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As a result of the Exchange Club’s partnership with the
American Red Cross, Dr.
Richard Flicker of the Exchange Club of Baton
Rouge had two weeks earlier taught the psychological
first aid course for the Louisiana Capital Area
Chapter of the American Red Cross. Little
did he expect then that he would be working side by side
with several of those in his class, as well as with
other Red Cross volunteers from Houston, Beaumont,
Dallas, throughout
Mississippi
and
Louisiana.
Flicker’s assignment was as the mental health
professional on a three person team with a nurse and a
caseworker – visiting with victims at the homes of their
relatives, in shelters and/or hotels. Four other
four-person teams were going door-to-door in the
affected areas, calling the nurse or Flicker when they
encountered individuals who might be in need of medical
attention, psychological counseling, or both. Many of
the victims were suffering from sleep deprivation and
general anxiety; most just needed somebody to listen to
their stories. This was Flicker’s first deployment as a
volunteer disaster relief worker. Hopefully other
Exchangites will sign up for the various disaster
training courses offered by the American Red Cross ...
and then volunteer when the next need arises.
Left to Right – Case Worker
Sharon (from Beaumont, TX),
Psychologist /Exchangite Richard (from Baton
Rouge, LA) and Nurse Doris (from Laurel, MS)
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