Volunteer in Honduras Review Frank M MD Medical Mission Trip
https://www.abroaderview.org/feedbacks/honduras/volunteer-honduras-frank-review-medical-trip
No medical supplies are too simple. It is hard to emphasize how underfunded and undersupplied the local medico’s are. However, the Internists and Surgeons there are highly skilled, and to be commended for trying to make do with a central government that systematically underfunds them. In particular, I would recommend that each attendee bring a multi-tool, like a leather-man tool (the most complex and complete multitool possible, as they can be really critical. Furthermore, I found a headset (LED) obtainable from a local camping store very useful for illumination. The ED in particular had antiquated and non-operative operative lights. So gooseneck lamps are usually used for supplemental lighting, however, they raised the temperature in an otherwise hot working environment, the LED headlight allowed for precision illumination with no additional heat.
Skin adhesive was very appreciated especially for the pediatric ED, in which it was an unheard-of innovation for repairing facial lacerations. I carried several disposable, single-use laryngoscopes. Not much emergency airway management occurs in the hospital, therefore, the reusable laryngoscopes are not used much, and at least one of the scopes used by me and my teammates had very weak batteries, complicating airway visualization. I carried several suture packs for the purpose of using them for my personal use, and when I successfully went a week without injuring myself, I donated the suture sets to the hospital.
Team members brought antibiotics, however, in addition to antibiotics, if you can bring some ketamine that would be very useful, in particular, the hospital’s access to IV medications, especially those relevant to sedation (both conscious and IV for ventilator management) are very constrained.
https://www.abroaderview.org/volunteers/honduras
https://www.abroaderview.org/feedbacks/honduras/volunteer-honduras-frank-review-medical-trip
No medical supplies are too simple. It is hard to emphasize how underfunded and undersupplied the local medico’s are. However, the Internists and Surgeons there are highly skilled, and to be commended for trying to make do with a central government that systematically underfunds them. In particular, I would recommend that each attendee bring a multi-tool, like a leather-man tool (the most complex and complete multitool possible, as they can be really critical. Furthermore, I found a headset (LED) obtainable from a local camping store very useful for illumination. The ED in particular had antiquated and non-operative operative lights. So gooseneck lamps are usually used for supplemental lighting, however, they raised the temperature in an otherwise hot working environment, the LED headlight allowed for precision illumination with no additional heat.
Skin adhesive was very appreciated especially for the pediatric ED, in which it was an unheard-of innovation for repairing facial lacerations. I carried several disposable, single-use laryngoscopes. Not much emergency airway management occurs in the hospital, therefore, the reusable laryngoscopes are not used much, and at least one of the scopes used by me and my teammates had very weak batteries, complicating airway visualization. I carried several suture packs for the purpose of using them for my personal use, and when I successfully went a week without injuring myself, I donated the suture sets to the hospital.
Team members brought antibiotics, however, in addition to antibiotics, if you can bring some ketamine that would be very useful, in particular, the hospital’s access to IV medications, especially those relevant to sedation (both conscious and IV for ventilator management) are very constrained.
https://www.abroaderview.org/volunteers/honduras