Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 7, 1991 TAG: 9102070564
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Virginia could be a key receiving site for such casualties in view of its major concentration of military bases and its role as a primary departure point for Saudi Arabia.
Norfolk, home of the world's largest naval base, has sent more than 35,000 sailors to the Middle East. Langley Air Force Base in Hampton has deployed two F-15 squadrons to the region.
"Virginia was a primary embarkation point, and for the same reasons it would be a primary receiving point for casualties," said George Wilbur, director of public affairs for the Virginia Department of Health Professions.
The department, which serves as the administrative agency for 12 health regulatory boards in the state, sent out 116,000 surveys last month to health practitioners licensed across Virginia.
The agency, at Gov. Douglas Wilder's request, wanted to find out what kind of support it could expect from the state's health professionals if military facilities get bogged down with casualties.
"We're heartened by this tremendous response. This is what patriotism on the home front is all about," said Bernard Henderson Jr., director of the Department of Health Professions.
Only a small fraction of those who responded said they would not be available. Most of them were elderly retirees, those too ill to serve or medical practitioners already deployed to Operation Desert Storm, the agency said.
But age and illness didn't prevent some from offering their services.
"I am 78 and have stable angina, but I'm ready to go again," wrote one retired World War II flight surgeon from Arlington.
"How could anyone say no?" asked one nurse from Fairfax. Nurses responding to the survey said even though they have full-time jobs, they would be willing to treat casualties during their time off.
The agency said many of the survey forms had fervent declarations of support written in the margins.
Wilbur said results of the survey would become part of a computer data base that would be made available to medical centers that have been designated to treat casualties.
"If any of the hospitals felt they needed additional personnel, they would contact us, tell us the types of personnel they needed and their specialties," Wilbur said. "We would have our computer spit out the names of the people who indicated a willingness to work in the area and supply those names to the facility. The facility would make the contact."
He said compensation would be worked out between the professional and the hospital, but some of the respondents have offered their services for free.
Home front patriotism also appears to have spread to the state's hotel and motel industry.
The Metro Richmond Hotel & Motel Association is expected to consider a request next week to provide free rooms for families visiting wounded military personnel.
The Virginia Hotel & Motel Association, which represents 220 hotels and motels with 33,000 rooms statewide, said it is interested in the program.
by CNB