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Allied Health: Articles of Interest Katrina’s devastation: a first hand account Katrina will prove to be one of the most costly hurricanes the United States ever experienced. We have all seen the devastation left in its wake. The respiratory disease following this disaster will be amazing. Before Katrina’s landfall, New Orleans already had a longstanding reputation as a city where allergies and asthma were significant. Katrina has displaced more than 6,100 physicians. The hurricane has also severely damaged or destroyed most hospitals and clinics. Patients with asthma and allergies will greatly suffer from a lack of medicine or access to care. Uncontrollable mold will force the destruction of many homes and result in greater respiratory illness. In the midst of the overwhelming devastation, the allergy and asthma community, and members of the AAAAI Allied Health Professionals Assembly, have been active in restoring the dignity of Hurricane Katrina victims, particularly in the city of New Orleans. The AAAAI has announced its commitment to raising $100,000 to support Fellows-in-Training displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I urge all allied health members to consider making a contribution to this worthy cause. Allied health members have already made contributions in many ways, but one of the most meaningful ways is the generous outpouring of respiratory medical equipment given to the Public Health Department in New Orleans by our members. Mobile C.A.R.E. Foundation The Mobile C.A.R.E. Foundation asked for volunteers to drive the Breathmobile from Chicago to New Orleans, a distance of about 1,200 miles. Chuck Sherline, from Genentech, drove the Breathmobile for the first 250 miles and then passed the duties on to me. The drive was long, but I believed the end would justify the means. New Orleans The hurricanes wiped out several stationary clinics, and the Breathmobile will replace these clinics. Officials from the Department of Public Health escorted me through parts of the city closed due to the flooding. I briefly walked through the destroyed clinics, and the experience is surreal. Outside, the sun was shining, but inside the clinic was pitch dark. Stagnated water remained on the floor and the mold was readily visible climbing the walls of the clinic. The mold will spawn severe asthma attacks and continue to be a major source of respiratory illness. Mold has invaded many homes and businesses that were underwater for several weeks. The current Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines are for cleaning mold and mildew up to 48 hours after water exposure, but there are no recommendations for dwellings flooded for two weeks. The smell was sickening. My eyes and throat began to burn, and after a short while, it was time to get out of the building. As the city begins to repopulate, we can expect a significant increase in asthma-related illness. A call for help Many of you contacted me to ask how you could help. I want to thank those allied health members who donated nebulizers and tubing, peak flow meters, respiratory medicines, and even an exam table. The donated equipment is well appreciated by healthcare workers who lost everything. This was a great opportunity for allied health and the AAAAI to help the city of New Orleans. The public health workers still need a used pulse oximeter, and you can contact me at donjcui@yahoo.com if you have one you would like to donate.
AAAAI Waived Membership Dues Policy For more information, including eligibility requirements and procedures, contact Membership Services at the AAAAI executive office at (414) 272-6071 or e-mail info@aaaai.org. |
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