Medical Team speaking out about Children and Teens Involved In Accident Transported to Children’s Hospital
MILWAUKEE , WI - Children’s Wisconsin Hospital had many patients transported to them from the tragedy in Waukesha where a SUV drove through a crowed Christmas Parade. Monday there was a Zoom Press Conference where the Medical Team updated us as to some of what they did last night.
Chief Medical Officer Michael Gutzeit started by offing his thoughts and prayers to the families and says his team responded head over heals to help these patients. There were 18 total patients transported to Children’s. He is thankful and sends his gratitude to the community for their help during this time. He went on to say that the law enforcement and first responders were pivotal. “Injury will go well beyond the physical and will take time to heal,” he ended.
Next up was Amy Drendel who is the ER Director at Children’s. She said their large ER is uniquely equipped to hand an influx of patients and they have trained over and over for this type of mass causality but hoped it would never happen to them. She stated that the first patient arrived around 5:30 PM last night and that last one around midnight. The Mass Causality Protocol ran from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM. During that many hospital teams were called in and worked together. 18 total patients ranging in age from 3-16 were treated including 3 sets of siblings. The injuries ranged from broken bones to facial abrasions to serious brain injuries. There have been 6 operations done so far and another 2 schedules for today. At 9:30 PM they transitioned back to normal patient care. She applauded field care of the patients to get the best possible care.
Finally there was Michael Meyer who is the Medical Director of the Critical Care Unit. He is very thankful for the response that started on scene and went to other area hospitals before getting the patients to Children’s. They have the largest CCU with 72 beds and prep began as soon as patients arrived. 18 patients were admitted with 10 of those going to CCU. 6 are in critical condition, 3 in serious, and the other 1 in fair. There have been 2 discharged so far. Many teams from medical to emotional are constantly rounding the patients. “It is amazing to watch all the medical teams work together,” he said and that he is very proud of his teams and to be part of this community.
An Emotional Support Line has been set up and will open at Noon Central Time on Monday. That number is 414-266-6500.
Blood donations are still needed and community members would go to their normal donation sites. Some patients were conscious on arrival and some were not. All family members have been notified and there are many social workers involved. Most patients arrived at Children’s by ambulance from nearby Menominee Falls Hospital.
Dr. Gutzeit ended by saying to use the resources available and is thankful for the community and for those who attended the press conference. He thanks the community for their outpouring of support including social media messages, food donations, and blood donations. It is greatly appreciated
To watch the full press conference via WTHR visit: https://fb.watch/9ryYvgWcPX/
Commenti