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Mon Aug 31 12:28:52 BST 2009

I'll agree with that!
Anthony M Caruso 

Paramedic/Firefighter, 
Town of Natick Massachusettes.

-----Original Message-----
From: "Gross, Ronald" <Ronald.Gross at baystatehealth.org>

Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:15:53 
To: 'Trauma-List [TRAUMA.ORG]'<trauma-list at trauma.org>
Subject: RE: Katrina - Lessons remembered

Bob, 

Your summary proves yet again what most of us in this small but tight-knit community of (trauma) surgery have learned over the years.  Folks like Ken and Norm, and Will - and pretty much the rest of us on this list, will drop what we are doing to help a colleague in need 24/7.  That is why our world is sooo small - and works so well almost all of the time!

Ron

Ronald I. Gross, MD, FACS
Chief of Trauma & Emergency Surgery Services
Baystate Medical Center
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Tufts University School of Medicine
759 Chestnut Street
Springfield, MA  01199
413-794-4022  phone
413-794-0142  fax
ronald.gross at baystatehealth.org

-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org [mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of Robert Waddell II
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 2:26 PM
To: Trauma-List [TRAUMA.ORG]
Subject: Re: Katrina - Lessons remembered

Dr. Mattox,

Thank you for the reminder of "where were you four years ago" and "did  
you learn anything from it?"  The dedication of the many, including  
Norm must not be understated.

Your post reminded me "where I was" and the worked that occurred in  
the days following Katrina's landfall.  After the evacuation process  
at Charity ceased despite patients and healthcare providers still  
being trapped inside, Norm being one of the the trapped was able to  
call Will Chapleau and explain their crisis.  Will put out a request  
for assistance to those of us safe, sound, and far away from the  
destruction; notifying us that Norm and Charity needed help.  It was  
gratifying to know that the EMS community responded and responded in a  
big way.  Although never given any acknowledgement or credit for their  
efforts by altering their priorities and potentially putting their  
careers on the line, various members of General Green (USAF SG) and  
General Kiley's (US Army SG) staff at the Pentagon and in New Orleans  
responded to the request by diverting aircraft and resources from  
other less vital missions to Charity.  Despite their first attempt  
having to be aborted due to bullet fire from the ground, the USAF, US  
Army, and US Coast Guard prevailed. Charity, its dedicated staff, and  
the patients were safely evacuated.  If any of those involved read  
this message, I for one want to thank you again for everything you did  
to assure this aspect of "Katrina" was a healthcare community success,  
there by deeming it not news worthy by the press.  Thank you!!

The official lessons learned seem all too frequently to be a checked  
box for some bureaucrat somewhere.  The learning of successful lessons  
has a greater value.  Thanks for helping us to remember the sad past  
and positive outlook for future events.

Take care,

Bob

Robert K. Waddell II
307 920 2020
bobwaddell at bresnan.net

On Aug 30, 2009, at 8:38 AM, KMATTOX at aol.com wrote:

> Four years ago today, Norman McSwain and I were chatting on the  
> phone on
> Sunday, still speculating what this Category 4 Hurricane was going  
> to do to
> the  people of the Gulf coast and to our own lives in particular.    
> We had
> chatted over the previous few days as Katrina made up her mind as to  
> which
> direction to go and how strong she was going to be.    As it  turned  
> out, she
> dodged to the East of New Orleans and there was a short sigh of   
> relief,
> until the levees broke and the flood waters came to a city that was   
> lower
> than the lake, river, and oc
>
> ean.    The rest is history, which does not need to be  repeated here.
> Norman lived in Charity Hospital until the last  patient, nurse, and  
> doctor
> were out.   Thank you Norm, for your  dedication to your fellow  
> man.    Your
> emotions, your actions,  your own survival, in addition to the many  
> stories
> of your hospital are yet  untold in the detail which needs to be  
> felt by all.
>  Perhaps that  will be the focus of your talk in Las Vegas next  
> year, if
> you  agree.
>
> In yet another horrible tale of medical decision making is reported  
> this
> morning in the New York Times.
> http://www.trauma.org/index.php/community/list/url/http:list.ftech.net/pipermail/trauma-list/2009-August/_http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/magazine/30doctors.html?th&emc=th_
> (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/magazine/30doctors.html? 
> th&emc=th)       This is also a must read article in all 18 pieces
> by everyone on this list  server.    Each of us might face similar
> conditions at any  time.
>
> The leaders of your community during your own disaster and crisis are
> currently reading this post to Trauma-list.
>
> At this point of 4 years anniversary of Katrina, I offer respect and  
> hope
> to all the families who endured the horror and fear.  To the  
> thousands  who
> came to their aid, I offer my greatest respect and gratitude.  To  
> those  who
> were slow to respond or created confusion, I would ask that we learn  
> from
> this sad past event.
>
> k   .
> --
> trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
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