rnrnpuertorico

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It's been almost 1 month since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and more than 35% of the island's residents -- American citizens -- remain without safe drinking water.

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Nurses in #PuertoRico are keeping a running list of #FEMA sightings as they go out into the field each day. Hurricane Maria came & went, but what’s happening now is a man-made crisis. #PuertoRicoRelief

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"There is a public health crisis coming to Puerto Rico that we could prevent with proper supplies and support from the US government. These conditions would not be tolerated in the 50 states. It is outrageous that we are leaving our fellow Americans with essentially no aid. Many more will die if we don't step up." - RN Erin Carrera reporting from Puerto Rico with RNRN, the disaster relief project of NNU.

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The RN Response Network has twice visited Utuado, Puerto Rico. Due to a bridge collapse, half of the community has been totally cut off since the storm. Residents rigged a pulley system to send food and water over.

The response to the crisis in Puerto Rico from the U.S. federal government has been unacceptable for the wealthiest country in the world.

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RN Chessie Garcia-Calebaugh is on the ground in Puerto Rico. Watch as she shares how residents are working together to find water sources and collect water. Since many are getting water from local streams (which may be contaminated), nurses are teaching people about how to make the water safe to drink.

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SHARE: If you know residents or vols in #PuertoRico please spread the word & RT! Instructions on how to safely clean water, re-hydrate, & clean black mold. #PuertoRicoRelief

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Rns went to an area in Caguas called Barriada Morale, an area that has been not been visited, where people are low or out of food and water.  They were able to connect with one of the neighborhood leaders. 

RN Randee raised about $20K on gofundme and yesterday RNs spent  $2,000 at the store in San Juan on water, juice, beans, rice, canned fish, canned ham, tomato sauce, coffee, diapers, salt & sugar, and bleach. They organized them in covered basket ball court, and distributed them along with a flier explaining how to use bleach to sanitize water, how to mix salt & sugar formula for rehydration, how to treat mold, and how to identify symptoms of illness caused by black mold.

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Yesterday we went to Utuado , a town up in the center of the island. We stopped many times along the way to educate people on water safety. Its a mountain community with small pueblos all over, many cut off since Maria by fallen bridges and blocked roads. We stopped in the center of town at the National Guard. They had lists of all the areas that had been seen by medical groups. We went to an area that nobody had visited where roads were recently opened. People are somehow surviving with the food and medicine they had on hand. They have received NO provisions. There is no running water and no electricity. Nobody is aware of the risks of drinking untreated water. We went house to house teaching families and asking that they spread the word. We also provided urgent care where we could. These communities are at great risk of water born illness epidemics. They need clean water that is safe to drink! There is a public health crisis coming to Puerto Rico that we could prevent with proper supplies and support from the US government. These conditions would not be tolerated in the 50 states. It is outrageous that we are leaving our fellow Americans with essentially no aid. Many more will die if we don't step up. - RNRN volunteer Erin Carrera

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RNs visit the southern edge of #SanJuan municipality, where there's been no contact w/FEMA or official relief. RN Lucia Lopez treated the youngest child in this family for a rash due to sleeping in a roofless house on soaking wet furniture for weeks. #PuertoRicoRelief

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Report backs from day 1.

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Stories from the first day of volunteer RNs with NNU’s RN Response Network on the ground in Puerto Rico. 

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Stories from the first day of volunteer RNs with NNU’s RN Response Network on the ground in Puerto Rico.