My island (Tobago) experienced a fatal hurricane on the 30th September, 1963. I was not yet born so I asked a colleague of mine to relate her experience because she was a child at that time. She resided on the north western side of the island. She recounted that it began as a slightly rainy day so she along with her sister left for school as usual. While at school they learned that hurricane Flora was going to strike so all schools were dismissed. As little children, they were naïve to the impending danger so they delayed and played on their way home. By then the wind had gained strength, they witnessed trees bowing to the strong wind and they took it lightly.
She lost her mother at the age of 6 so her dad who was a proprietor came home early and was busy securing the windows and fastening loose galvanize for the eventual onslaught. Neighbors could be heard also reinforcing their windows and roofing. Heavy rains eventually started and she stated that they saw galvanize flying. Eventually, there was a loll. Her dad went to the rescue of an old man who was not living too far from them but he refused to leave his home. Then they began experiencing further effects of the hurricane, their home was not damaged because they lived behind a huge rock, she noted that you could have actually step off from the rock unto their house but neighbors were not so fortunately so they were host to two families for a period of time.
During the ensuing days, their neighbors returned to their premises to see how they can repair their homes and at nights they return for lodging. The old neighbor who they tried to assist house eventually caved in on him and he had to be rescued. He was swollen and was groaning so my friend’s father took him to their home. He died two days later.
Many persons on the island were not as fortunate as my friend because on the western end of the island, several lives were lost and many homes were totally destroyed. My friend noted that the event brought the community closer together because there was a greater level of care and concern for each other. Her school received supplies from other countries but it was felt that they were not seriously affected so they should not receive anything but eventually she and her sister were given a blouse and skirt each. When Haiti experienced the earthquake on January 12th 2010, 45% of those affected were in the pediatric age group. France as well as the United States medical teams was some of the first to arrive on the scene to offer assistance. Many of the injured children came without their parents often accompanied by their relatives or neighbors because their parents were either deceased or injured in the earthquake.
It was reported that acute stress disorder occurred in 71 children who were directly exposed to traumatic events during the earthquake and/or aftershocks. Their parents or accompanying adults gave a characteristic history of the child being numb or less responsive, being in a daze, unable to recall specific events after the earthquake, avoiding places associated with the event or exhibiting severe anxiety, insomnia, irritability and restlessness. Children experienced unexplained headaches and functional abdominal pain. Children with acute stress disorder were younger than children with other diagnoses. They also noted that acute stress disorder occurred more commonly in females than in males.
It was noted that before the earthquake struck Haiti on January 12 the health care system was fragmented, underfunded and grossly inadequate to deal with children. The devastation and social displacement caused by the earthquake has placed children at a much greater risk than at any other time in Haiti’s history.
To minimize the harm of those children affected entails (a) controlling wound infections with aggressive wound care, frequent dressing changes and appropriate antibiotic use (b) to improve functional outcomes with the use of prosthetics, physical and occupational therapy (c) to improve limb function and sustain limb viability.
Reference
Anand, K.J.S., Eubanks 111, J.W., Kelly¸ D. M., MEIER, J. W., Saltzman, J.A., Crisler, S.C., Kraus, G.J., Spentzas, T. & Chesney, R.W. (2010). Pediatric Patients Seen in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Clinical Pediatrics Vol. 49. Issue 12.
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