Hello Friends,
 
Today at church I had a "roll your eyes moment".  We  had a class on 
Emergency Preparedness and how to prepare for a major  disaster.  While the gentleman 
who prepared and gave the power point talk  had obviously done a lot of 
homework, and preparation, I was shocked (well not  really), at his information.  He 
had broken the time lines of need into  "Urgent, the first few hours"  
"Immediate, the first 48 hours" etc  etc.  The first Power Point was on the "Urgent" 
phase.  He listed the  needs in this order, and I quote, "Gas in your car, 
Diapers, milk and  formula"  These were his TOP 3.  No mention of breastfeeding, 
 etc.  He had other needs listed below and water was there.  My brain  shut 
off at formula.  I raised my hand and pleasantly tried to inform the  audience, 
and the speaker that breast feeding is the preferred mode of feeding  in an 
emergency.  That clean water, bottles and ways to clean them will be  at a 
premium and probably inaccessible.  I gently explained the disease  risk from less 
than sanitary conditions and that breast milk not only is clean  in of 
itself, but also will help protect the child from illnesses that may  run rampant in 
such an environment.  I encouraged the women to gain  information on 
relactation for their 72 hour kits if they were not  breastfeeding, but should at 
least have the information available to refer to to  ensure their babies are fed 
in a disaster.  I was thanked and the class  went on from there.  I was 
probably seen as the breastfeeding zealot, yet  again.
 
I was not aware of the class prior to the presentation, otherwise I  would 
have given the presenter more complete information.  I spent the  remainder of 
the class shaking my head at the misinformation he had given  referring to 
infant feeding in an emergency that was accepted as acceptable and  "normal".   
UGH!!!
 
Renee Drake RN CLC 
 

 (http://www.snugglepie.com/) 

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