Extraordinary Evacuation After Catastrophic
Hurricane
More
than 1 million people were displaced by the most destructive,
most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history when Hurricane
Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29. In a time of extreme
need and human suffering, Sacred Heart responded. Sacred Heart
Health System’s AIRHeart air ambulance crews flew for four
days into New Orleans to help Tulane University Medical Center
in an evacuation of patients and staff, transporting patients
from the top of a parking garage next to the embattled New Orleans
hospital to Pensacola and to Lafayette, La. Following are excerpts
from articles written by four of the crew members who participated
in this extraordinary evacuation.
Tim
Keohane, RN, EMT-P
Flight Nurse, AIRHeart
“Landing on the rooftop of Tulane's parking garage was as
challenging as anything our pilot had ever seen in combat. Air
traffic control was virtually non-existent with dozens of helicopters
circling through the buildings waiting for an opportunity to land.
“Emotional scenes were taking place on the rooftop. A baby
with two chest tubes was being kissed goodbye by her parents as
she was being loaded aboard a helicopter. There was no room for
Mom and Dad, and they didn't know when they would be able to leave
the flooded building to reunite with their child. Elderly patients
who had never flown were asking to hold our hand in flight because
they were scared.”
Karen Tayes,RN
Flight Nurse
“Although the news showed the ugly side of people, that
was not at all what we encountered. I was amazed by everyone’s
sweet spirit -- like the families that stood for hours on the
fire escape of a hotel just in front of the garage we landed on.
With each aircraft that lifted off, they gave a smile and a wave.
(They were there for six days.)
“Each hospital we landed at gave us more than enough help…
While we took the patients inside, they filled our aircraft with
supplies to take back to Tulane… From the administrators
to the Paramedics, everyone was awesome.”
David
Dunlap
Flight Paramedic, AIRHeart
“It probably was the most dangerous flying I would ever
do. I realized this only after we completed our mission. The faces
of those we encountered were both full of gladness to see us and
an uneasy realization of knowing they were in trouble… As
we conducted our duty I realized the magnitude of need. I thought
what an honor it is to be here -- to bring the essence of what
we do to this place and these victims… I am humbled to have
been a part of the evacuation and honored to work for such an
awesome organization -- Sacred Heart Health System.”
Chuck
Jeter
Paramedic, AIRHeart
“On the third day of our evacuation efforts, we originally
planned on heading back to Marianna in the morning, but Acadian
Ambulance requested that we stay as there were hundreds of patients
to evacuate from the triage that was set up at New Orleans airport
by the military. We left for the airport, and arrived to start
the longest line of helicopters for patient evacuation that I
had ever seen.
“… On the trip home, we carried as much water, food
and other supplies as we could to the devastated area… Through
this experience I have to agree with a statement I heard recently
in church: that the road to success is paved with service.”
Mission
in Motion
Mission in Motion is a customized bus
that travels throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to
provide free health screenings to the poor and uninsured/underinsured.
Pediatric
Dental Clinic
From dental exams to emergency dental
care and oral surgery, the Lynn Johnston Pediatric Dental Clinic
provides care for children from low-income families.
Escambia
Community Clinics (ECC)
ECC is a joint venture of Sacred Heart
Health System and Baptist Hospital, providing primary care services
to all persons, regardless of their ability to pay. Sacred Heart
also provides financial support to Santa Rosa Community Clinics,
a clinic modeled after ECC.
Camp
Bluebird
Camp Bluebird, held at Miracle Camp in
the spring and fall, offers adult cancer patients a “time
out” for reflection and relaxation during thee-day retreats.
Sharing sessions, education and arts and crafts offer a special
support group experience for these patients and their families.
Free
Screenings and Seminars
Sacred Heart has provided free screenings
for prostate cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension,
anemia, peripheral artery disease and abdominal aneurysms. Free
educational seminars on a variety of health topics also are
provided throughout the year.
Hearts
& Hands
Twice a year, Sacred Heart associates
volunteer their time to refurbish the homes and yards of people
in need.
Ladies
of Charity
A group of women affiliated with Sacred
Heart, the Ladies of Charity volunteer at the Juvenile Detention
Center, Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, and collect clothes
and toiletry items for the Alfred-Washburn Center for the homeless.
Partners
in Education
More than 30 Sacred Heart employees volunteer
as mentors to students at Spencer Bibbs Elementary School.
Care
of the Poor Committee
Through Sacred Heart’s Care of the
Poor Committee, our employees support annual Back-to-School
Drives for students in need, holiday food and gift drives, and
an Easter basket drive for the elderly.
Food
Pantry
Food drives are conducted to keep Sacred
Heart’s Food Pantry stocked to assist families in need.
