Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in early November of this year and caused devastating results. In fact, there has been an approximation that over 10,000 people will eventually be announced as deceased either directly from this natural disaster or as a result of its secondary effects. In addition to the number of innocent people killed, many more were left injured, homeless, and without food and water. Being one of the worst natural disasters, typhoon Haiyan has reminded citizens, governmental organizations, rescuers, and health care providers all over the world that these tragedies will still occur no matter what preventative measures are in place (CNN, 2013). Therefore, evaluating health care resources prior to these occurrences is key in managing and providing safe and effective care following the event.
When relating natural disasters to public health and nursing, it is essential to evaluate nurses and their preparedness in these tragic situations. According to Baack & Alfred (2013), nurses report not being prepared for disastrous situations unless they have spent time providing care in either emergency departments or rescue missions. Without the experience of caring for people who have been injured from natural disasters such as: hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons, tornadoes, or floods, nurses are unaware of their roles in these terrible circumstances. Unfortunately, disaster preparedness is currently not a component within nursing curriculums, and nurses in their professional careers are unfamiliar with how their facilities are designed to respond to the aftermath of disastrous situations. Nurses also lack training in regards to the appropriate and necessary communication needed when a disaster occurs. As a result, there is room for improvement in the field of nursing in regards to responding quickly and effectively to natural disasters (Baack & Alfred, 2013).
Nurses make up a large portion of the healthcare system, so it is essential that they are aware of their roles when disasters occur. Disaster preparedness, specifically in relation to typhoon Haiyan, applies to public health nursing, because these health care providers can work to provide the field of nursing with more training on triage and effective communication in disastrous situations. First, it is important to allow nurses to have hands-on experiences either in the United States or abroad during times of tragedy and natural disasters. Second, it is crucial to include rescue and response courses into nursing education in order to prepare future nurses for these events. Finally, hospital administration should work to construct on-going education programs in the hospital setting in order to remind nursing staff of the actions that they need to take when a disaster does occur. Managing patients following these catastrophic events is quite challenging, and this proper training will allow the field of nursing to provide overall quality care (Baack & Alfred, 2013).
In relation to the current aftermath of typhoon Haiyan, more nurses could potentially assist with disaster care in the treatment of patients who are suffering from pneumonia. Typically following a typhoon, public health care professionals usually predict a high occurrence of diarrhea and amputations, but due to the damp and rainy weather, poor nutrition, absence of shelter, and the lack of clean and dry clothing in the Philippines, pneumonia has been one of the most common health concerns among those affected by the typhoon (The New York Times, 2013). As a result, more nurses could potentially help provide care and treatment of innocent victims from disastrous situations now and in the future if provided with the proper training and education.
Nurses can have a
positive impact on community health by playing a role in community disaster
preparedness.Safety promotion is already
a major aspect of nursing.Providing
education, manipulating environments, encouraging positive behaviors, and anticipating
barriers to achieving high levels of health, are all techniques nurses employ
to enhance safety.Nurses who know at
least the basics about disaster preparedness can help the community prepare for
when disaster strikes.
Nurses work with
clients to assess their current risks, especially in relation to existing
health problems.The process is the same
when done as part of disaster preparedness.Obviously, all people require the basic needs of food and water, and
should be encouraged to keep extra amounts of those items in their homes and
vehicles, but additional considerations must be made when individuals have
health challenges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2013) recommend preparing for all hazards by gathering emergency supplies, having a disaster
plan, and being informed on what to expect and how to proceed as necessary
under different circumstances.The CDC offers great generic resources, and is definitely a source to which others should
be referred. As useful as those
resources are, they do not fully address or critically think about and problem
solve the way nurses do when aiding clients in disaster preparedness.The CDC (2013) advises having a seven day supply of medications in with the emergency supplies.Nurses can help clients figure out how to go
about doing that safely, so they have the medications they need in an
emergency, without limiting or not fully complying with their current
medication regimen.
Clients have a wide
variety of health issues that will change their needs and preparation for
disasters.For example, pregnant women
would benefit from education about how to give birth when there are not many
resources available, as well as how to minimize infection (AWHONN, 2013).People who require insulin for their diabetes need to learn about how to store and use their supplies during disasters.Nurses are able to ask the right questions to
determine what resources clients may have available, what education is needed,
which behaviors need to be encouraged.One important behavior is to prepare oneself and then expand to make the
whole community more equipped to successfully cope and survive any disaster.
Finally, in addition
to preparing others for disasters, nurses need to be prepared for their roles
and responsibilities in times of disaster.The American Nurses Association (2013) is a great resource that nurses can explore to learn more about different types
of disasters, legal and ethical considerations, and how to go about getting the
education needed to be competent disaster responders.
A Change to California Legislation According to Hawthorne and Roe (2013), lawmakers in California have announced a change to the fire safety requirements of home furnishings in response to a series of articles
published in the Chicago Tribune. For nearly 40 years, manufacturers of home furnishings needed to ensure their products could withstand an open flame for 12 seconds, but the legislative changes have relaxed the requirement so that furnishings only need to resist ignition from a smoldering cigarette (Hawthorne & Roe, 2013). This change is significant because it gives manufacturers the ability to meet fire safety standards without incorporating flame retardants into their products. Chemical Companies and California Legislation
Nicholas Kristof (2013) published an article recently in The New York Times discussing issues surrounding the use of flame retardant chemicals in household furniture. In summarizing a soon-to-air documentary entitled "Toxic Hot Seat," he chronicles a corporate conspiracy beginning in the 1970's when chemical manufacturing companies knowingly exaggerated the efficacy of their flame retardants at the same time that legislators were seeking solutions to address the flammability of home furnishings. In 1975, lobbying efforts led to the development of California's technical bulletin 117 (TB-117) which defined fire safety standards for furniture sold within California (Hawthorne & Roe, 2013). In order to comply with the new standards, manufacturers began to incorporate halogen-based retardants into their furnishings, but the products were not confined to California. National companies disseminated their products across the United States. Now, after years of accumulating evidence has suggested negative health impacts, California lawmakers have decided that the use of flame retardants should be left to the discretion of the manufacturers.
According to Brown and Cordner (2011), there are more than 175 known flame retardants, but those containing halogen elements are most widely used because of their low costs and high efficacy; however, mounting research suggests that these compounds pose a threat to community health. According to Dodson et al. (2012), many flame retardants still used in household products are classified as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC), and they can alter hormonal signaling pathways involved in nervous tissue development, reproduction, and other metabolic processes. Public health impacts are difficult to assess because many of the compounds exhibit unique effects. For example, researchers studying brominated flame retardants measured the effects of exposing 5 different compounds to the immune cells of mice, but the induced changes to cellular metabolism varied depending on the compound. (Koikea, Yanagisawaa, Takigamib, & Takanoc, 2012). In terms of the general health impact, research links exposure to flame retardants with neurological deficits, reproductive deficiencies, and cancer (Hawthorne & Roe, 2013). Those applied to polyurethane components of furniture are released with dust particles that can be inhaled by anyone in the vicinity. Corporate Responses to Research Findings: Shocking Allegations One might suppose that the ample evidence suggestive of negative health impacts would inspire chemical manufacturers to withdraw these flame retardants from the market or seek safer alternatives. Mr. Kristof, however, suggests a far more callous response. As propositions for legislative action followed the research, an organization emerged calling themselves the Citizens for Fire Safety Institute (Kristof, 2013). They purported themselves to be composed of concerned families, firefighters, doctors, and others, but Mr. Kristof explains the only members of the group were three high-level executives belonging to companies manufacturing flame retardants (Kristof, 2013). He claims that the group began airing commercials in efforts to sway public opinion toward continued use of flame retardants in home furnishings, and in light of the allegations, Citizens for Fire Safety Institute have reduced their website (www.cffsi.org) to nothing more than a statement referring visitors to other advocacy groups. Discovering the real founders of the Citizens for Fire Safety Institute is the subject of the documentary mentioned earlier, and it is scheduled to air on HBO this Monday, November 25 (Kristof, 2013).
Evaluating the Situation According to Healthy People 2020 (2011), reducing exposure to hazardous materials is a fundamental component of environmental healthcare, and the current philosophy supports initiating measures that reduce exposure even before researchers have fully characterized the health risks. The situation in California was ironic in that policy changes intended to reduce environmental hazards in 1975 resulted in the incorporation of flame retardants posing what is potentially an even greater risk to community health. It is important to hold chemical companies accountable should the allegations against them be proven accurate, but it is equally important to consider alternative contributors. The reality is that findings from research have been demonstrating the hazards of flame retardants for many years, yet efforts to address the problem have been sporadic and weak. It might be tempting to focus all of the attention on the role of chemical manufacturers when evaluating this situation, but the answer to an uncomfortable question must also be included. How is it that the lobbying efforts of only three people were able blind politicians and the public to the dangers of flame retardant use in home furnishings? Undoubtedly, the answer will have broader implications that warrant consideration of business ethics, the legal process, and cultural perspectives.
Hurricane Katrina showed Americans how unprepared America is for natural disasters. As the world witnesses the death toll of Typhoon Haiyan increase, questions resurface about America’s ability to face the next natural disaster. Although the aftermath of natural disasters receivea great amount of media attention in addition to bringing communities together, the focus should be on preventive measures. With careful planning, the chances of surviving natural disasters can be improved drastically. Community preparedness is the key to prevent loss of life and property during natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions (Reyes, 2013). So how can communities protect and prepare themselves from such seemingly unavoidable destruction and cost of life?
Registered Nurse Response Network nurses headed for the Philippines International Airport.
(NNU / Flickr / Creative Commons)
Recently, there were 16 tornadoes (Chicago tribune, 2013) that hit the Midwest, taking eight lives and destroying land in 10 states (Walsh, 2013). In relation to the size and force of the tornado, the death toll in Washington, Illinois was relatively small (Goudie, 2013). This can be credited partly to the town’s siren system. The siren system warned the Washington community that a tornado was on its way. According to the chief of police in Washington, it was because the siren system was heard by most of the community members, that many people were able to survive.Tulang Diyot is an island in the same region as the Philippines. It was also destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan last week. Tulang Duyot used early evacuation as a means to save as many lives as possible. The island evacuation saved potentially 1,000 people, even though all houses on the island were destroyed (McElroy, 2013). But importantly, not one person lost their life during one of the deadliest typhoons on record (McElroy, 2013). This is an example of how years of planning and preparation before a natural disaster occurs can prevent an avoidable and massive loss of life. Tulang Diyot’s simple, but effective evacuation plan shows how communities can prepare for natural disasters, but there have been, unfortunately, many more times in which communities were unable to escape from a natural disaster.
One of the most vulnerable times for a community is directly after a natural disaster is over. Many lives are lost after a disaster. This is also preventable when community members prepare prior to disasters. Necessities can be stored away in case of an emergency, and these resources may be the difference between life and death for people after a disaster. Elaine Alanguilan (2013) constructed a list of items that should be stocked to survive the time after a natural disaster. Her list includes water, food that does not need cooking, a first aid kit, a transistor radio, and flashlights with extra batteries. These items can help keep communities alive for days, and up to weeks, until help has arrived, as was the case with Hurricane Katrina.
Increased attention must be brought to prevention strategies, to preemptively minimize damage and loss of life. Only a few preparation methods have been discussed here; there are many more tactics individuals and communities can implement now, in order to be prepared for the unforeseeable future. In the future, the US can model after the more advanced European weather warning systems (Miller, 2013), in order to improve its disaster preparedness. This will also help communities protect themselves from natural disasters.
Childhood asthma tops the list as one of the most common long-term childhood illnesses, and similarly, a child having an asthma attack tops the list of parents' worst nightmares. Outdoor, and particularly airborne pollutants, can be considered a primary trigger in causing a child to have an asthma attack, and it's always in the best interest for parents of children with asthma to keep an eye on air quality levels and to monitor for those days considered high risk. Monitoring and managing possible causes of airborne pollution are important steps to take in reducing the prevalence and severity of childhood asthma. Luckily for families of Southeast Michigan there is progress being made to see that this happens.
Though the auto industry provided Michigan it's economic prowess for the better part of the last century, its products are now leading contributors in the production of air pollution in the state. Though overall there has been a marked decrease in the amount of pollutants considered harmful to the public and the environment in the last thirty years, "on-road motor vehicles" still provide the greatest percentage of emissions of these harmful air pollutants, namely carbon dioxide, lead, and nitrogen dioxide. Pollution caused by automobiles reduces air quality and can pose a serious threat to a vulnerable population with a respiratory such as asthma.
Unfortunately, children don't have to stand next to a busy highway to feel the effects created by automobile air pollution, an in fact a recent study points to school buses as culprits in promoting poorer air quality at school, in turn putting their child passengers at greater risk. An all too familiar scene plays out as school nears its end and the buses line up at the curb anticipating the final bell, most buses are left running in the waiting minutes before students blow open the school doors and frantically rush to their chosen seats. In the calm before the storm, parked cars with patient parents and expectant buses alike sit idling and constantly compounding their emissions. This build up of air pollutants contributes to poorer air quality in the area surrounding the school where students often congregate prior to traveling home, and can linger in the area for many hours after the traffic has dispersed. This situation puts students at a much higher risk of developing asthma or aggravating an existing respiratory disorder.
Luckily for the communities of Ann Arbor and the greater Washtenaw county areas local initiatives have been put into motion to help stem these effects. An anti-idling campaign was launched cooperatively this fall in the hopes of improving local air quality along with overall public and environmental health. Both the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and Ann Arbor Public School bus drivers must adhere to no-idling policies, and education is being focused at students' parents asking them to not leave their vehicles running while they wait to pick up their child. Further research will determine the effectiveness of these efforts but with these policies and resources in place it should help children, student, and community members breathe a little easier.
Mental health has long fought
social stigma. In fact, many mental health issues go unaddressed because of physicians’
inability to address psychological concerns in the primary care setting as well as patients not wanting to be labeled as 'crazy' or 'mentally ill'. To help combat some of the negative connotations associated with mental
illness, the state of Oregon is piloting a program that places psychologists in
the primary care setting.
In a National Public Radio (NPR)
story Doctors Enlist Therapists to Deliver Better, Cheaper Care (2013), Kristian Foden-Vencil reports how having
access to mental health care in the primary care setting can help patients that
often come in with psychosomatic concerns such as migraines or stomach aches. These
maladies do not improve with traditional prescriptions and often stem from
issues in a patient’s life. The
patient may not even be aware that certain life events such as stress, divorce
or a death in the family can manifest as physical symptoms. Patients often
become frustrated because their symptoms are not relieved with medical
treatment. Primary care physicians can make recommendations and referrals for
patients to see a mental health professional, however, this advice is not
always followed. According to
Robin Henderson, a psychologist in Bend Oregon and part of the St. Charles
Health Care System, patients do not make follow up psychology appointments
because they do not want the stigma of seeking mental health assistance
(Foden-Vencil, 2013).
In Oregon, the Mosaic Medical Clinic
enlists psychologists to see patients during medical office visits.Pediatrician, Kristi Nix states,
“having a psychologist in the clinic has lifted a burden off her shoulders”
(Foden-Vencil, 2013). The psychologist can sit with a patient during a routine
office visit and delve deeper into concerns that may be causing physical
illness.According to the story,
this is a departure from the traditional way that psychologists practice.Instead of weekly or more frequent
therapy sessions, the psychologist visits the patient for 20 minutes during the
office visit.
Public
health can be greatly impacted by this approach.If Oregon is successful in this pilot program, access to
mental health professionals can greatly increase.This, in turn, can assist individuals that do not seek help
or have access to mental health care otherwise. Mosaic Medical Clinic primarily
services Medicaid recipients. This
is an important public health aspect because Medicaid recipients are often of
lower socioeconomic status. The
dual aspect of being of lower socioeconomic status and having mental health
issues can be intimidating and embarrassing for some to seek treatment. Having
access to mental health in the primary care setting built into a routine office
visit can increase a patient’s willingness to seek help and follow through.
In
addition to increasing mental health access, Mosaic Medical Clinic, estimates a
reduction in Medicaid costs, approximately $860 per patient. This novel approach may prove to
be beneficial in all aspects of public health.Patients can receive care that is often over looked or not acted
upon. The results of this care would be less physical manifestations of illness. Physicians have the ability to be more
successful in treating patients.There is a multifaceted, teamwork approach to medicine in the primary
care setting.Finally, health care
costs can be decreased. The approach of mental health professionals in the primary care setting can reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and open new ways of treating the patient as a whole.
Suicide
is a major public health concern resulting in heavy emotional consequences for
survivors and their loved ones. According to an article from Fox News, recent data has forced the “silent crisis” into the public attention (Dhar,2013).
While suicide rates among children and elderly have leveled off in recent
years, over the past decade suicide trends have risen nearly thirty percent for
middle-aged adults. It is thought the ongoing economic downturn and access to
medications among other factors have contributed to the rising rates among the
baby boomer population. In addition, for all age groups, there are often underlying psychological
conditions including depression, and anxiety, which lead to suicidal behavior.
Despite recent efforts to target suicide
prevention, the social stigmas associated with mental illness have been a
barrier for progress. There are damaging misconceptions that those suffering
from severe depression want to be left alone, while evidence supports the
contrary. It is commonly assumed that individuals experiencing depressive thoughts
can pull themselves through out of willpower, when in reality, they are in need of social and professional support (Dhar,2013).The article emphasizes that communication is crucial to identify common behaviors associated with suicide and to intervene before it is too late.
While there have been recent school-based interventions
for suicide directed at young adults and teens, it is evident the adult
population is also in need of attention (Dhar,2013). The World Health
Organization(WHO) validates that suicide has not been properly addressed in
today's society because of the lack of awareness and social stigmas (WHO,
2013). The current data regarding the problem is skewed because incidences of
suicide are often under reported and under prioritized in most countries. Even
still, within the Unites States, suicide is reported to be among the top 20
leading causes of death for individuals ten and older (WHO,2013). To
target prevention at the individual, family, community, and global level, the
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests a public health
approach to combat suicide. Government programs are shown to be effective in
promoting awareness, providing evidence-based prevention strategies, and
advocating for social change (CDC, 2013). The National
Strategy for Suicide Prevention is one organization that provides guidance for
schools, health care systems, workplaces, clinicians, and other sectors in
society. The public health mission for this program is to cultivate a positive
dialogue for discussing mental health, enhance surveillance data to increase
awareness, and to better integrate suicide prevention in the health care
system(CDC, 2013).
Nurses and other health care providers play a
key role in identifying the warning signs and establishing interventions for
suicidal behavior. Through a health history and assessment, one can determine if the
individual has a history of suicidal attempts, psychological disorders,
agitation, hopelessness, chronic pain, substance abuse, or other determinants
of suicidal behavior. In addition, as a nurse, it is important to recognize the
protective factors for suicide by educating the client on problem-solving
behaviors, providing clinical support for underlying mental health concerns,
and increasing the client's awareness of community resources( "Suicide Prevention",2012).
As
this post is being written, a storm that is being called “the most powerful
typhoon ever” has made landfall in the Philippines, while the Midwest is
cleaning up from a band of deadly tornadoes.This blog will not debate the link between climate change and hostile weather patterns, rather it will attempt to discuss some of my
personal experiences with my recovery efforts following two large natural disasters.
While there are obvious steps that can
be taken to prepare for any disaster, we cannot stop the wind, water, fire, and hatred from
taking their toll. I have found
that what we really need to address is the actions that we as caregivers provide once
the storms have passed and the victims are left to pick up the pieces of their lives.
My Disaster Relief
Background
I
was touring the country with an automotive group when Hurricane Katrina decimated the a couple hundred miles of Gulf of Mexico coast land. A couple of weeks after the storm we were setting up our show in the Atlanta convention center, when we were told that 100’s of buses filled with evacuee’s from all over the coast would be arriving there in the morning.Our small group of corporate trainer-types were
overwhelmed by the massive triage effort and lack of resources that were in
place to provide support for this huge wave of stone faced victims who were now
hundreds of miles from their devastated homes.
As
soon as this tour was over, I loaded my car full of tools and a tent and drove
down to Mississippi with no actual destination. My rationale included the fact that I had just bought my first house, and if some big wave smashed it to bits, I would love to see someone come help me out. Four weeks after the storm, The Red Cross was not accepting volunteers who they had not trained, and Habitat for Humanity was not ready to make a move
because the damage and the chaos was still too overwhelming for them.
Importance of the POD
in the disaster area.
In cases where a large area of the
infrastructure has been damaged, i.e. downed power lines, the establishment of
a Point of Distribution or POD is of paramount importance. The POD can be defined by the
needs of the scenario, but the main purpose is to get urgently needed supplies
to victims in a timely manner.
I found two women and a man running
an independent POD in a strip mall that had the only electricity
remaining in the area.I asked them if they
needed any help, and they accepted immediately. "The Line"
that they were operated was open early and stayed open until 5:00 each day. Cars drove into their parking lot that was filled with military tents and semi trailers, and if we had what the locals asked for, they were given it. Bleach was a hot item for killing black mold, there were also
giant pallets filled with diapers, crates full of tampons, cat food, batteries,
you name it, people were in need.This video was created about five weeks after the storm, we edited during the night once the POD shut down, and the response was more than we could have expected. By the time this was posted, the rest of the country thought everything was "back to normal" in the gulf, and it was anything but.
If you see a need,
fill it.
A
very tangible roll of a nurse is the provision of care and support
following a natural or man made disaster that may not have resulted
in loss of life, but wide spread property damage.While my original intention was to
help with construction, as I had no interest in any sort of “patient centered
care” at that time, I soon found that doing something as simple as listening to
these peoples “storm stories” was providing some much needed patient care.Finding yourself in a disaster area
provides the perfect outlet for critical thinking as the needs, the people and the environment and the politics are constantly
changing.
The possession of some"situational awareness" (SA) that is required in these scenarios is a great benefit to the individual hoping to find the best fit for his or her abilities. One night I saw a man stalking around the closed POD and I could see that he was carrying a weapon, but I could tell by the way he was carrying himself, he was not intending any harm. When i approached him and asked if I could help him out and if he was aware of the sundown curfew, he identified himself as a cop, and he was only looking for diapers and some formula for his newborn.
Environmental
Dangers:
45 days following Katrina’s landfall people were still
dying, all over the place. We heard of a mother who had returned to the site of her home to pick
through and collect any belongings. This young woman apparently scraped
herself on some debris and the resulting infection killed her less than a day
later.While initially we assumed
this was just rumor, this sort of fungal infection again began appearing in
Joplin after the F5 tornado of 2011, striking down several relief workers who were injured while clearing debris.
(CDC, 2013).
Dexter Michigan lost 68 homes in about 10 minutes.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
When you see someone filling a gas can, make sure that they know not to put their portable generator in the garage. When you see someone with a chainsaw, make sure to tell them to use chaps and eye protection. When the Dexter tornado arrived in 2012 I took an afternoon to go clear downed trees and debris with my little chainsaw. What I learned about storm-twisted, yet still-standing timber was that this type of tree is very unpredictable and dangerous to cut. The winds put a tremendous amount of torque on the trunk, and providing the relief with the saw is a very hazardous task. There was a father of two was missing for a few days after Katrina. He was last seen heading back to his home with a chainsaw to clear some of the fallen trees. After two days with no word from him, some friends went looking for him only to find him dead beneath the first tree that he was trying to cut down.
Caregiver strain
As the weeks and months dragged on
following Katrina, I could see the psychological and physical strain that this
work was putting on the people that ran the POD.The story cycle of the mainstream press will leave
something as huge as Katrina behind in less than two weeks, but the time-scape inside the
disaster area seems endless, it is very blurred, where days run into nights and the workload becomes unfathomable. As a nurse it is imperative to look for the signs that relief workers or volunteers have reached the point of exhaustion and may need some time back "on the surface" where they can reconnect with their families and normal life as we know it.
While I would not consider it a clinical case of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), what I felt when returning to the normal nest egg that is Ann Arbor after three weeks in oblivion, was a feeling of deep guilt and depression. I had a hard time with the transition (yeah, I went there) back to my "old normal", when what I knew to be going on down there was so far from being resolved. I probably could have used some help getting my head around the entire experience, and in reality, none of it even effected me: my house was still standing, I didn't have strange acne-like welts on my back... I knew where all my "things" where, so why was I affected? Its a mind-f*%k that I still revisit, even while writing this blog thing, eight years later.
The residents themselves are in a state of shock that you may not be able to comprehend. It is very important to not judge a home owner who is not willing to or able to pick up a tool to help you clean out, or even rebuild his or her own home. The mental strain of "loosing everything" is often too much of a burden to overcome, and the assistance that a volunteer work force provides may be the only thing that brings this type of wounded survivor back from the brink.
Beware of Fraud:
I got to
camp in the yard of an elderly Mexican woman who’s home was thoroughly rinsed
out, but not destroyed by the surge that flowed up the Pearl River. She was
adamant about introducing me to a man who was running an volunteer operation a
few blocks from her home, his name was Peter, and this was the
operation he was in charge of.
He seems like a nice enough guy, right? Well, a few weeks after this video was posted Peter fled the Gulf with a large amount of the PDA's money. Not to be misunderstood, the PDA was and still is a valid charity doing good work, they just selected the wrong individual to run this particular camp. It was a little shocking how many strange goings on were unfolding once money started flowing into the area.
One of the weirdest indicators of the money train that followed the subsiding water was the story of the I-Care village, erected by Merrill Osmond, yes, of the Osmonds. I was sent there the first night I arrived on the scene because they had a place for me to stay, but before i could sleep, I hung a bunch of drywall inside of this massive circus tent-like structure. The reason for this housing complex was not to shelter newly displaced locals, but to house volunteers that would be paying Donny Osmund's brother something like 20 bucks a night to stay in his massive tent. Needless to say, about six months later, there was no sign of the Morrell Foundation's I-Care Village in Buccaneer State Park.
The bottom line is, do your homework, and most of all, listen to your gut. If the people your are working with seem weird, they probably are. The stories of non-profits taking advantage of generous gifts is sickening, like this one about "Camp Coastal"
When the Dust Clears. As things slowly improve (and I cant emphasize how slow the progress can be), eventually it is time to rebuild and move past the devastation. There are still plenty of opportunity's for an RN months and years into this rebuilding process, because just like a traumatic injury, the wounds that the people people you meet, be it mental or physical will need a great deal of rehabilitation and and attention. When the volunteers start using power tools, and working on ladders, there are plenty of opportunity's for physical injury, as well as dehydration.
One House At a Time, or OHAT was an upstart non-profit that wanted to start building small homes far earlier than Habitat for Humanity was willing to. I was drawn to Glenn Locklin and his struggle in Pearlington, and this tells a lot of that story.
Team Rubicon Following the earthquakeinHaiti, a group of veterans formed to assist in disaster relief much the same way that they would deploy for a military mission. Team Rubicon was named after an historic campaign of Julius Ceasar, when they ventured into Haiti against all warnings. These guys are the real deal, and one of the main reasons that I pursued this RN degree, because they will only take trained professionals. Take a look at their flowchart and try to poke a hole in their philosophy!
courtesy of http://teamrubiconusa.org/about/
So, in conclusion, get a bag packed, and go help some poor bastards out, it will change your life.
Dexter Michigan lost 68 homes in about 10 minutes.