Yesterday was a pretty special day. It was John McCain's birthday. It was also Michael Jackson's birthday. And of course it was the anniversary of Katrina.
The first birthday should be forgotten. The second should be celebrated (musical contributions and all). The third needs to be remembered so we don't commit the same mistakes this time around.
Nearly half of the dead from Katrina were over the age of 75.
A report to be released by the journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness indicates:
_ 40 percent of victims drowned.
_ Just under half of all victims were 75 or older; the average age was 69.
_ Only 2 percent were younger than 18.
_ 51 percent were black; 42 percent were white.
That is tragic. That is unacceptable. That was preventable.
I've been following the developments of Gustav like many of you here. The diaries of millwx and DarkSyde have provided vital information for what may be heading our way. Given our government's track record, I have little faith they will do what's necessary to prevent another human tragedy should Gustav develop into a bigger menace. They'll more than likely be too preoccupied with introducing the new "It" girl up in Minnesota. So it's up to us, mainly citizens along the Gulf, to be our elders keepers. Call your relatives, go around your neighborhoods, make sure elderly people in your community have plans should worse come to worst.
This hits close to home because a patient of mine missed her appointment this Thursday afternoon. She is an elderly woman with dementia and is prone to confusion so I just assumed she forgot. She lives alone and doesn't have any family around. I came to the office Friday morning and on my answering machine was a message saying that this patient had a stroke and was in ICU.
I feel like shit because, like many of our elderly, she lives in relative seclusion. I was one of her few lifelines to the outside world. And I didn't make sure she was alright. I didn't make a simple call, instead I made a stupid assumption.
So please Kossacks along the Gulf check up on your elderly friends, relatives and even strangers. We can't let them drown due to our apathy. Once is more than enough.