U.S. Has Resumed Medical Flights From Haiti

Medical evacuation flights from Haiti were recently canceled after Gov. Charlie Crist said Florida hospitals were becoming over crowded. White House spokesman Tommy Vietor says flights have resumed:

“Since the earthquake, U.S. personnel have seen nearly 23,000 patients in Haiti. Additionally, we have worked to increase and strengthen domestic medical capacity by supporting a network of NGOs and local hospitals across the country. In limited instances where patients had medical needs that could not be met in Haiti, we have worked to transport them to hospitals in the United States for care. Given concerns about the strain on domestic health capacity, we worked to increase cooperation with our international partners, NGOs and states to expand access to additional facilities to care for Haitians who were gravely injured in the earthquake. Having received assurances that additional capacity exists both here and among our international partners, we determined that we can resume these critical flights. The flights are on track to resume in the next 12 hours. Patients are being identified for transfer, doctors are making sure that it is safe for them to fly, and we are preparing specific in-flight pediatric care aboard the aircraft where needed. Florida is identifying specific receiving facilities. The Government of Haiti has estimated that there are more than 200,000 injuries from the earthquake. We are working with the Haitian government and the international community to meet this urgent need and save lives.” Politico