The Haitian earthquake crisis: the first responders' perspective.
A catastrophic earthquake of the magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale hit Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince on Tuesday January 12, 2010 at a focal depth of 13 km or 8.1 miles. Four days after, a joint Ministry of Health (Jamaica)/Jamaica Medical Doctor Association (JMDA) initiated CARICOM (Caribbean Community) endeavour entered Haiti to establish a system whereby medical help could be offered to the Haitian populace. Two hospital sites were established (one for life-saving surgeries, the other for limb reconstructions), clinic facilities for walk-in wounded and other related cases, and mobile clinic services (called the Train of Hope). Within 48 hours, a total of 43 operations were performed (26 major 17 minor). Within eight days, a total of 1229-1249 patients were seen in all the facilities established. This included a total of 106 operations (64 major 42 minor). There were a total of 21 life-saving amputations.
St Ann's Bay Regional Hospital, St Ann, North East Regional Health Authority, Jamaica, West Indies. derrickmcdowell@hotmail.com
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D000552:Ambulances / Q000458:organization & administration; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D060731:Emergency Responders; D006205:Haiti; D006801:Humans