I’ve been first on the ground at natural disasters before but the devastating floods in Kentucky, USA have left me with my mouth hanging wide open. It’s hard to describe the level of devestation left in the wake of historic record breaking floods and mudslides in the region. Cars and houses are smashed together clogging up the creeks and trailers lay split in two across road ways. Entire towns are just gone.
In the absence of portable electronic suction one possible option is to utilize a nasopharyngeal airway adjunct (NPA) in combination with a 60cc syringe. Attach the NPA to the syringe, place the distal end of the NPA into the patients mouth while pulling back on the plunger of the syringe to remove vomitus, blood, or other secretions. Detach the NPA from the syringe and push down on the plunger to remove the secretions from the syringe before resuctioning the airway.
In the last weeks, MSDN was excited to provide basic trainings on safe techniques to carry injured people in emergency situations, as well as a basic education on ” stopping the bleed” and other basic life saving medical interventions.
We continue work at Ukrainian frontlines. The range of responsibilities here is rather wide - from going to the operations with military units to minimal medical support of civilian population in the absence of regular healthcare services (oh, and sometimes treating random puppies and kittens, too!) Yet the hardest task here is just waiting for a moment when you are needed.
Thanks to the donations of the supporters of MSDN, we were able to bring some amount of high quality emergency medical equipment to Northeastern Syria. Due to trade restrictions and other supply problems, it is difficult for medical professionals to have the quality equipment taken for granted in many other parts of the world- all of these items of equipment, however small, will make a difference.
In late May, Turkey once again intensified its war threats on Northeastern Syria. MSDN volunteers connected with young men and women in the regions of Turkey's proposed "safe zone", that would be at risk of attack. these young people have volunteered to help local healthcare providers with evacuating wounded civilians and bringing them to triage areas if needed.
Supplies were gathered and provided to community medics in the southern United States in preparation for annual LGBTQ+ Pride events taking place across the region. In addition to standard IFAKs and hemorrhage control kits, some medics were provided with built out “jump” bags to care for basic injuries and heat related emergencies.
