CHICAGO--We cannot always predict when disaster will strike, but we can prepare for the unexpected.
Doctors, in particular, understand the importance of having an emergency plan in place. They know it will reduce anxiety and help individuals and families to better cope during a time of crisis. With some thought and planning, you, too, can be better prepared.
Disasters¿whether manmade or natural¿are different from other kinds of emergencies. Large numbers of people might need medical attention all at one time, and their needs could range from basic first aid to advanced life support.
Physicians from all specialties could be called upon to provide general medical help. Anesthesiologists would be especially needed to manage the airways of people who could not breathe on their own; to diagnose and treat life-threatening conditions such as acute respiratory or kidney failure; to administer intravenous fluids and blood transfusions; and to provide pain relief to seriously injured victims.
They would also be needed as part of the medical team transporting critically ill patients from disaster sites or triage centers to hospitals, and, of course, to provide anesthesia to victims needing surgery.
Communities throughout the United States will be celebrating the national observance of Doctors Day on March 30, 2006. While physicians in all specialties and primary care medicine are honored, Doctors Day was first observed because of the efforts of one physician whose endeavors specifically related to the specialty of anesthesiology.
On March 30, 1842, Crawford W. Long, M.D., of Jefferson, Ga., administered the first ether anesthesia to James Venable and then operated to remove a tumor from the man's neck.
The man would swear later that he felt nothing during the surgery and was not aware it was over until he awoke. Dr. Long's history-making achievement on that day, and the continuous efforts by physicians to alleviate human suffering in the 164 years since then, have become the basis for celebrating Doctors Day each year.
According to ASA President Orin F. Guidry, M.D., "The advances in anesthesiology since Dr. Long's historic event have resulted in a medical specialty comprising highly trained men and women who are dedicated to relieving pain and saving lives in a variety of settings, from the operating room to a battlefield or disaster site."
In a health crisis that would send large numbers of patients to hospital intensive care units, such as an influenza pandemic, anesthesiologists would be vitally important. These physicians often work in the demanding and fast-paced arenas of critical care and trauma medicine because of their expertise in sustaining the life functions of patients.
Recent large-scale disasters in the United States and the world have illuminated the potential of these events to overwhelm medical and other community resources.
Anesthesiologists are committed to contributing their expertise to planning efforts at the local and national level, and to being part of disaster response teams that are formed in advance and ready to go at a moment's notice. They participate in disaster drills, courses and other educational activities to prepare to help the maximum number of victims should disaster strike.
Just as anesthesiologists continually train and prepare for the unexpected, they encourage individuals and families to do the same by developing an emergency plan that includes disaster drills; a disaster kit with provisions (including medicines) that will enable a family or individual to be self-sufficient for at least four days; an emergency plan for evacuating the family residence; and a plan for the care of family pets.
An up-to-date medical record for each member of the family is another vital component of the disaster kit. It provides doctors with accurate information about a patient's health history, which plays a crucial role in administering proper medical care.
As part of the medical records, ASA's "Anesthesia & Me" Checklist can be downloaded by going to www.asahq.org/patientEducation/anesandme.htm.
For further information on emergency preparedness, ASA encourages you to check with your community regarding local emergency preparedness plans, and visit the following government Web sites:
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), www.dhs.gov
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), www.fema.gov
Should you have questions regarding anesthesia, contact an anesthesiologist through your local hospital or state anesthesiology society.
In adition, you can contact the ASA Executive Office, 520 N. Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068-2573, (847) 825-5586, or visit the ASA Web site at www.ASAhq.org.
