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Responding to disaster 9/11 ten years later: reflections of a life changing event (Proceedings)

August 1, 2011
Marie McCabe, DVM

VMAT's mission is to provide medical care for sick or injured animals resulting from a disaster, when the local veterinary community has been overwhelmed.

Introductions

     • Name Tags

     • VMAT team

     • Long Island VMA volunteers

     • Suffolk Co. SPCA officers

Outline

     • VMAT

     • Safety

     • Mental Health

     • Veterinary Care

     • What you will see

What is VMAT?

     • Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams

          o American Veterinary Medical Association

          o Office of Emergency Preparedness of the U.S. Public Health Service

          o National Disaster Medical System

          o Federal Response Plan for Disaster Relief

     • VMAT Characteristics

          o Four teams in the United States

          o 30 members per team

          o Nationwide coverage

          o Deployable within 24-48 hours

          o Self-sufficient for 3 days

     • VMAT Mission

          o To provide medical care for sick or injured animals resulting from a disaster, when the local veterinary community has been overwhelmed.

          o Their purpose is to augment, not supplant, state and local veterinary resources until such resources are self-sufficient and able to respond to the veterinary needs within the disaster area.

     • NYC-WTC Mission

          o To Care for Search and Rescue Dogs

          o To Care for Patrol Dogs

          o To Care for any Civilian Dogs Presented to Us

     • Bases of Operation (BoO)

          o Jacob Command

               • Jacob Javits Convention Center

          o West Command

               • West Street just outside of Red Zone

          o Forward Triage

               • At the Pile

Safety is the #1 Concern

     • Respirators

          o Recommended at all times

          o Provided to all volunteers

          o Updates by EPA/OSHA q. 12hr at 0530 & 1730 briefings

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     • Water

          o Do not drink water standing in cases on sidewalk

          o Wipe off neck of bottles that have been in ice before drinking

     • DMAT

          o Here for YOU – the responders

          o DO NOT treat people – escort them to DMAT

     • Bathroom location – College Command

          o Wash hands prior to eliminating and after

          o Tell shift leader or other VMAT member if leaving MASH BoO area and always go in pairs

          o DO NOT even think of trying to sneak down to the pile

     • Police Dogs

          o Beautiful!

          o # 1 function is to protect their partner

          o Always ask the officer prior to touching the dog

     • Gloves

          o Wear gloves to touch any dog

          o Latex and Nitrile available in all sizes

          o Nitrile (blue, purple) for latex sensitivity and more protective

Mental health

     • Psychological Concerns Veterinary Health Team:

     • The Pile

          o Psychological need to see the pile

          o Best view is of WTC 7 at the end of Greenwich St.

          o Go with a buddy and a SPCA officer

          o Talk with us afterwards if you need to

     • Time Out

          o Critical Incident Counselor at DMAT

          o Also massage therapist!

     • Talk

          o We are good listeners and have spent some time here

          o Don't be afraid to seek counseling

     • If overwhelmed

          o Ask to go home

          o Check with shift leader – don't leave us short handed

          o Please sign out

     • Post-trauma Stress

          o The normal reactions of normal people to events which for them are unusual or abnormal

          o Victims / survivors

          o Witnesses and onlookers

          o Families / friends

          o Those who are called in to help

     • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

          o "The development of certain characteristic symptoms following a psychologically distressing event which is outside the range of normal human experience"

          o More common among disaster relief workers than in the victims of disasters

     • Psychological Concerns the Canine Handlers:

     • Safe Haven

          o Don't crowd

          o VMAT BoOs provide a safe haven

          o Honor this

          o Listen

          o May hear information that is not in the news

          o Use common sense

          o May be classified

          o Do not repeat

     • The Press

          o Protect the Handlers

          o VMAT restricted

          o Speak only verified truths

     • Proud to be an American

          o Red White & Blue bandages

          o Red White & Blue bandanas

"BoOtique" at Jacob Command Cards and Letters

The dogs

     • Urban Search and Rescue dogs

     • Live Rescue Dogs

          o No one to find

          o Stage live finds

          o Number of workers in, on and around the pile

     • Cadaver Dogs

          o Pieces

          o Mood of handler

     • Bomb Sniffer Dogs

     • Dog Breaks

          o At the pile

          o Time out in MASH cage

          o Toys!

Veterinary care

     • Veterinary Health Team

          o 3 volunteers to a dog:

          o Examining veterinarian

          o Technician

          o Recorder

          o VMAT will oversee

     • Medical Health Form

          o Use the form for consistency

          o Ask questions in a conversational manner

          o Handler last name

          o Dog name

          o Organization

               • WATF 1

               • NYPD

               • Independent

     • Shift Change

          o 12 hours shifts

          o 0700 – 1500

          o Coming off the pile

               • Actual time working the pile

               • Number of days on pile

     • Physiological Signs of Stress

          o Vomiting/Diarrhea

          o Hematuria

          o Dehydration

     • Hydration

          o Drinking at forward BoO?

          o Collapsible bowls

          o Sub-Q fluids

          o Monitor weight

     • Blood Work

          o Idexx

          o CBC

          o Profile

          o Electrolytes

     • Physical exam

          o Eyes

          o Ears

          o Nostrils

          o Paws

     • Decom

          o Chlorhexidine

          o Full body bath

     • Other Concerns

          o Diesel

          o Antifreeze

     • Bootie Myth

          o Most dogs DO NOT work in booties

          o Proper application

What you will see

     • Steel Girders

     • Rescue Trucks

     • Ambulance Caravans - Be Respectful!

          o Smoke

     • The Smell

          o Building materials

               • Glass

               • Concrete

          o Electrical equipment

               • Phones

               • Computers

          o Cremains

               • 2000+ remain missing

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