As medical students, we get lots of experience in the healthcare field before actually becoming licensed doctors. We are exposed to so much during our student career, learning so much in the classroom and in real-world situations. Therefore, volunteering during a natural disaster is a great way for medical students to give back in times of need.
When a crisis arises within the community, students can be a great asset in aiding with relief efforts in many situations. Medical students can be a valuable addition to any team during a crisis because they are physicians in-training. They have the knowledge that can be applied and used in any situation under guidance of a licensed physician. Students are able to perform basic tasks, while saving larger, more complicated assignments for physicians. To use an example, students are able to take vital signs and assess the traumas based on signs and symptoms, and from there, send the patients to the proper stations where they can be cared for by physicians and other healthcare professionals. Students are also able to assist with basic surgical skills and trauma skills that they have learned in their clinical rotations.
Medical students can use their knowledge to help assist during any situation, and can be a valuable asset to trauma teams in a crisis situation. In addition to helping on the forefront of a crisis, students can help with fundraising relief efforts within their own communities. They can help take up donations and assist with those who are affected by the crisis long-term. Students can help victims get the resources they need to help them cope and move on from a traumatic event.
