EMB4879

Thanks to all for your thoughts.  I'm at Boston Medical Center, we received 23 severely injured.  Cliff is at Brigham and Women's and I think they got a similar number.  As others have said, you never think it's going to be in your own backyard.  All the Boston hospitals were terrific - you are right that no one died after the fact once we got them.  But the real saving grace was the medical tent and a fleet of waiting ambulances at the finish line of the marathon.  All the emergency rooms in Boston brace for dehydrated and hypothermic runners at the end of the race. Without the immediate response of these EMTs, RNs, MDs, many more would have died.
We used 72 units of red cells that first night.  Somewhat more than our trauma room normally uses! 
 
One great point - we practice at least a couple of times a year for a mass casualty event.  Our system was not perfect, but better than anyone anticipated due to the disaster training and planning.
 
Plan for the worst, hope for the best. 
 
The outpouring of support from everyone has been asstounding and humbling.  We utilize the AABB National Blood Exchange for 99% of our blood products.  Blood centers across the country were calling us and offering us O's.
 
Our sports teams - Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics - have had incredible receptions at other city arenas.  Incredible!!
THANK YOU!!    
 
We are not alone.  You are with us.  We are BOSTON STRONG!!

Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers.....
 
We are strong---BOSTON STRONG!
 
Yes, Cliff and I are BWH'ers (Brigham and Women's Hospital) we had 10 trauma rooms going on Monday evening---an unusual occurrence, to say the least!!!!!
 
----By day I am Blood Bank at a neighboring Boston hospital, by night I am a Chemistry specialist at BWH. We were on lockdown all day Friday----having SWAT teams in your hospital and State Police manning the doors is still surreal to me, but that is what we endured all week last week and culminating Friday night. We are recovering----but it will be a while before we get back to "normal".......we are so fortunate to have had the resources to absorb the influx of injuries. From First responders to the trauma teams to the ancillary services, we pulled together and saved a lot of people.
 
Here's to hoping that no other city goes through anything like what we just did......thanks again for all your support!
 
 

The fact that none of the victims of the Marathon Bombing sent to area hospitals died afterwards is a huge congratulations to our colleagues at those facilities.  I know my fellow Blood Bankers, Med Techs, and phlebotomists deserve a big thank you on behalf of our profession especially during National Medical Laboratory Week.  Some day post what you learned about the experience both as techs and spiritually. 
From your colleagues in Arkansas!

The photographs and news about Boston bomb blast killings have rekindled thoughts, horror and nightmare that only those who have endured bomb blast can understand. Although I am not in Boston physically, I am there...been there...
 
I pray for all victims and their families, also doctors and other paramedics, and our BB Talk friends for taking their care. May God bless you all with strength to get through and over this calamity. Our hearts go out to you all - Chris, Linda and Kate Murphy.