were some reports on one of the news stations yesterday of a used car lot being given up to police so they would have operational vehicles. Even when they HAVE vehicles - there really is only one way in and out of the city right now so even getting in there is nuts. They are going to have mount a massive helicopter evac to get all those people out of the hospitals. I know that 2 ships that are chopper carriers are being sent - I don't know how soon they will get there.
Communications are down for everyone - there is no where to charge radios and cell phone batteries, and cell phones arent working even if you could charge them. Land lines are out of the question. Generators that are working fine are now out of fuel. Those that aren't out of fuel aren't working, fuel trucks are being accompanied by armed guards, and even hospital supply trucks are being carjacked for use as escape vehicles by desperate people trying to find any way out.
Sobering...indeed, I can't even imagine...
People are complaining in other threads on this board that help is not coming fast enough or that the government was not well prepared. HOW do you LOGISTCALLY expect to get help IN to a situation like this any other way than what they are already doing? The rescue efforts are huge and exhaustive. I don't believe for one minute that ANYONE is working at less than max capacity to do all that they can. Many of these workers have been without sleep food and water for nearly as long as the victims. How do you distribute bottled water with trucks that are out fuel, fuel pumps that won't pump for lack of power and that are in danger of being carjacked at gunpoint?
I find the complaints to be an insult to every worker in there - nobody knows how to expect EVERY possible scenario. NOBODY can possibly be prepared for anything like this. Not you, not I, not the government.
To the complainers I say - shut up, get off your duff and head in there - go help and then see if you can still complain, then help them design it better so that preparation and rescue are carried out in a more efficient manner in the future. Standing around B**ching about it does no one any good at all and expends energy that would be better directed at DOING SOMETHING. Quit talking and walk! Be the problem or be the solution.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
As so often happens when crises like this become beyond desperate, people lose all sense of decency and humanity. It's time to deal with the looters who are violent/shooters in the most severe way. People are dying, not being able to leave what is now a toxic wasteland.
Reinforcements cannot come too soon.
Not being critical, just musing at the increasingly desperate and horrific situation. Hopefully, we all learn from this whole awful experience.
Posts like these give me warm fuzzy feelings. It is nice to be able to reach out and help on this board. :icon_hug: I hope you guys get in touch with each other...
mandrews
274 Posts
cnn just phone interviewed kristen from icu at Charity. she was crying out for help. she said they have only moved out 4 patients. 2yesterday and today. the nurses are sick from lack of sleep and dehydration. she said they have had to start iv's on each other. they were told pts would transfer out Monday and it did not happen. called in trying to get the word out that they need help. They have a generator for the vents and they have to scrounge up gas about ever two hours and hand pump inbetween. She sounded at the end of her rope. I hope help comes soon.