Thread: California nurses volunteer for Haiti relief

California nurses volunteer for Haiti relief

By Angela Hill
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 01/13/2010 10:18:50 AM PST
Updated: 01/13/2010 12:24:55 PM PST

OAKLAND — At least 350 registered from the California Nurses Association and national nursing organizations have volunteered to travel to Haiti and provide support to the thousands injured in Tuesday's massive earthquake.

"We sent out a call late last night, locally and nationally, asking for volunteers," said Chuck Idelson, spokesman for CNA at its Oakland headquarters. "We literally had nurses walking in the doors here this morning, offering to volunteer. The response has been tremendous."

CNA has had plenty of experience helping out with such disasters in the past, having sent nursing aid to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the 2004 tsunami in South Asia

"We have a database with thousands of nurses who have declared their willingness to volunteer in such situations," Idelson said. "We've been in touch with nursing organizations in Haiti. The conditions there are deplorable, and the logistics of getting help there are the big question right now.

"It's not easy getting planes into Haiti right now," he said. "I understand the Los Angeles Fire Department is going, but is having trouble getting in. Ships may be going there, but even once there, many of the roads may be impassible.

"And even under normal conditions, medical and emergency resources in Haiti are extremely limited, so we may need to take everything, equipment and supplies, with us."

http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_14180186

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