"Luck is where the crossroads of opportunity and preparation meet."
- Seneca.
Packing Zahra For Syria
My friend Zahra is a full-scope Family Physician like myself who is bravely flying out to the MIddle East tomorrow morning to provide medical relief to those effected by the Syrian Civil War. Prior to her arrival in Syria she'll also be training Turkish and Syrian surgeons in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS). Since I have experience in disaster relief and mission medicine Zahra asked for some help in preparing for her mission.
I thought it would be interesting to share the gear list we prepared. The most important aspects when preparing for a trip like this is to be light and fast. You need to be prepared to move as quickly as possible, and you can't leave your gear behind so it needs to be able to move with you at all times.
Clothing and pack color need to be subdued and not draw attention in crowds, especially as a foreign national in a war zone.
Bags
1 large duffel medical supplies (checked)
1 carry on - light hiking backpack (in neutral black/grey/light blue- no red or bright colors)
concealed passport/money pouch
Clothes
Street clothes arrival (top)
Departure clothes (top)
Jeans (1 pair)
Scrubs (3 tops, 2 pants)
Trail Running shoes (1 pair)
sleep clothes
underwear (x # comfortable), sports bra
headscarf or Shemagh
socks x 2 (Smartwool PhD ankle socks)
long sleeve 1/4 zip pullover (Patagonia Capilene 2 or 3)
thin rain jacket (Patagonia Houdini)
Electronics
iPhone (= camera, journal, language guide, med reference)
Kindle (to not go insane during downtime and long-term battery life)
headphones
usb cable for iphone and Kindle
charger
emergency usb battery pack
international adapter
Medical
stethoscope
emergency gloves
clear shooting glasses
n95 mask
Personal hygiene
small hand sanitizer
baby wipes
travel sized shampoo/conditioner/bodywash
toothpaste
toothbrush
small nail trimmer with file
small roll toilet paper
Food/water
10 high-protein energy bars
water purification tablets
gum or mints
Medications:
Fluconazole 150mg (1)
Ciprofloxacin 500mg (20)
Flagyl 500mg (20)
Doxycycline 100mg (20)
imodium (20)
bismuth salicylate (20)
mobic or naproxen (10-30)
vicodin (6)
prednisone 20mg (10)
Personal
eyeglasses
sunglasses & case
money pouch
bandana(1)
watch (Casio g-shock)
very small compass
ear plugs (hearos)
small roll of duct tape wrapped around 3 zip ties
pen x 2
Documents:
photocopy of medical license
photocopy of passport hidden in bag
flight itinerary hidden in bag
copies of all on iPhone
printed out map of the region and of the city (8x11)
Software/eBooks
iPhone
1.) byki Arabic
3.) epocrates
4.) DayOne
Kindle
(to load on Kindle and iPhone)
1.) 2.) Turkey & Syria country guides (Loney Planet, etc.)
3.) Auerbach Field Guide to Wilderness Medicine (Kindle)
or
Auerbach Wilderness Medicine 5th Ed (Kindle)
4.) Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care
5.) The ICU Book
6.) Where There Is No Doctor (pdf)
7.) Where There Is No Dentist (pdf)
-load these in iBooks on your iPhone
I wish Zahra luck on the good and selfless work she is doing.
If she has any form of internet access she'll send me updates and I'll post them here on HeartHandsEyes.com
-A
Deceptive Marketing
Yes, they really are pretending 'Vitaminwater' is water. Nearly as much "sugar" as Coke, which is why they're being sued over it. This is especially frustrating to me here on the Navajo Reservation where diabetes cripples the community and people try so hard to make healthy choices.
They say they are not trying to use deceptive marketing with Vitaminwater.
What do you think from this picture?
Brown
automatum asked: Can you comment on the quality of Brown's medical school?
Brown has an excellent medical school.
They give a huge range of flexibility and options to medical students to pursue their own goals (the famous flexibility that Brown is known for in general) and offer all of the resources you would expect from an Ivy League medical school. You will have the opportunity to learn and train from the people who write the textbooks.
The school recently opened a gorgeous new facility in the Jewelry District of Providence, and the affiliated hospitals are excellent and include specialty hospitals like Women & Infant’s and Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
Providence isn’t Boston, but it’s a great ‘little big’ town, with really wonderful food and good proximity to everything in New England.
Good luck!
-Aaron
The Girl
The Solution
"My life is simple, my food is plain, and my quarters are uncluttered. In all things, I have sought clarity. I face the troubles and problems of life and death willingly. Virtue, integrity and courage are my priorities. I can be approached, but never pushed; befriended but never coerced; killed but never shamed."
— Yi Sun-sin
Sent to me by Pat.
What Do I Eat At The Cafeteria For Lunch?
Nothing.
Instead I come home and have a 4 egg omelette on greens.
Today it's a Kim-chee omelette with tomatoes and onions on a bed of greens with a sesame oil-chili pepper dressing, a cup of green tea, and a small handful of dried banana and pineapple chunks.
All made on the hotel sink!
Meet Lory
Never underestimate
the power of a dance party when on the Reservation.
Water Is Life
Dan and I did this for Christmas 2 years ago and it was totally worth it. It is amazing to get progress reports to see how our water projects are doing in real time.
You can have a new flat panel TV, or you can change life for hundreds of people.
Its really up to you.
-Aaron
.