This article concerns me.
Health Care Workers’ Response to Catastrophic Disasters https://www.nyam.org/news/2557.html
Comments from health workers?
Hi GermBuster,
thanks for posting. You might be interested in the discussion here
I work in a group home (adolescents) associated with a state psych hospital. Not only will I report to work, I am seriously considering making arrangements to move in there for extended periods of time. These folks (patients) are going to need to see familiar faces, and I honestly think those of us who know them will be in a better position to keep them as safe and comfortable as is humanly possible, under the circumstances. My children are grown , one’s away in the Army the other lives at home and goes to college-she,hubby and my Mom can and will take care of each other. I am doing lots of preps and trying to teach them all some very basic skills to care for the sick. I am well aware that I may ‘go down with the ship’- and that doesn’t thrill me . But if I live through this I will have to be able to live with myself.
For health care workers that are afraid to go to work (for whatever reason, it’s not my place to judge, at least not yet), I’d like to see a system in place for them contribute. If it becomes more dangerous to go to a health center than to try to take care of any sick family members at home, it would be very helpful to have online health advice. Some kind of forum or clearinghouse that could certify the credentials of nurses, N.P., P.A. or doctors to offer medical advice. Through the web it would be possible to upload detailed descriptions (pulse, blood pressure-if you have the equipment, breathing rates and quality, temperature) and even pictures, then get advice. It would be a way to contribute.
Thanks Anon for the link. I guess there are mixed reactions about this topic. To Kc_quiet, I applaud your commitment to the work that you do. I think this is why a part of me tells me that “it is not going to be that bad”. But, with a lot of unknowns about the H5N1, it is hard for me to imagine the social and economic disruption this would create even for a short period of time.
To those who are faced with the tough decision of making a choice between family and duty, you would still have my respect if you decide to choose family. But, just like what anonymous said, there is something you can do TODAY. Convince your facilities to start communicating expectations and let us know when and when not to show up in your doorsteps. There will not be enough time between emergence and the pandemic. I sincerely hope you won’t make the announcements once the threat is here and health care facilities are “overwhelmed”.
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