Document: ADMAGAZINE_MAIN_1ST_11-09-09_NURSINGFALL9_B_M_9_44444;Page: 1;Trim size: (8.375 x 10.875 ");Plate: Composite;Date: 23 Oct, 2009 12:30:21
Guest columnist Elaine Falconbury is avolunteer instructor and disaster action On the Pulse
team member in Johnson County for the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis.
For information about volunteering with this or other groups,see Page 21.
Readytohelpwhendisasterstrikes
■ Twoweeks after Sept. 11,2001, Iwas on aplane for New Jersey.
As you might guess,this trip wasn’t avacation.
Itwasmyfirstdisaster-reliefmissionwith Of service at homeand away | My
theAmericanRedCross—tothesceneof travelshavetakenmetothesitesof
theterroristattacksinNewYorkCity. tornadoes,floodsandhurricanes.In2004,I
EvenbylateSeptember,NewYorks till assistedwithcleanupafterthreehurricanes
wasinpandemonium. inFlorida,managingthenursesatashelter
IwasatRedCross thatprovidedhealthservicestomorethan
headquarters,responsible 1,700victims.Oneyearlater,Istayed
forkeepingthevolunteers closetohome,managingvolunteernurses
—whowereshowing attheRedCrossshelterinIndianapolis,
upfromasfarawayas wherewehelpedpeopledisplacedby
Guam—healthywhile HurricaneKatrina.AlongwithWishard
Falconbury theycaredforvictims. Hospitalmedicalpersonnel,theR ed
Asanexperiencedregisterednurse,I Crossprovidedhealthservicestomore
wasequippedwithmedicalknowledge than900people.
andskilledinclinicalassessmentand Oneofthebiggestscenesof
criticalthinking. devastationIwitnessedwasin
Greensburg,Kan.AfteranEF-5Trained to handle tough situations |
tornadoleveledmostofthecity,
Morethan20disasterreliefmissionslater,I Idrovetooutlyinghomesto
continuetorelyonthesesameskills.Nurses ensureresidentshadneeded
haveauniqueopportunitytohelpothers medicationsandmedical
indisastersituations.Theyunderstandand equipment,suchaswalkers
canidentifypossibleillnessorinjuryquickly, andoxygen,andtodohealth
andtheyhavethecaringandcompassionto assessmentsforinjuryor
reachouttopeoplewho’velosteverything infection.LastJune,Ialso
fromapettoahousetoalovedone. managedthehealth-services
Twelveyearsago,Iwascaringformyill volunteersduringtheIndiana
father,motherandauntwhenIrealizedI floodsandtornadorelief
wascalledtoexpandmymissionofservice operation,helpingmorethan
tothebroadercommunity. Istartedclasses 4,500people.
tobecomeaRedCrossvolunteer.Iwas Nursingcantake
lookingforavolunteeropportunitythat youlotsofplaces.
wouldenablemetotravelwhileusingmy BeinganAmerican
nursingskillsanddesiretohelpothers. RedCross
Althoughthetravelingcamelater,the volunteernursecan
workIdidforRedCrosswasbeneficial takeyoufarther
fromthebeginning.Partofthelocaldisaster thanyoudream—
actionteam,Iattendedhousefires—and andyougettohelp
stilldo––assessingandmeetingthefamily’s thoseinneedin
immediatedisasterneedsandconnecting theprocess.●
themwithadditionalservices.
Ofallmyexperiences,thesehavecome
closesttoheart.Atonefire,alittlegirlhad
leftherblanketinapartofthehousenot
affectedbytheblaze.Withthefirefighters’ ElaineFalconburywas
partoftheIndianapolispermission,wecrawledinandrescuedher
RedCrossteamtospecialblanket.Nothingcouldmeasurethe
lendassistanceafterhappinesssheandIexperiencedwhenthis
iStockphotostheSept.11attacksin
cherishedobjectwassaved. NewYorkCity.
Photo:
1ST Indiana Nursing Quarterly •indystar.com/INQ •Fall 2009 9
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