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Medical professionals, blood needed in wake of attack
NEW YORK — Following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, there is an urgent need for blood products and medical assistance.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has responded quickly to the disaster with emergency medical response teams and supplies.
Staff
The Red Cross is asking for medical volunteers to assist in the New York City area. Internists, pediatricians, orthopedic specialists and ophthalmologists are needed. Interested physicians should contact the Red Cross at (518) 431-7600. Services may be needed in the coming weeks, and all physican inquiries are welcome, volunteers said.
The American Medical Association is also compiling a list of physicians who can volunteer their services. It will coordinate with New York and Washington authorities to determine the need for support.
Physicians interested in volunteering their services are asked to e-mail their name, medical specialty and contact information to msc@ama-assn.org or call (800) 262-3211.
Many local hospitals and health care systems have established response teams to support or relieve fatigued New York health care workers.
Other health care workers interested in volunteering should contact their local Red Cross chapter. The agency expects the need for disaster-response volunteers to be high.
Blood
Following the attack, the American Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers have dispatched emergency supplies to affected areas. The immediate shipments of blood resulted in a need to replenish inventories around the country.
All eligible donors are asked to make appointments or attend regional blood drives. All blood types, particularly negative blood types, are needed. To donate, please call the American Red Cross at (800) GIVE-LIFE, America’s Blood Centers at (888) BLOOD-88 or local hospitals or health care systems.
The Red Cross is accepting monetary donations through (800) HELP-NOW or through its Web site: http://www.redcross.org.
Government response
On the morning of September 11, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson activated the National Disaster Medical System. This is the first time the system has been activated on a nationwide basis.
HHS is working with other federal agencies and local health officials to assess specific needs in order to direct Disaster Medical Assistance Teams where their particular expertise and resources are needed.
Included in the activation are Disaster Mortuary Operation Response Teams, burn units and the International Medical Surgical Emergency Response Team.
The CDC released one of eight “12-Hour Push Packages” that are maintained in pre-packaged, pre-positioned caches in secure storage facilities around the country. The packages are designed to be deliverable to any area of the continental United States within 12 hours of deployment, with substantial supplies to address a wide variety of potential needs. Each “package” involves several truckloads of materials.