Mar
Global Medic's Auction in Toronto
Posted under Features, |
The David McAntony Gibson Foundation is a Canadian non profit organization based in Toronto entirely based on volunteers. In January 2008, a team of GlobalMedic's Rapid Response Team was deployed to Vietnam, where each year there are 2000 casualties due to UXOs (Unexploded Ordnances). In the province of Quang Tri alone, there is an estimated 500,000 tons of UXO and mines. Across the country, the thousands of amputees that reside there are a constant reminder of a war that ended decades ago, but can be seen to live on through these lethal sub-surface hazards.
Members of the Rapid Response team of Emergency Professionals are usually deployed following natural or man-made disasters to provide emergency relief services. Team members include: paramedics, firefighters and police officers and other allied health professionals such as nurses, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists and water sanitation experts. Temporary field hospitals to administer first aid and vaccinations are set up and a special water team is tasked to provide clean water to the local population by water distribution, water purification tablet distribution or by filtration systems. These individuals take personal vacation time when they are needed to deploy and assist in various missions around the world, not to mention partake in fundraising in their spare time and assist in packing supplies while maintaining their professional duties. Other volunteers within GlobalMedic work in fundraising and support to the degree of involvement that they wish.
Currently, Toronto Paramedic Michael Larsen and Ottawa Paramedic Yvonne Malbasha, are deployed in Hue, Vietnam . The tandem is training medics of Mine Action Group (MAG) Vietnam 's Landmine Clearance Personnel. They will also be conducting a needs assessment of the medical support programs for MAG Vietnam 's UXO clearing operations and making recommendations for program enhancement.
The focus of the program is to provide hands on training and practical exercises in Trauma Management to medics working with UXO Clearance Teams. The course is very comprehensive, including sessions on Common Tropical Diseases, Venomous Snakebite and Infectious Disease Management. Following the completion of this program, these medics will be tasked with teaching Basic First Aid, Spinal Immobilization, and CPR/Airway clearing procedures to the UXO Clearance teams. The goal of this is two-fold. First, it gives the UXO team members knowledge that will allow them to assist the medics if/when called upon, and secondly, it enhances the medics own self confidence (by teaching), as well as increases the confidence that the technicians have in their medics, thereby reinforcing the position that the medic holds in the team.
The beauty of GlobalMedic's function is not only the rapid response and emergency care, but also a degree of capacity building is instilled in their practice. Training of local professionals in countries affected by landmines is just an example of the great work that DMGF strives to deliver: Aiding in making a local community functional and self sustaining for future events.
GlobalMedic would like to extend an invitation to all able individuals to help keep this volunteer organization continue its mandate of disaster relief across the world. Auction items are being sought for a silent auction and a live auction at the First Annual GlobalMedic Gala. Please lend a hand and help us help those who are unable to help themselves in times of untimely crisis and disaster.
Art in all forms are welcome, including services such as art classes or dance lessons
Anything that you have to give will help to save and improve many lives!
Check out the forum for more information on the Gala Auction and on the DMGF's mission statement and accomplishments: http://www.motive-art.org/forum/showthread.php?t=57
