| |
Practice Building
Continuing Ed
Pacific Symposium
Additional CEU Events
CEU Tapes
Alumni events
Alumni Profiles
Oriental
Medicine News
Update Your Info
Alumni Email List
Request Records
Download Graduate Exit Interview
Alumni
Minutes
Classifieds
Jobs
Opportunities
Office Space
For Sale
Contact
Us
Search
This Site
Site
Map
Links
|
 |
|
Healing Hands Help San Diego Firefighters
San Diego residents could only stand by and watch as the worst wildfire in San Diego history destroyed their homes and wreaked havoc on their daily lives.
Beginning on October 25, 2003, the wildfires spread across an estimated 750,000 acres by October 31, killing 20 people and destroying more than 2,800 homes. It was a battle that left no time for weary firefighters to rest and recover, and that moved many in San Diego to lend a helping hand to those affected by the devastation. Recognizing the need for aid, Pacific College of Oriental Medicine's San Diego campus mobilized local licensed massage therapists and
acupuncturists to provide medical care for the weary firefighters who put their lives on the line.
In disaster situations, the benefits of massage and acupuncture are numerous. Because touch is such a powerful tool, massage can offer comfort, reassurance, strength and hope. At its most basic level, massage calms and helps relieve stress. It allows a person to breathe, relax and release; a luxury generally not available to those involved in rescue efforts. This relaxation facilitates sleep, prevents muscle stiffness and injury, and generates energy to maintain both physical and emotional functioning.
In the case of the San Diego county fires, massage acted as an on-site stress management tool by strengthening rescue workers' capacity to maintain composure at the disaster site, and later by facilitating the emotional release needed for recovery. Techniques that supported mental alertness and addressed specific muscle fatigue were physically rejuvenating, enabling them to continue working and better cope with stress.
Acupuncture is also beneficial as an adjunct to Western emergency medicine. Because it calms the central nervous system, acupuncture can center a person, allowing them to rest and re-charge. Acupuncture's effectiveness in treating exhaustion, muscle pain and fatigue, insomnia and gastrointestinal distress were witnessed first hand by volunteers at the San Diego fire command centers. Once calmed, re-energized and pain-free, firefighters were better able to cope with the stress of what they were experiencing, as well the physical demands placed on their bodies. Their coordination,
judgement and reaction time were improved, making them more efficient and able to avoid injury. Through supporting the immune system, acupuncture helped to prevent the side effects of overwork, assisted in recovery time, and allowed them to continue working round-the-clock shifts.
Wendy Goldman, a licensed acupuncturist who graduated from Pacific College in 2000, volunteered at the command center at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, CA. She said that she gave about 12 acupuncture treatments and one foot massage to the firefighters recuperating there.
"It was a lot of low back pain [complaints]," Goldman said of the conditions she treated. "Some of these guys were saying that they were on their feet for three days straight, and then they were sleeping on the ground at night when it was freezing. They were very appreciative that I was there."
Larry Helland, who received his massage technician certificate from Pacific College, agreed. "They were all really appreciative," Helland said. Helland spent two afternoons volunteering at the Gillespie Field and Viejas Casino fire command centers. In total, Helland estimated that he gave 16 Tui Na treatments - mostly for lower back, shoulder and arm stiffness.
"I've had Tui Na done on myself many times, so I know how effective it is for low back pain," Helland said.
Amy Herrera, a licensed acupuncturist and Pacific College graduate, agreed that Oriental medicine can be beneficial to people in high-activity professions, such as fire fighting.
"Complementary medicine is immediate, safe, and effective in restoring the sense of well-being that the firefighters need," said Herrera. "Western medicine is great for many situations, but rarely can it bring about the immediate relaxation and relief that acupuncture can."
Despite its benefits, Herrera noticed that some of the firefighters were initially reluctant to try acupuncture when she volunteered at Gillespie Field. "There were many firefighters who were hesitant to give acupuncture a try," Herrera said. "They confessed that they are less afraid of wildfires than they are of hair-thin acupuncture needles! Of those that I treated, they were overwhelmingly grateful for my help. They got relief and were amazed by the power of
acupuncture."
In addition to sending volunteers to both the Viejas and Gillespie Field command centers, Pacific College provided volunteers with medical supplies that had been donated from Helio Medical Supplies and The Supply Center, as well as Pacific College's own community clinic. The equipment donated included acupuncture needles, massage table paper, alcohol, sharps containers and cotton balls.
"Pacific College, like every good healthcare provider, has a history of trying to help its community when it can," Pacific College President Jack Miller said. "It's our experience that Oriental medicine can be very beneficial in treating the stress caused by emergency situations, as well as the respiratory problems that this particular situation has caused. We hope that we can helppeople find relief in this time of need."
Part of Pacific College's history of community aid is the efforts made by its New York branch after the events of Sept. 11. With the permission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Pacific College set up 12 treatment tables and chairs at the Javits Center near the World Trade Center to provide acupuncture and massage for police, fire, and search and rescue workers.After 18 days of constant care, about 290 volunteers made up of licensed acupuncturists, massage therapists and Pacific clinic interns had administered an estimated 3,000 massage and acupuncture
treatments.
While most of the task force workers at the World Trade Center had never been exposed to complementary medicine before, a survey of search and rescue workers reported that both acupuncture and massage helped a great deal with pain and stress reduction. Most felt that the treatments reduced their likelihood of becoming injured during the World Trade Center operation, and almost all felt it was important to have this type of treatment available in future emergency
situations.
Madir Cuddy, a licensed acupuncturist who graduated from Pacific College in 1997, conducted her own survey while giving acupuncture treatments to firefighters at fire command centers throughout San Diego. Questions she posed on the survey included how the patient perceived acupuncture before and after being treated, as well as how they would rate the experience.
"It was totally positive," Cuddy said. "They were amazed at how good it felt and how much better they felt."
Cuddy gave about 180 acupuncture treatments during the eight days that she volunteered. She said that most of the firemen she treated reported between 50 and 100 percent improvement.
Not only did massage and acupuncture benefit the firefighters, but the practitioners also enjoyed a sense of accomplishment and contribution. The tragedy of the San Diego county fires, and the people affected by them, has shown that there is a place for complementary medicine in emergency medical situations. Acupuncturists and massage therapists offer a unique and important component of disaster response. The benefits are real, and the accessibility, affordability and low incidence of side effects make them a valuable, if not indispensable, tool for treating victims and
rescuers alike.
|
|
