Preparation for Haiti
If you're reading this then you've probably heard that I recently traveled to Haiti. Before I start to share about my experience there I feel I need to mention a few things first. For starters, I work as a biomedical equipment technician at a hospital in Indy for a company called Trimedx. I like to tell people "the doctors and nurses fix the people, but I fix the medical equipment." I enjoy serving the patients in this way and have quite a variety of things to fill my days at work.
The Trimedx Foundation is a non-profit that came out of Trimedx and they help connect and send us technicians to hospitals around the world that need their equipment fixed or tested. I had the opportunity to volunteer last year at a warehouse in Illinois where donated medical equipment needed to be fixed or tested before sending overseas. Sadly, parts and supplies are much harder to obtain in the hospitals overseas and it's more cost effective to do this work in the U.S.
I contacted the Trimedx Foundation back in October to see what trips were planned for 2018 and expressed my interest in helping wherever I was needed most. The earliest trip that required another technician was to Haiti, one of the first places the Foundation had served. More specifically the trip was to Hôpital Sacré Coeur near the city of Milot (and yes that's French). After checking with my manager and requesting the time off for the week long trip I was officially going to Haiti!
In preparation for the trip I knew I needed some vaccinations and visited Passport Health, a company that specializes in preparing people for international travel. They also provided an anit-malaria medication to be taken during and after my time there. I distinctly remember them saying "DO NOT drink the water and DO NOT eat the food from street vendors" as if they expected me to.
The inventory of equipment at the hospital was sent via email as well as a list of equipment to prioritize. One of my coworkers, Kevin, was instrumental in helping we gather the test equipment needed for the ventilators on the high priority list. The rest of the test equipment was provided by the Foundation and would constitute the majority of my luggage. I also was introduced to David, another technician who would traveling with me that works for Trimedx in Florida.
Naturally, as the date of the trip approached my excitement grew. What follows are the notable observations and my reflections on this very different part of the world among the people of Haiti. I hope you enjoy it, but more than that I hope you gain a more accurate perspective of life in Haiti. I know it's helped me to have a greater appreciate for all that I have.
The Trimedx Foundation is a non-profit that came out of Trimedx and they help connect and send us technicians to hospitals around the world that need their equipment fixed or tested. I had the opportunity to volunteer last year at a warehouse in Illinois where donated medical equipment needed to be fixed or tested before sending overseas. Sadly, parts and supplies are much harder to obtain in the hospitals overseas and it's more cost effective to do this work in the U.S.
I contacted the Trimedx Foundation back in October to see what trips were planned for 2018 and expressed my interest in helping wherever I was needed most. The earliest trip that required another technician was to Haiti, one of the first places the Foundation had served. More specifically the trip was to Hôpital Sacré Coeur near the city of Milot (and yes that's French). After checking with my manager and requesting the time off for the week long trip I was officially going to Haiti!
In preparation for the trip I knew I needed some vaccinations and visited Passport Health, a company that specializes in preparing people for international travel. They also provided an anit-malaria medication to be taken during and after my time there. I distinctly remember them saying "DO NOT drink the water and DO NOT eat the food from street vendors" as if they expected me to.
The inventory of equipment at the hospital was sent via email as well as a list of equipment to prioritize. One of my coworkers, Kevin, was instrumental in helping we gather the test equipment needed for the ventilators on the high priority list. The rest of the test equipment was provided by the Foundation and would constitute the majority of my luggage. I also was introduced to David, another technician who would traveling with me that works for Trimedx in Florida.
Naturally, as the date of the trip approached my excitement grew. What follows are the notable observations and my reflections on this very different part of the world among the people of Haiti. I hope you enjoy it, but more than that I hope you gain a more accurate perspective of life in Haiti. I know it's helped me to have a greater appreciate for all that I have.
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