Saving starfish-managing wounds after the haitian earthquake

First responders to calamitous events face problems that with hindsight could be avoided. Communities, organizations, and hospitals usually have a "preparedness program." When asked by the media what I expected as a first-responder to the Haitian earthquake, I missed the mark in many ways. I've learned that for some tragedies, no amount of preparation is sufficient. Each day, wound care physicians see a variety of traumatic and infected wounds. In Haiti, the sheer magnitude of what we saw and the logistical problems of getting supplies to the "field" were something I could not appreciate until post-field experience and reflection.