(Orlando) As the Red Cross continues to assist evacuees from the Haiti earthquake zone, the role of Red Cross nurses and mental health specialists remain a key part of the disaster response.
In addition to the symptoms of stress and grieving, evacuees are seeking medical attention for a variety of conditions from fractures and infections to diarrhea and dehydration.
Teams of Red Cross nurses and mental health specialists, who are medically qualified and licensed volunteers, have been on hand to give first aid and emotional support at both Orlando International and Orlando/Sanford International Airports since flights from Haiti began to arrive on January 16.
Since the operation began more than two weeks ago:
· Red Cross Nurses have come in contact with 1,985 people looking for medical attention
· Mental Health Specialists have offered emotional support to 1,922 people
· Disaster relief volunteers have served 34,162 snacks for hungry evacuees
· 4,874 comfort kits with soap, toothbrushes and other personal items have been given out
Veteran Nurse Terry Freeman, the Health Services Manager for the American Red Cross Mid-Florida Region is responsible for the Red Cross medical team. She says, “We are seeing conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma that are made worse because patients lost their medications in the disaster and have been going without treatments that would normally keep illnesses under control.”
Nurses Emily Beck, of Tallahassee, and Sandy Lortz, of New Jersey, have experienced the injuries first-hand. When Marie Cedras arrived at OIA from Haiti this week with an injured arm and bruising, nurses Beck and Lortz bandaged her arm and advised her on pain control. (See attached photo. Caption: Red Cross Nurses Emily Beck and Sandy Lortz bandage the arm of Marie Cedras.)
“It’s clear that the lack of treatment in Haiti will mean our nurses will observe what will perhaps be more severe injuries than what they saw a week ago,” said Freeman. “Hopefully, that will be alleviated since we are starting to see patients who have had some medical attention on the USS Comfort in Haiti.”
The American Red Cross Mid-Florida Region has been supporting the Department of Children and Families since the evacuation process began and will continue to help evacuees from the earthquake zone for as long as needed.
Please contact Laureen Martinez, the Chief Public Relations Officer for more information or to schedule any interviews.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
