Keesler medical aid reaches community neighbors

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Albert Bosco
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) --  As a team of medics here walked to the doors of a local high school converted into a shelter, a man approached with wide eyes and a huge smile.

Stopping a few steps from the Airmen, he raised a hand to his brow and said, “I salute you. I’m proud of you all and thank you for your support.”

Jack Shotwell had been in another shelter, but he was forced to relocate with his son because of poor conditions. Interaction with the Keesler Airmen was a sign that help was arriving, and he, along with nearly 40 other shelter residents, welcomed it.

While the Gulf Coast is focusing on rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, medics here are providing comfort to many still residing in area shelters.

Every day, two teams of medics consisting of doctors, nurses and social workers visit area shelters to evaluate the health of residents and provide medical care as needed.

“Once we were able to leave our shelters after Hurricane Katrina, we immediately began responding to calls for assistance from the community,” said Brig. Gen. William T. Lord, 81st Training Wing commander here.

One such call came Sept. 1 when a local police officer approached Keesler Airmen to request medical aid at a shelter located in a junior high school just outside the base’s gates.

“The officer told us there were a lot of people in the shelter, and they were getting sick due to the lack of food, water and sanitary living conditions,” the general said. “We immediately dispatched a medical team with food, water and medical supplies in order to assess the situation and provide treatment to the extent possible.”

The medical humanitarian missions have continued daily for the medical teams, visiting more than a dozen shelters in just a few days after the hurricane devastated the Gulf Coast.

“It’s such a great feeling to be a part of this effort,” said 1st Lt. Schavonne Fludd during a follow-on visit to a local high-school gymnasium that is housing hurricane victims. “In many cases, we are the only source of medical care these folks will receive.” The lieutenant is a basic personnel officer course instructor here but is now serving as the coordinator for the medical teams’ humanitarian missions.

And the care is well received by residents of the shelters.

According to Gulfport police officer Eddie Hilliard, it was a blessing to see Keesler Airmen arrive at the badly neglected shelter.

“I was the only source of support for this shelter for four days after the storm,” he said. “There were about 170 people living here and there was no food, water, electricity or plumbing, so conditions deteriorated quickly.

“Suddenly, the military showed up and brought some food and water, and the medical team arrived to provide care to those needing medical attention,” he said. “It was the first food and only medical care these people received.”

The team returned to the shelter a few days later to check on the progress and provide any additional care that was needed. Once again, smiles greeted the team as it circulated through the gym to talk to residents and “bandage” any ills.

In fact one of the team’s doctors borrowed a satellite phone from the unit’s accompanying communications team to consult a cardiologist on behalf of a resident who required medication but had none.

“It’s a blessing to have the military here,” Mr. Shotwell said. “You don’t really know what they do until they show up and really step up to help. It’s like getting a shot in the arm.”