Team 10 is getting ready. We will meet at 5 PM Friday and travel to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The Little Rock team has 7 members. 5 are UAMS employees, one ACH, and one worked at UAMS for many years. Our team includes Vinay Sathe, Majid Saleem, Kathy Sexton, Kelly Rusher, Carlos Lewis, Martha Mayland, and myself.
In Ft.Lauderdale we will then meet 3 more team members from Bellingham, Washington. Team Washington will include Jessica Yoos, June Jones, and Jennifer Wright. Saturday morning we fly to Port Au Prince. Once we arrive we will be joined by Team Wichita which includes Naomi Shields and Susan Roby.
Yesterday I spoke with Hank Frissora, a general surgeon from Boston who was Team Leader for Team 8 and returned from Haiti last Saturday. He has pointed out that we will be met at the airport most likely by Steve Mosberg who manages Pierre Payen. He suggests that we request a visit to the University of Miami Field Hospital managed by Steve Ausberg and University Hospital PAX which is managed by Cuba and Peurto Rico. We will examine the waiting patient load and look for cases that are good choices for us. We can simultaneously make arrangements to have them brought to Pierre Payen during the week we are there. Dr. Frissora stated that there are dermatomes and meshes available. He felt that there was a large supply of Synthes plates, screws and nails. He pointed out that there are no reamers. I am trying to get a donated older set now. He believes we will see a lot of malunions and infections. There is an ongoing need for basic packs, sterile draps and gowns.
During our stay Pierre Payen has a volunteer Family Practice physician, Ken Pratt. Dr. Pratt will assure continuity between the present team and our team. Dr. Frissora also thinks that Rick Bonnell will be coming at the end of the month. To my knowledge, we are the last weekly team on the schedule. After us Pierre Payen will recieve one team each month. We will have to verify this information and decide about cases we will do without a follow up team behind us for follow up of our cases.
Another asset is Annie, who runs the orphanage. She will help us with needed transfers in and out of Pierre Payen. The present team leader is an orthopaedic surgeon from Oklahoma, RJ Langerman. We will touch base with him this week to determine acute supply needs.

I have been working on a list of items that each individual may wish to bring. There is a laptop at Pierre Payen that was donated by Dr. Frissora's group and they have WiFi. I don't suggest that we each bring a computer. We can share. I will bring mine. Your cell phone will work. AT&T has a special program for $19.95 that will substantially reduce your text message price, telephone calls to the states, and e-mails. Ask for the Haiti special price. It is recommended that you have vacinnations against Hepatitis and Thyphoid. It is also important to take anti-malarial medication. I suggest you consider bringing peptobismol tablets and take 3 or 4 times each day. In addition, a few of us should pack Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Decongestents, RID, Bactrim, Ciprofloxacillin, and Keflex. If you take personal medications, be sure to bring them. Some of us should also pack DEET. Already at least 4 of us have this, everyone doesn't need to bring it. We can share. Some of us need to pack hand cleaner. I have a care package with drugs from ID (Atripla and something else) in case anyone gets stuck. Hopefully we will never need this.

Surgeons should pack a headlamp. Everyone should pack ear plugs. I suggest a small flashlight, poncho, umbrella, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, fanny pack, small digital camera, sandles, closed shoes and socks, swim suit, long sleeve lightweight shirt and long pants, shorts, t-shirts, paperback book to read and then swap with your buddies, games (cards, dominos, etc), DVD movies, extra toothbrush, scrubs and/or other clothes for at least 5 days. Also try to pack snacks. Bring enough to swap and share with the team. We should try to bring different things. For example, I am bringing chocolate almonds, assorted crackers, fiber bars and crystal light.

To stay healthy:
1. Don't drink the water unless you know the source. This includes ice in your drink. At Pierre Payen our water comes from a well and is filtered.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating or use alcohol-based hand gel
3. Avoid fresh fruit and vegetables unless you can peel them and wash them in safe water.
4. Do not eat foot from street vendors.
5. Make sure food is fully cooked.
6. Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized.
7. Present insect bites (long sleeves, long pants, hat, bug spray)
8. Avoid injuries. Don't ride the motorcycles or get on an overloaded bus or mini-bus.
9. Avoid animals. Avoid petting dogs and cats. If scratched, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention to determine if medication or anti-rabies vaccine is needed.
10. Don't swim in fresh water lakes or un-chlorinated pools.
11. Don't walk barefoot on beaches where animals may have defecated (fungal and parasitic infections).
12. Keep feet clean and dry

The UAMS team has white T-shirts with UAMS on them. If possible, Washington and Wichita should try to wear matching shirts. This will be for our TEAM picture.

I hope you are all getting excited. I am. See you Friday and Saturday!!!!