March 9, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Andres Viles, RN, a UAB Emergency Department nurse, spent nine days in Haiti following the devastating earthquake as a member of the Alabama 1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT). Vilas says his team was embedded with elements of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division in a tent camp outside of Port-au-Prince. They treated more than 3,500 patients, many who had not received medical attention after suffering primary injuries in the quake. The team also made trips into the countryside in search of victims who could not travel to medical facilities.

Vilas will be available for questions on Wednesday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m. at the UAB Emergency Department, 18th Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets. Joining Vilas will be the commander of the Alabama 1 DMAT team, Ronda Lacey.

DMAT teams are organized by the National Disaster Medical System, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Each team is a group of professional and para-professional medical personnel, supported by a cadre of logistical and administrative staff, designed to provide medical care during a disaster or other event.

DMATs are designed to be a rapid-response element to supplement local medical care until other federal or contract resources can be mobilized or the situation is resolved. DMATs deploy to disaster sites with sufficient supplies and equipment to sustain themselves for a period of 72 hours while providing medical care at a fixed or temporary medical care site. The personnel are activated for a period of two weeks.