CMAT to stand down deployment to Chile, medical team headed to Haiti

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CMAT/IMAT Assessment team in Concepción, Chile.

CMAT/IMAT Assessment team in Concepción, Chile.  L-R, Paramedic Michael Lowey, Team Leader David Johnson, IMAT Paramedic Jennifer Dearman, and Paramedic Chris Kaley. 

Tuesday March 9, 2010 – Concepción, Chile – After meeting with Chilean officials, in Concepción, the decision was made to re-direct CMAT volunteers to Haiti, where there continues to be a great need for medical assistance. This decision was made as a direct result of the Chilean Government and Military’s exceptional response to the February 27th earthquake.

A boat is washed ashore as a result of the localized tsunami after the February 27th 8.8 mW earthquake near the coastal city of Talcahuano, Chile.

A boat is washed ashore as a result of the localized tsunami after the February 27th 8.8 mW earthquake near the coastal city of Talcahuano, Chile.

CMAT’s assessment team found that the need for medical assistance was decreasing on a daily basis, and victims with traumatic injuries had already been evacuated to major medical centres in other regions of the country, and thus the recommendation to stand down was made.

This will be the fifth CMAT medical team to Haiti, and will arrive Thursday to work in collaboration with our partner organization IMAT, and the Jenkins-Penn Haiti Relief Organization (J/P-HRO) at its project in the capitol.