- Joined
- May 3, 2003
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After volunteering last night, it seems the response has become well organized in Dallas. I had heard there were 800 in Reunion Arena and 3500 in the Dallas Convention Center. Our chief residents had sent an email requesting help for medical volunteers at the convention center and many responded. Medical students have volunteered to work in triage and fill out vitals, chief complaints, and such on the charts while various nurses, pharmacists, eye doctors, ob's, pediatricians, family med, emt's, fd/emt's, emergency physicians, and texas state guard personel are helping in several different sections of the convention center. We felt pretty safe although there are rumors of evacuees leaving at night and returning with weapons and drugs (apparently no curfew). Our EMS/GEMSS fellows have worked hard around the clock to get everything together. The EMS faculty have served as CMO's and seem to have things under control. I heard that early on things were hectic, but last night was relatively slow. We have point of care testing thanks to donated i-stats for lytes, glu, and vbg's. Very useful for a pt w/ glucose of 670 last night. Most pts needed things for cough/congestion. We also have urine dips/preg, biosite for ck, trop, bnp. Along with fluids and other common IV meds, drug companies have come through and we have tons of po meds. We are giving the first does and then writing scripts with FEMA on them so they can fill them at a "pharmacy" set up in the convention center. There are also supplies for I&D's, wound care, etc. There are shuttles that are taking people in groups at a time if they need to go to dialysis or various hospitals on a rotating basis. It is amazing to see the response and the various supplies available. The number of volunteers that showed up this morning at 8am was great. Several physicians, NP, PA, and nurses from various community hospitals, some retired, came in and were eager to work. Hopefully the enthusiasm lasts b/c I am not sure how long this project will last.
-Andy
-Andy
