Relief efforts are continuing in Haiti.  As of Sunday, almost 19,000 patients have been treated by US Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) doctors and nurses on the ground in Haiti, with an additional 19,000 being treated on the Comfort (a medical ship).  435 patients have been evacuated to the US for more extensive treatment- through the HHS National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) http://www.hhs.gov/aspr/opeo/ndms/index.html.  Most of these patients have been going to Florida and other states in the southeast.  The Florida high-level trauma care infrastructure is at capacity as of last weekend- and patients could be flown to more distant treatment hospitals in the coming days.  In anticipation of that, the government  activated federal coordinating centers (FCC) in Atlanta and Tampa yesterday.

There are 32 hospitals in Arizona that are part of the NDMS medical treatment system, which, if activated would provide treatment to Haitians at local hospitals.  Folks (if it happens) would arrive on civilian reserve air fleet or military aircraft landing at Sky Harbor, followed by patient reception will be at the 161 ARW and then dispersion to area NDMS hospitals.

You can also help immediately by donating to the Red Cross to assist the relief effort. Contribute online to the Red Cross, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting “HAITI” to “90999.”  Find more ways to help by visiting http://www.charitywatch.org/hottopics/Haiti.html which provides a listing of various charities along with effectiveness ratings.