Auxiliarist responds to the health care needs caused by Katrina
Richard C. Lavy, M.D. isn\'t your average doctor. Dr. Lavy isn\'t your average person. He is a United States Coast Guard Auxiliarist who now donates most of his time to the United States Coast Guard.
Contact: Aux. Wayne Spivak
Chief - External Communications
Public Affairs Department
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
http://www.auxpa.org
516-353-9155
Media@auxpa.org
Auxiliarist responds to the health care needs caused by Katrina
/24-7PressRelease/ - BELLMORE, NY, September 28, 2005 - Richard C. Lavy, M.D. isn't your average doctor. Dr. Lavy isn't your average person. He is a United States Coast Guard Auxiliarist who now donates most of his time to the United States Coast Guard, as the Assistant Director of Auxiliary Coast Guard Support - Health and Safety.
When the Coast Guard was not tasked with providing health care personnel, Dr. Lavy found a way to serve the people of this nation. He deployed to New Orleans in as a physician with the Maryland Defense Force.
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has developed a Physician Volunteer Emergency Response Corps. It is organized to respond to in-state emergencies, but when requested by another state's governor, may be deployed elsewhere.
The members of this Corps were requested to volunteer to be deployed to New Orleans.
The members of the Maryland Defense Force, a volunteer paramilitary organization under the laws of the State of Maryland, were flown on a C-130 by the Maryland Air National Guard to a military airfield south of New Orleans.
From their, the medical team was bussed to a nearby abandoned hospital in Belle Chase, LA. While the site was being secured by the Arkansas National Guard, gunshots were heard in the area. The operation was conducted to military standards, and the accommodations were basic.
Jefferson Parish requested the Maryland volunteers to service 6 emergency clinics. Dr. Lavy's team serviced a clinic in Kenner, which was almost an hour's drive from the base camp.
Each team consisted of one or more volunteer physicians, nurses, a pharmacist, possibly a social worker, psychiatrist or psychologist, and aides. Each team had a Emergency Medical Services ambulance and crew and a contingent of national guardsmen assigned to it. Dr. Lavy's ambulance and crew was from Hagerstown, MD, and it had been driven to New Orleans.
There was only one hospital open in the general area, but it was deluged with patients in its emergency room. Everyone who came to the emergency clinic manned by Dr. Lavy and his colleagues was offered, and encouraged to take a Tetanus/Diphtheria and Hepatitis A immunizations. Many needed prescriptions refilled.
Patients presented with a variety of illnesses, injuries, or psychological problems. A few were seriously ill, as one four year old child. His mother thought he had a mild cold and cough for a few days. However, upon examining him he was found to be suffering from severe asthma and Dr. Lavy had him transported to the hospital via our EMS unit with treatment being administered en route.
Due the imminent approach of Hurricane Rita, the two week deployment was terminated early. Upon leaving the clinic, the Maryland Physician Volunteer Emergency Response Corps left the clinic all of the supplies to assist the staff in restarting their clinic and the residents in recovering from this disaster.
Dr. Lavy is just one of the diverse 32,000 member USCG Auxiliary.
High Resolution photo
Caption: Dr. Lavy attending a child at the emergency clinic in New Orleans.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 31,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.
The release is available at: http://www.auxpa.org/releases/auxaction/092605.html
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Press Release Contact Information:
Wayne Spivak
US Coast Guard Auxiliary
Chief, External Communications
2711 Bellmore Avenue
Bellmore, NY
USA 117104319
Voice: 5163539155
Website: Visit Our Website
