by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - At 10:20 Tuesday night, the Guam Memorial Hospital's emergency room was notified to expect mass casualties that immediately sent the hospital into preparedness mode. "It involves assessing our staff, moving patients out of the ER and moving patients from the various floors in preparation to receive and preparing supplies and calling staff at all levels of the hospital," explained GMH administrator Joseph Verga.

He expressed shock and horror at this senseless incident that affected both the local and tourism community. "As a result, fourteen patients were seen in the hospital ER. Six were admitted and six were treated and discharged. There were two fatalities, one on the scene and one on arrival," he summarized.

Assistant administrator for nursing services Christine Tuquero adds of the fourteen, two are children ages 8 months and 3 years old, both of which are still in stable condition. "We had one local and the rest were tourists and those tourists, two of them, were in pediatrics. Two were children," she explained.

She adds all six that were admitted remain at GMH. And with all but one tourist, Tuquero says a translator was on-site to help, which is part of the hospital's Preparedness Program. She adds translators from the hotel industry had also offered their support, saying, "We have one translator on board and we also been having help in the community volunteer translators coming with the help of the Guam Volunteers Association. They've been giving us support, as well.

In the meantime, GMH is making accommodations for the victims and their families. Said Verga, "There are anywhere from ten to fifteen that are staying here overnight and made accommodations there are cots here, we provided food and provided for folks to meet their every need of course they want to stay with their loved ones."

He adds hospital management along with the Governor's Office and the Japan Consul General of Guam have offered their support and addressing how we as a community can provide appropriate assistance in getting the families remains back to their homeland. Governor Eddie Calvo visited patients today, offering his condolences and support.

In the meantime, hospital management noted that although they've been challenged with the overflow of demands at the ER with patients, in handling the tragic event, the unit did an outstanding job. Hospital management is also addressing how to deal with the aftermath and the after-acute assessments on how to provide support for families and victims moving forward.