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Role of the French Rescue Teams in Diquini Hospital: Port-au-Prince, January 2010

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2012

Patrick Benner ,
Jérome Stephan ,
Aurélien Renard ,
Frédérique Petitjean ,
Denis Larger ,
Dominique Pons ,
Bruno Paklepa ,
Cécile Deniel  and
Pierre LeDreff
Patrick Benner*
Affiliation:
Marseille Marine Fire Battalion, Marseille, France
Jérome Stephan
Affiliation:
Marseille Marine Fire Battalion, Marseille, France
Aurélien Renard
Affiliation:
Paris Fire Brigade, Paris, France
Frédérique Petitjean
Affiliation:
Marseille Marine Fire Battalion, Marseille, France
Denis Larger
Affiliation:
Marseille Marine Fire Battalion, Marseille, France
Dominique Pons
Affiliation:
Marseille Marine Fire Battalion, Marseille, France
Bruno Paklepa
Affiliation:
Marseille Marine Fire Battalion, Marseille, France
Cécile Deniel
Affiliation:
Marseille Marine Fire Battalion, Marseille, France
Pierre LeDreff
Affiliation:
Marseille Marine Fire Battalion, Marseille, France
*
Correspondence: Patrick Benner, MD Marseille Marine Firefighting Battalion 9 Boulevard de Strasbourg 13233 Marseille, Cedex 20, France E-mail pk.benner@gmail.com
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Abstract

On January 12, 2010, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was shattered by a violent earthquake that killed or injured thousands of its citizens. Local emergency services became overwhelmed and international assistance was required. French relief teams were deployed to assist local hospitals in caring for the victims. The medical care activity of the team at Diquini Hospital from January 17-26 was analyzed.

Priority was given to surgery, leading to the creation of a pre- and post-operative area and a medical care unit. Special attention was required for infection prevention, pain relief, minor surgery, and pre-surgery triage. The continual influx of accompanied victims necessitated the creation of a receiving area.

In spite of the assistance from several foreign surgical teams, some patients had to be evacuated to French or American facilities, particularly children, patients with spinal cord injuries, and those needing intensive care.

Analysis of the actions undertaken highlights the importance of well-prepared and flexible medical teams and the ability to provide local and regional anesthesia, including the necessary medical supplies and equipment. Medical care activity, especially post-surgical care, was a predominant, ongoing need. The ability to provide medical care required organization and cooperation among local health care providers and other relief workers.

BennerP, StephanJ, RenardA, PetitjeanF, LargerD, PonsD, PaklepaB, DenielC, LeDreffP. Role of the French Rescue Teams in Diquini Hospital: Port-au-Prince, January 2010. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(6):1-5.

Keywords

disaster medicineearthquakeinternational cooperationmedical evacuationsorganizationsurgery
Type
Case Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 6 , December 2012 , pp. 615 - 619
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2012

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