A Shopping Request and a Visit to the Firestation

We were surprised when Dr. Kathryn Leccese our pediatrician padded out of the post operation recovery room in her socks. Clean designated footwear is required in the operating room areas. She is a  size 7 but, only size 10s were available. “Could you find some Crocs or something for me?” she asked. I added this request to my shopping list.

Each day, Mulugeta Alem our translator who has worked with since 2009, and I go into town to pick up supplies for the team. Today we climbed into a Tuk Tuk named for its 2-stroke engine sound I believe, and headed downtown. Our driver pulled over to the side of the road beside some sidewalk venders with footwear for sale. While we were determining what a 7 is in EU sizing, a police officer told our seller to pack up and get lost, or words to that effect. Anyway, after he disappeared around the corner, we concluded the sale of a lovely blue red and white Croc like shoes. Cost? 55 birr or $2.60 CA and Kathryn is happy.

Our burn prevention officer Gayanne Pacholzuk from the Kelowna Fire Department, Mulugeta Alem and I headed to Bahir Dar’s local fire station. It is situated in a compound next to the city hall. They do have an ancient fire truck but, anything else that they have or, what we would expect them to have is extremely basic or non-existent. For example, they do not have any breathing apparatus so that they can safely enter a burning interior. They have one fire fighter’s jacket donated by a Polish fire department. Usually one becomes a fire fighter by being young, male and transferred from the city works department. They do receive some training from the fire fighters stationed the airport.
We were invited to meet with them in their station house (actually a very small room). Our conversation started slowly but, gradually with Gayanne asking questions and describing what we hoped to do with the posters in the schools and how they might wish to get involved, they warmed to the idea. They also asked if Gayanne could train them how to fight a chemical fire in one of the local industrial plants. No, she said, just run away! They have no equipment. The plant has ordered one fire extinguisher though. They did ask her to show them how to use a portable fire extinguish though, in exchange for coming with us to a primary school to observe how she teaches the STOP, DROP and ROLL procedure to the children with them taking it on. We are going to the school today and Thursday we will be at the industrial plant.
Gayanne even explained how immediate burns should be cooled with water and nothing else. No oils or poultices of injera batter, etc. should be put on a burn. They are very interested to receive more training and any equipment that can be donated would be appreciated. It was a good afternoon and we are looking forward to the visit to the school.