| Haiti is crying out for help. The world is shocked and | | | | Haiti needs personnel who are trained in disaster |
| saddened by the suffering and devastation from an | | | | relief. Governments and various nongovernmental |
| earthquake that struck the island without mercy. | | | | organizations (NGOs) have a roster of medical and |
| Governments and ordinary citizens from the four | | | | technical experts that were quickly mobilized and |
| corners of the globe have sent armed forces, | | | | dispatched. These professionals have done this |
| medical personnel, blankets and supplies, volunteers, | | | | before and know what they are doing. |
| disaster relief experts, cash and prayers. | | | | James J. James, a physician and public health expert, |
| Americans have responded with abounding generosity | | | | recently expressed to a physician audience a caveat |
| to help ease the unimaginable suffering in our | | | | to those who want to volunteer in Haiti. |
| impoverished southern neighbor. | | | | "Volunteers must be part of the solution, not the |
| We Want to Help | | | | problem." |
| Many folks have offered to put their personal lives | | | | What Should We Do? |
| aside to travel to Port-au-Prince to volunteer. They | | | | For most of us, making a cash donation to a |
| are examples of America at its best, and we all | | | | reputable organization is what we should do. These |
| admire them. | | | | organizations are professionals and know where the |
| They want to help with relief efforts, delivering | | | | funds are best needed. They would rather have us |
| supplies, unloading medical equipment, feeding the | | | | send cash than ship flashlights and shoes, which may |
| hungry and trying to bring some measure of hope | | | | not be a priority need at the moment. For those of |
| into a very dark country. Many are ready to travel | | | | us who simply must make a personal trip to Haiti, |
| there, but are not sure what their task will be. They | | | | first contact a relief organization who can decide how |
| assume that an extra pair of arm and legs will be put | | | | you can best contribute to their team. Your next |
| to good use. | | | | phone call should be to a travel doctor because you |
| What Help Do the Experts Need? | | | | may need travel vaccinations for Hepatitis A, |
| Relief experts are urging ordinary people not to book | | | | Hepatitis B and typhoid, and other important travel |
| plane tickets to Haiti. Good intentions are not enough | | | | safety advice. |
| to make traveling to Haiti a good idea. Those who | | | | Here are 3 suggestions of organizations that would |
| are determined to volunteer should do so only as | | | | welcome your generous donations. |
| part of an organized relief effort. Volunteers may not | | | | American Red Cross |
| be adequately prepared and trained for: | | | | Doctors Without Borders |
| A harsh environment with a destroyed infrastructure | | | | Mercy Corps |
| Questionable security | | | | This is not amateur-hour. Leave it to the |
| Inadequate resources | | | | professionals. |
| Health risks | | | | |