Posted on 09/12/2001 3:38:51 AM PDT by ResistorSister
COLUMBUS — Ohio hospitals need to be prepared to treat casualities of the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., according to a spokesperson for the Ohio Hospital Association.
The state's Emergency Management Agency in Columbus said hospitals in Ohio could be asked to help care for victims of the attacks. Casualities could arrive in Ohio within 24 to 72 hours of the Tuesday morning attack.
Federal officials have requested all deliveries of pharmaceuticals from drug manufacturers be diverted to New York to help treat attack victims.
Blood supplies also are being diverted to New York City, and hospitals throughout the country are being asked to help send additional donations of blood.
Shortly after the notification went out, Stark County’s Emergency Disaster Task Force — a coalition of the five area hospitals — met. Members discussed whether “we had all of the supplies, equipment, staffing and transportation to care for the patients in our area and to assist in any way we can in New York and Washington,” said Janie Sinacore-Jaberg, chairwoman of the task force.
A fourth hijacked airplane Tuesday never reached its target and crashed near Somerset, Pa. After word of that crash, the local medical task force lined up volunteers to go to Pittsburgh if requested, or wherever needed.
Now, hospitals are looking within. They will work with the Stark County Emergency Operations Center to get a total bed count from all members. They already are working with amateur ham radio operators to communicate among themselves and with others. This frees up the telephone lines, said Sinacore-Jaberg.
Hospitals are reviewing their supplies and instructing staff to use critical supplies carefully. Blood collection centers received hundreds of volunteers in the eight hours after the bombing. However, nobody knows what to expect.
“I don’t think anybody really truly knows the full effect of what will happen, and won’t for some time,” said Sinacore-Jaberg.
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