Mashramani Emergency

Minutes after sunrise on the morning of the 42nd anniversary of the Republic, two emergency patients were not having their best holiday - they lifted off in a Medevac flight en route to the capital city. A fourteen year old boy had developed an acute abdomen the night before and was already prepped for emergency surgery. A Rupununi woman with a gynecological emergency was also on board to seek medical assistance.

Guyana regulations require flights of this type to be conducted between sunrise and sunset. Both patients were stable upon arrival at Ogle International Aerodrome and the Ministry of Health Ambulance was waiting at the gate on arrival.

Region 9 Mashramani Champions! (Again).

Congratulations to all the Health Dept Staff and RAM Volunteers who put together a winning float and performance in the 2012 Mash competition held yesterday in Lethem.

Valentines to Mash time.

A few quick highlights from the month so far:

-The Annual inspection on the Air Ambulance has been completed and your friendly RAM plane is once again in the skies.

- Valentines day couples testing promotion in the Lethem area has been completed with one lucky couple winning a dinner for two at a leading local establishment. Getting tested for HIV together with your spouse or partner is all it took be eligible.

- German's Resturant is the latest private sector partner to come on board and support Remote Area Medical Guyana. Stay tuned for details.

- A pre Mash health outreach in partnership with the Lethem Hospital was conducted Saturday at the Public Market.

- The Canadian supported sanitation initiative in response to the floods of 2011 has been completed. Ten broken down and flood affected pit latrines have been replaced with new flush toilet facilities with concrete septic systems. Photos to be posted shortly.

- The Mashramani float parade is looking like it may see a repeat of last years champion - the health delegation. RAM has once again partnered with the Dept of Health and is preped to put on a zizzling display while at the same time promoting key health messages. Stay tuned for pics, judging results, and photos from the big day.

Spark of Life

Cleaning and 'gapping' the spark plugs is one of the routine maintenance items on the big Continental six-cylinder engine.

Did you know: Every cylinder has two plugs, each fired by a separate engine-driven magneto. Once started the engine requires no battery power to operate.

Annual inspection time.

Special thanks to Delmar and Stalin for once again volunteering their time today to help put the RAM air ambulance back together. Once every year the aircraft is inspected in great detail to help ensure that all systems are in excellent working order.

Routine scheduled maintenance throughout the year is also critical to ensure the highest level of safety in flight.

Volunteers help keep our operating expenses lower but fuel, spare parts, and highly skilled services are expensive. Thank you for considering financial support for this life saving aircraft.

C-Arm Xray machine in use following installation and training.

Special thanks to RAM volunteer technician Jim Massengill for supervising the transport, repair and installation of the new xray equipment in the Lethem public hospital.

A specific training session was also conducted by Massengill with physicians and technicians attached to the hinterland facility to familiarize the clinicians with the technology. With this equipment, an instant xray is displayed on a tv screen to allow for effective reduction and setting of fractures. There is no need for dark room procedures and multiple 'guess and check' repetitions to set a broken bone.

Pictured here is the first client benefiting from the new machine during the observed training session at the Rupununi facility.

One village, one family, two snake attacks.

Less than one month apart a single family has been unlucky enough to have two members bitten by a Rattle Snake and a Labaria respectively. The four year old daughter had to be evacuated in late December while her father encountered the latter snake shortly after the holidays.

Here he is pictured being assisted onto the waiting RAM aircraft. One can only imagine what the local spiritual leaders will make of this one.

The good news is that both now have been treated at Georgetown medical facilities and today they will be reunited in their home village. Due to an obstetric emergency this morning at the same location, the father has joined the flight in with the organization's air ambulance.

Remote Area Medical officials meet President Donald Ramotar.

From Guyana Times: "Officials of the Remote Area Medical (RAM) Guyana Incorporated and its United States partner mission paid their first courtesy call to President Donald Ramotar, highly optimistic that collaboration with the Guyana government will continue into the future.

The team accompanied by Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran and RAM Board Chairman Patrick de Groot, included Volunteer Director of Operations Stan Brock, Operations Member Jim Massengill and Regional Director Capt. Terrence Trapnell.

RAM U.S.A. Has been involved in outreach missions of a charitable nature throughout Guyana since 1993, ....."

Sawariwau Emergency.

A patient from the remote village of Sawariwau had to be airlifted to the regional hospital after loosing consciousness with low blood pressure and uncontrolled blood sugar levels. He later began seizuring at the Lethem facility and was treated by the physician on call.

Thank you for supporting Remote Area Medical. Your contributions are saving lives while at the same time building local capacity.

Wapishana as a first language.

RAM founder and director Stan Brock, who spent over fifteen years living and working in the South Rupununi many decades ago still speaks fluent Wapishana.

It was the during those years in the isolated savannas and rain forest that the idea for the volunteer medical organization was born.

Here he chats with children in Aishalton village, many of whom speak the language every day at home.

For more information look for his book "When All the Cowboys Were Indians".

The Flying X-ray Machine.

The team of volunteers in Aishalton with the 'C-arm' xray machine disassembled and loaded in back of the RAM Cessna.

Organization Founder visits RAM Guyana.

A team from RAM World Headquarters in Knoxville TN led by Stan Brock arrived in Guyana this afternoon. Pictured here is the donated aircraft being fueled at Timerhi prior to flying on to Lethem.

RAM flight featured on Demerara Waves

http://www.demerarawaves.com/index.php/201201083075/Latest/babys-shoulder-fractured-to-facilitate-delivery-air-dashed-to-lethem-hospital.html

The emergency flight ended running late in part due to poor communications on the hf or 'ham' radio band. Additionally, interference from unauthorized radio operators and even amateur DJ's were once again causing interference on the designated medical frequency.

The aircraft was subsequently forced to wait on the ground in Aishalton as a private vehicle was mobilized to bring the client to the airstrip.

Special thanks to all the public spirited community volunteers in Lethem who helped provide additional lighting in this extra-ordinary medical evacuation flight.

Pictured here is the critical infant being loaded onto the waiting aircraft at Aishalton.

Case Number Four on the Year.

This young boy from the Karasabai community is assisted by villagers into the waiting air-ambulance. He is the fourth emergency client so far for to be evacuated for urgent medical care this year.

The RAM air ambulance runs entirely on the donations, generosity and volunteer support from people who want to make a difference.

Happy New Year.

Thank you for all the volunteer service, support, prayers, and donations during 2011. Just imagine what challenges and opportunities await us in the new year!

Isolated village/ snake bite/ four year old girl:

The fixings for an emergency medical evacuation flight. This young girl and her mother were picked up at Tiperu village airstrip this week which may be the toughest landing spot where RAM operates. A seventy four year old granny boasting a compound arm fracture and a lady with pregnancy complications had to be left temporarily at Karasabai due to weight considerations at Tiperu. In addition, a school teacher with an arm fracture had to be picked up at Yurong Paru for an orthopedic appointment. All together, a full load for the willing Cessna under the conditions.